Do amps lose steam over time?


I am a bit of a neophyte and realize that is probably a dumb question. But after a couple years of listening to my first legit system (Rotel Pro, Rotel RMB 1075 amp, Focal 918 Profiles, REL R-528 sub), it seems like it is not as dynamic, and frankly not as loud at the same volume level as it used to be. I'm aware it could just be that I've gotten accustomed to the sound (or my hearing is going). But I know that the amp, which I bought used, is pretty long in the tooth, so I was curious if it's not just my imagination and that the sound is devolving a bit.
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Showing 1 response by islandmandan

The reference to the Grateful Dead notwithstanding, Onhwy 61's advice is good. I don't know how old your Rotel amp is, but after some years, capacitors can go bad and leak or fail.

This can usually be detected by just checking for leaks or swelling of the caps, being careful to let your amp set for a few hours unplugged. (high voltage is present in amps, that will dissapate in a few hours).

High operating temperatures contribute to early electronics failures, so keep your equipment clean and well ventilated.

Best of luck,
Dan