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How long should components last?

About 7 or 8 years ago I bought two tube components. A cd transport and DAC.

About $4,500 each back then so who knows how much they would cost today.

After 5 years ago they started breaking down. The transformer failed in the DAC and as the european manufacturer had discontinued the component it had to be made from scratch in Italy. Of course it took months to get it made and sent to the US where the component had to be repaired. The Dac had to be repaired twice since then. I finally said enough and bought another brand.

Same with the transport. After 5 years continuous problems.

They sounded great and certainly looked the cost. But I had the impression that they were like German luxury cars with a perfectly timed obsolescence. After which you have to buy another one or they turn into a money pit.

Unfortunate because when they worked they were wonderful.

I can't name the brand because I'm sure the thread will be removed.

Has anybody else had this problem? For such expensive components I thought they would last longer and would not turn into such a problem when they needed to be repaired. Is this normal? 

 

roxy1927
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
4,571 posts
 

I expect a life 10-15 years or more on quality gear.   I can't even remember the last time I had a failure in 40 plus years in this hobby outside of a tube or a fuse.   Been extremely lucky, mostly tube gear the past 25 years....

deep_333
2,436 posts
 

The most reliable electronics, ime, tend to come out of Japan. When I buy expensive electronics, it will  almost always be Japanese.

When I buy cheap electronics (i.e. i don't care too much if it breaks), I'll buy it from the Euros/Chinese/Americans/etc.

 

 

 

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,148 posts
 

Can't say I've ever had anything 'break down' on me within even 10 years. Were your CD transport and DAC from the same company? 

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,972 posts
 

Hard luck. CD drives are prone to fail sooner then most other items. 

 

I have vintage gear 50+ years old that still works fine, granted they have had service over the years. 

vinylvalet
949 posts
 

Pretty much forever if well maintained. For example I have Hammond organs and Leslie tone cabinets from the mid-50s that are in like new condition. Same with consumer electronics from the 50s, 60s and 70s; all also like new.

I guess it helps that I'm an old school bench tech with all the proper tools and a perfectionist nature.

Small, flavor of the month, audiophile brands, especially outside the US, are very risky. Stick with well established brands with great track records for reliability and service. For established brands outside the US, make sure the US distributor also has a long, positive track record with in house service techs. Good examples would be Lone Mountain (Las Vegas) for ATC and The Sound Organisation (Dallas) for Rega.

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