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When is an amp ‘just too old? ’ To buy?

Hello sports fans!!

I’m seriously tossing around the idea to get into another amp (s) as I’m simply not playing mine as I should. 20 hours in the last year or so is about all. I’ve been using both my office and now BR systems far, far more as they’re handier and simpler to manage now.

Switching speaker wires, and re-checking bias from extended lengthy periods of non use causes me to not use my monos enough to keep them or so Im thinking.

Add to that my vision is apparently going away now at a faster clip than I’d prefer too …. It all adds up… so there they sit. 20 hrs. over a whole year. It’s embarrassing.

So I’m thinking SS. Or self biasing amps now as replacements, IF I decide to go that way and it’s looking more & more as I will.

I’ve always thought amps under 5 yr and preferably under 3 or less, as the ones I’d prefer to take a shot with, but am seeing more and more amps now with 5, 6, 8, 9, even 10 years from date of production and am wondering, just when is an amp (s) old enough to forget about or when one should really consider some other amps.

Do you all feel SS amps have a different criteria than do HS amps in terms of longevity?

Or is it vice versa, with tube amps lasting longer, generally speaking?

How old is just too damn old! As it relates to amps for sale… in your opinion, of course????

Thanks much.
blindjim
tvad
9,467 posts
 
What's the price range?

If I were looking for low maintenance amps that I used maybe 20 hours a year, I'd look for some used ICE based amps. They work with any speaker, use little AC, run cool...etc.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
Well all Bryston amps have 20 year warranty so if you buy a 10 year old Bryston,
you still have 10 more year warranty to go. As long as an amp is well designed
and built, even 10 year old isn't too old.
docdan50
65 posts
 
I took a chance and bought a threshold s150 series II on ebay at a good price. It looked and sounded good when I used it. I found an excellent tech in my area who went over it for me replaced the power caps, rebiased the amp, replaced the fuse holders that had cracked and checked all the circuits and connections cleaning and replacing what needed to be replaced. The amp sounds even better and is ready for another 25 years.
blindjim OP
2,837 posts
 
Tvad
The thing is this .... I'm not looking for an amp to use 20 hrs a yr.

I got that already. See above.

What I'm thinking is to get a very nice sounding amp with hands and eyes free operation. Stereo or monos... SS or HS. The latter naturally then has to be self biasing.

2500-3500... probably around $3K to be certain... and probably SS this time around. Iron fist... velvet glove... yada yada... SE/RCA for sure... XLR ok too if RCA is in place. 200wpc or a bit more wouldn't hurt.

Hybrids with rolling tubes OK too, if over 175wpc or so.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I'm confused by what you own, what you use, and what you need.

You wrote:
I’m seriously tossing around the idea to get into another amp (s) as I’m simply not playing mine as I should. 20 hours in the last year or so is about all.

… so there they sit. 20 hrs. over a whole year. It’s embarrassing.

So I’m thinking SS. Or self biasing amps now as replacements...
That reads to me as though you're looking to replace the amps that you're using for 20 hours a year.

Sorry for my failure to understand your requirements. I'll leave it to others to help.
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