Hi, sitting here thinking about what will happen to vintage audio equipment in the future, let's say 20 years from now? The reason for these thoughts is that I now have a complete system that I want to take with me far into the future, but what about parts in the future? Electrolytic capacitors, v.t. Displays, transistors, laser pickups, etc.. those of you who think the same, how do you future-proof your audio equipment? I'm thinking that having a similar set standing as a backup could be a solution, but need some tips and advice..
I can still source the correct components for vintage equipment.
A capacitor is a capacitor as are resistors and valves.
A multi year experience and training in the electronics world and a good engineering background is all one needs.
Specific brass thaft required ... , turn one out on your lathe. Specific knob required, mould one with epoxy resin and use the correct colour dye in the mix. No issue for me or anyone else in the trade that has the same level of experience and training as I had.
A capacitor is a capacitor as are resistors and valves.
A multi year experience and training in the electronics world and a good engineering background is all one needs.
Specific brass thaft required ... , turn one out on your lathe. Specific knob required, mould one with epoxy resin and use the correct colour dye in the mix. No issue for me or anyone else in the trade that has the same level of experience and training as I had.
It depends on what vintage the audio equipment is. Early 90s digital equipment is for instance a completely different thing to maintain from tubed equipment. So far, stuff like ROMs seem to hold their programming pretty well, but if this is still the case 20 years from now is anyone's guess.
I'm not sure I understand what you're asking Kim666. If you think about protecting your audio chain from time by thinking of it as a part of an electronic board Jon is right, almost everything can be replaced, perhaps with difficulty but with a little knowledge of electronics everything can be repaired, updated and upgraded. If you think of your audio system as a chain, a balanced system, everything gets complicated. Replacing some components with new ones will almost certainly change the sound of your chain. Maybe it will improve it by making it clearer and faster as in the case of replacing old capacitors. But it will always be a different sound. My advice?
Enjoy your music Your sound system will probably outlive you and your heirs will enjoy it.
Enjoy your music Your sound system will probably outlive you and your heirs will enjoy it.
I mean I finally completed my system that I use to drool over when I was i teenager, and i really like it and want it to last a long time. My system is a full technics system from mid to late 90,s
Attachments
Analog systems with analog controls are the easiest to service because they usually have less custom parts. On my experience the main issue are displays, because VFDs fade over time and zebra strips on LCDs may develop lose contacts. Digital devices are less future proof, some AV receivers from early 2000 are scrapped already because a custom part (ROMs) on the control board fails and no replacements are available. Internet connected devices such as streaming players have a finite lifespan because they use digital certificates to communicate with the internet services, and they depend on the manufacturer updates.
Don't get me started on streamers. I have several in the attic with failed motherboards, dead hard drives and worst of all, apps on phones that no longer are available or no longer work on modern phone operating systems.
The certificate problems you mention are annoying (or will be annoying in the future) as well.
MD decks may be a little easier to repair because there is documentation on the minidisk wiki website.
On my experience, Hi-Fi devices from the '90s are worse to service and repair than devices built on previous and next decades: they are already fairly complex, but the level of integration is low; this often means a lot of small electrolytic capacitors, discrete transistors and electrical switches/contacts that can (and will) fail over time; manufacturers also liked to cram everything on small enclusures with complex cable routing, so even the preliminary inspection to assess the device condition is time consuming.
I tend to buy stuff with a certain lifespan in mind. I know the digital side of my setups are only usable during the lifespan, because of the fact they use software and protocols that will get outdated, and not work with more modern stuff. Therefor my player is mainly my computer. The dedicated media player (Hama DIT2000) i have is a cheap one that is going way beyond the planned lifespan now (but it still works) so that is a bonus. But if i replace it, it will have to be cheap also as protocols and so change over time.
But i know my miniDSP flex will probally be outdated in a few decades and not usable anymore. It's also by far the most expensive digital device in my setup but it gives a lot, so worth the money (even if it's only usable for 10 years or so). Dacs are cheap today, even for top notch quality. Even my 10 years old and then relative cheap Cambridge DacMagic100 is still quiet good for today's standards...
Amps are easier, as they don't run on software (the ones i use at least) and many are discrete builds (even my Ncore amps) so repairable. And i think also you can find alternatives for almost all components, maybe not exactly the same, but good equivalents. I know my tube amp, my marantz ab class and aca's are very easy to repair for an electronic schooled person (not me).
But it's like with all modern electronics, nothing last forever. That is why today i prefer to buy new, not second hand. I traded a lot of second hand gear in the past (hifi and studio gear) so I know what is around and what deals can be done, but today the majority of my gear is or diy or new bought. If you study the subject a bit, you know you can buy top level gear for cheap also. Some of them are even way better than many very expensive "high end".
But i know my miniDSP flex will probally be outdated in a few decades and not usable anymore. It's also by far the most expensive digital device in my setup but it gives a lot, so worth the money (even if it's only usable for 10 years or so). Dacs are cheap today, even for top notch quality. Even my 10 years old and then relative cheap Cambridge DacMagic100 is still quiet good for today's standards...
Amps are easier, as they don't run on software (the ones i use at least) and many are discrete builds (even my Ncore amps) so repairable. And i think also you can find alternatives for almost all components, maybe not exactly the same, but good equivalents. I know my tube amp, my marantz ab class and aca's are very easy to repair for an electronic schooled person (not me).
But it's like with all modern electronics, nothing last forever. That is why today i prefer to buy new, not second hand. I traded a lot of second hand gear in the past (hifi and studio gear) so I know what is around and what deals can be done, but today the majority of my gear is or diy or new bought. If you study the subject a bit, you know you can buy top level gear for cheap also. Some of them are even way better than many very expensive "high end".
In response to the original poster, I've bought transistors for all my amps. Some of the devices are already obsolete, so I had to pick up substitutes. As time passes, more and more thru hole transistors are going to go obsolete. Not too worried about being able to find passives. Caps in particular have gotten smaller for the same spec, so is pretty easy to find a sub that fits. Digital and digital displays are a pretty hopeless cause. Custom digital goes out of production when it stops getting put in something. You might have some luck with companies like Rochester that buy up old stock and resell it in the future. I guess you could do a Rochester and buy spare digitals for your equip.
I'd also mention that many of us here bought I think it was 5532's because we thought they were EOL'ing them, and then they did not.I know I did.
I'd also mention that many of us here bought I think it was 5532's because we thought they were EOL'ing them, and then they did not.I know I did.
Thanks for many good answers 😊 I've come up with a plan. I already have an extra power amp and CD player, I'm thinking of getting another MD deck. Then I have a full set if something goes wrong, I don't think the speakers are a problem, or the tape deck since it's used 3 times a month. Or maybe buy what I can of transistors and ICs.
Rip the CDs on a computer. Data can be copied to new hardware.Kim666 said:
I did not notice that the laser had failed in my CD player, until possibly years later. 😉
Ed
Vintage is the part of production that has the most value in the history of audio, i think it is quite natural to try to preserve it.
Your choice in my opinion, is the best possible to spend time and money well.
No. The risk of ruining something while recapping is high.
Usually a failed cap will not end in a spontanous explosion, but the devices begin to act up. Like, display flickering, funky noises, "need to press power on a couple of times" and such. That's the time when one should look into things. If your stereo is running fine - leave it alone (other than using it, of course). Pots like to be used, otherwise they start to crackle due to dirt, so maybe move them once in a while; same for switches. That's probably the best you can do.
@Haenk already mentioned switches.
Google "switch wetting current". Signal circuits don't have enough energy to clear oxidation. The signals need to be modified with relays powered by the switches.
Speakers provide the tone of your system. They will disintegrate. The system should sound better when you replace them.
Classic computers with games get replaced by emulators. Could you emulate your vintage system?
Google "switch wetting current". Signal circuits don't have enough energy to clear oxidation. The signals need to be modified with relays powered by the switches.
Speakers provide the tone of your system. They will disintegrate. The system should sound better when you replace them.
Classic computers with games get replaced by emulators. Could you emulate your vintage system?
There are different opinions.
It also depends on the year of manufacture.
I also think that you should only intervene when necessary, however the capacitor is a somewhat anomalous component because it degrades slowly.
To avoid a leaky capacitor you need to listen and monitor the sound and all the logical functions.
With the first small problem it is advisable to remove the covers and check.
If for example one of the two channels sounds softer and you need to intervene on the balance, perhaps it is a capacitor problem.
Vintage is also beautiful because you can intervene often and give a long life to your devices, but it takes a little attention to keep them under control.
If over time a failure occurs to one of the devices (let's hope not), and you need to take it to a technician to disassemble and repair it, at that moment you could choose to also replace all the capacitors, because they are old, the motherboard is already out and you can avoid another disassembly of the device in the near future for the capacitors alone.