Recapping old amplifiers

Comments · 499

• HO

  @howardskeivys4184 · 5 years ago

  I’m going to have to disagree with Paul on this one. &nbsp;I recently sent my 30 year old Rega back to the manufacturer via my local dealer, to be refurbished. When it came back I blind tested it, in the dealers listening room against modern amps 4 times it’s price. &nbsp;Both the dealer and I were shocked, it held it’s own and then some.<br><br>If you are happy with the sonic signature of your current amp, then stick with it, have it serviced, I don’t think you’ll regret it.

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• OL

  @oldguitars · 5 years ago (edited)

  There is NO WAY the cost of recapping is even close to the cost of a PS Audio amp. &nbsp;I would recap for a few hundred bucks and see how it sounds.

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• ST

  @stephenmorrissey1254 · 5 years ago

  I spent $140 having my 30 year old Harmon Kardon integrated amp recapped (Power Capacitors and Audio Capacitors?) and the improvement was stunning.<br>If PS Audio would like to sell me one of their amplifiers for $140 I will happily buy it.

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• TF

  @tf7274 · 4 years ago

  You can spend $80k on a new Hemi...or $80k on a classic Hemi...the new one will be old in 5 years but the classic...is a classic.

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• SO

  @Solipsfilm · 2 years ago

  I recapped and installed led panel lights in my Pioneer sx-434 myself and in combination with my KEF 104/2 speakers it just sounds unmatched! Tried two modern amps and somehow they couldn&apos;t match it, the warmth and depth of this amp is so amazing, the &quot;loudness&quot; button works so well. With soft listening all frequencies are nice and balanced and give such a pleasant sound. Everybody that hears my setup is blown away, with a friend now looking for exactly the same one because he&apos;s been saying for years that he wants it too. So for me, my 1970&apos;s Pioneer is really worth it more than just a decorational piece.

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• TH

  @ThinkingBetter · 5 years ago

  There is an extra dimension of listening pleasure to audio gear that you have been involved in making work...including swapping caps with new ones.

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• LA

  @laurentzduba1298 · 5 years ago

  Once fixed a neighbor&apos;s early 1980s era Sansui integrated back in 1995 using Rubycon Black Gate caps and no longer available transistors with mil spec ones gutted from a Vietnam War era B-52 G Stratofortress. My neighbor still uses that Sansui to this day because he never could find anything better sounding for under 2,000 USD since the start of 1997. And yet I often joke that in the year 2200, he might find such amps. 🤔

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• EP

  @epi2045 · 5 years ago

  Notice many who disagree with Paul. Remember he said this is a hard question. I agree. It depends on different types of amplifiers. I wouldn’t modify a crappy car or amplifier. However if the amp, especially tubes, has good attributes and well built, I would re-cap it. <br><br>I have a 24 year old Mark Levinson amplifier which is 96 lbs and does 100wpc at 8ohms but more importantly it does 400 wpc into 2ohms. It retailed for $4500 at the time or equivalent to $6800 today. I brought it in to get evaluated and it measured well so I didn’t get it re-capped. I got a quote of $1,100 to fully service and re-cap it. When the time comes, I certainly will re-cap it. I have yet to hear an amplifier that sounds as good as it.

  21

• PA

  @PapaWheelie1 · 5 years ago

  Come on guys, if you keep your old stuff, how are we going to sell new stuff?

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• BE

  @ben148ify · 1 year ago (edited)

  My old Phase Linear 400 sounds good to me. Replacing that with a newer amp with the same power would cost many thousands. Recapping is the way to go - thank you.

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• JM

  @jmondschein1989 · 4 years ago (edited)

  I would seriously doubt any product that PS Audio sells is cheaper than recapping. <br><br>Still love ya Paul

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• RE

  @revfogle · 5 years ago

  A few years ago I began building a system made up of mid-late 70’s Pioneer equipment that I wished I could have afforded when I was a teenager, including a Pioneer SX 828 where I had the power recapped. &nbsp;I listen to it for hours and hours every day. &nbsp;I also have a modern amp that I have hooked up to the very same make and model of speakers and in my opinion there’s a better sound coming from my Pioneer.

  9