Vintage Solid-State Audio Reliability

Some manufacturers from olden days such as Audio Research and Mark Levinson (the brand name) still have active service departments. Recently, I used AR to fully refurbish an old SP-6B preamp. They did an excellent job. It will last as long as a new model would.

You can buy used equipment made by these manufacturers with the knowledge that repairs are available. You will have to pay a bit more, bit it will still be much less than the original price (keeping inflation in mind).

I have worked on tuners. Almost every one more than 10 years old will need a fresh tuning and calibration. This is a very specialized task. There are few people today that have the skills needed. I always keep this in mind when I buy a tuner. I have learned to do this tuning, but I an definitely not an expert. The DA-F20 is a bit difficult to do. I agree that it sounds very good. Sansui TU series was also very good.

It also helps to buy from reputable sources such as Audiogon, US and Canada AudioMart and HiFi Shark (for all listings). Sellers are motivated to be honest.

Happy Hunting!

My everyday amp for the past seven years has been the forty-year old  Sumo Andromeda. Designed by the late James Bongiorno. It too has been in use 24/7 without issues. With any secondhand purchase you take your chances.

My dad used to be a rep for pioneer in the 70s. When he moved a couple years ago he gave me a spec 4 and a preamp that were not working. I took them to a local vintage hifi repair guy near Syracuse, NY and he fixed them up. Like any pieces of gear, service is required, but with proper service they sound excellent and have been working flawlessly since 

I had this period where I was rebuilding Acoustic Control corporation guitar/bass amps (271/371) sets (the whole thing, recapping, matching output transistors, paint, tolex, reconing speakers, refinishing to near-new specs) about 25 years ago. those amps where already 30 years old and older. Last I heard  from several of the buyers, they’re STILL going strong.

No, NOT “HiFi” but the principles are the same.

My FM tuner Technics ST1038/SH1038 is still going strong nearly 40 years later, I use - daily - REVOX RtR decks (B77-II and PR99-III) of similar vintage. Of course, I own the service manuals and do the upgrade work myself as a hobby although there are folks out there who can do more than I should I reach an impasse.

I have owned new receivers (ONKYO, JVC) that crapped out, dead as the proverbial steel fastener after the warranty ran out and the cost of repair was more than a new unit. Have owned, twice burned, exponentially shy, won’t get fooled again.

Of course, YMMV.

As with any older product the capacitors dry out after say 15 years if used daily

especially in loudspeakers