Cap job I did on a Bogner Shiva recently

[rp]

Good to see everyone coming back to TAG. At least on Naim hifi gear I've been around and owned I can hear the filter caps start to go after 10 years, and they use very good filter caps and it's not anywhere near as hot in ss amps as tubes. I have a little 1980's Naim NAIT copy called an Onix that I recapped after 20 years, all the electrolytics even the phone board, it sounded fine but, boy did it ever perk up after the new caps. On the other hand I been through dozens of vintage guitar amps in my collecting days and they all sounded fine if not dandy with 40 year old caps. Better with new caps? Yeh, after the initial shock wore off and they mellowed. So? With a guitar amp I'd say don't worry much unless you're touring but then you have a back-up anyway. With top fuel high-end hifi maybe every ten years. Japanese receivers from the '70s can be nice but aren't hifi, if they sound fine I'd let it be too, but you might try and recap one as an experiment and listen - The Onix sounded just fine to me 'till it got a recap. I used these, not sure they are the best but they sure sounded right.

http://www.partsconnexion.com/capacitor ... on_kg.html

[pompeiisneaks]

The caps I got were all pretty decent end, but not quite that nice, I couldn't get all the same type, but all were higher end, rubycon, nichicon, and I think one other that I know is well regarded, but can't recall the name now. Thanks for the information on those, those look pretty sweet.

~Phil

[Scooter Thomas]

I just want to concur with what Billy said about old Japanese caps. A couple years back my Yamaha M-50 (1983) was dropping a channel and I got Cliff to look at it. I figured while I was at it I'd have him do the caps, but he advised the original caps were still fine. Good call, saved me $$$ and the amp is quiet and continues to work to my satisfaction. That's 35 years and counting on filter caps!