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Expectations after re cap of power-amp

My 1982 Yamaha M-2 power amp is in the shop and this time I agreed to replace all the suspect capacitors. Two of the capacitors are the size of coffee cans and the total bill may exceed $500. I am told that since all the replacement parts will be as good as or better than the original parts it should sound as good as new or better.

I’ve never done this before.  Should I expect “as good as new” or am I completely wasting my money?


timothywright
erik_squires
17,570 posts
 
Assuming nothing else has aged, yes.

I've heard good things from some who have had these caps replaced, meaning they experienced tighter, better bass.  If nothing else you'll have another several decades of listening to look forward to.

timothywright OP
55 posts
 
The responses have all been very encouraging, thank you so very much.  My worst fear would be that the amp would sound worse not better and I might waste the money invested and butcher what was once a well respected amplifier.

 

I don’t want to throw good money away but after the responses I received I don’t think that would be the case.

 I was shopping some expensive (and powerful) power amps and everything I looked at was $5k - $7k. So if I can get my old Yamaha back to ship shape for anything like $500 I am all in.


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,422 posts
 
@timothywright  If you like the amp that price to repair is reasonable. And a lot better than what can happen if a filter capacitor eats a power transformer or explodes! You'll hear the improvement right away- anything built that long ago has ailing capacitors!
rodman99999
6,207 posts
 
If your caps were compromised; it should sound better, soon as you get it back.      Chances are good; it will sound(increasingly) better, as the new electrolytics, "form", their oxide layer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolytic_capacitor
erik_squires
17,570 posts
 
My worst fear would be that the amp would sound worse not better and I might waste the money invested and butcher what was once a well respected amplifier.


Done well, the worst thing you should expect is 30 years of trouble free use.
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