re capping


I hear the phrase 'recapping'. when do you know when you should 're cap' an amplifier? I have a McIntosh mc602 amp that sounds fine to me. I also have a McIntosh mx132 that works ok for me. I also have a bose 901 series 2 active equalizer that seems to work ok. the 'red' on light kinda flashes now and then. if my system sounds ok, should I worry about my units?
128x128g_nakamoto

Lets be clear.  There was lots of good advice presented here.  But, that is all it is, advice.

There is such a thing as preventive maintenance in cars, electronics, etc.  If one wishes to keep an item indefinitely, then preventive maintenance is important.

If upon visual inspection the capacitors are bulging or obviously leaking material, then it is past time to replace.

If the amp is over 15-20 years old, but the caps appear okay and the amp is operating well, then, it is up to you.  I wouldn't replace the caps unless I notice issues or if I had the funds to replace the caps in advance of issues.

Like cars, you are warned most times of issues before they become really serious.  Therefore giving you warning.  whining bearings, leaks from the water pump. All indications that you need to do something. 

If the amp works, the capacitors are in good shape and not leaking, then you don't have to "do" anything but enjoy. But if you have the budget, it can't hurt.  However, for solid state electronics, it is also a very good idea to remove all output transistors and test them and replace if they test outside specs, and very importantly, replace the mica insulators with new and also the silicon heat compound.  This dries over time and causes output transistors to short against the heat sink and fail the amp.

I do this on general principle whenever I get older equipment.

Some amps are easy to work on and other's (Mark Levinson 23.5) are a serious pain in the bottom.  Great amp, but OMG what were they thinking?

enjoy

minorl perfectly finalized answer to this discussion truly.

If the amp is over 15-20 years old, but the caps appear okay and the amp is operating well, then, it is up to you. I wouldn't replace the caps unless I notice issues or if I had the funds to replace the caps in advance of issues.

I am restoring my highly Modified Old Sumo Nine right now, It took a lightening strike a few years ago and I have missed it. In 1983, we put what at the time was a very nice Panasonic electrolytic in the power supply, they were an 85 degree part. It was never turned off for most of those years. While repairing this amp, I figured why not, while its open, I’ll replace the caps... I found nice caps with double the capacitance and lower esr to replace them.... The point is, To my surprise, we measured the old Panasonic caps. their values across the board were still in spec. You just don’t know. My experience has been, that when caps sit without a charge, that is when the tend to dry out. I have never had a cap failure and I do not EVER turn off my solid state gear. (when I owned tubed gear, it was always turned off after each use). I have always been under the belief that it is the charging and discharging caps that is most damaging to them.