Would you buy a 40 year old solid state amplifier?

[bumpy]

What parts might you expect to have been replaced in that 40 years?

[Jimbo]

Maybe capacitors?

[struth]

main electrolytics and possibly others. after that, it just depends . ive seen old ones with the original caps in place and reading ok tho

[hifi_dave]

Depends on the brand/amp. I've seen plenty of black boxes needing major work after 10 years and many Japanese amps from the 70s still in full working order.

[Jimbo]

Switches may need cleaning, dry solder joints could cause problems. Occasionally transistors run out of spec too.

[oldius]

I have three:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53415297707_fa6966cb1a_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53416540174_74e651174d_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53416383643_e90d09abde_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53416652830_78beb3ed2e_k.jpg

GO FOR IT!

[Wakefield Turntables]

Just buy it! Life's too short. What's the worst that can happen if it dosen't work? You loose a bit of cash but have a lovely box full of vintage components, You could always flog it on Dickinsons real deal in a year or two. :D

[Lawrence001]

Is that JVC the one in the controversial thread about sounding better than the TOTL Naim amp or something a few years ago? Can't remember which forum it was on.

[oldius]

No. This is the TOTL from 1976, the JA-S71
https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/jvc/ja-s71.shtml

I think the one you are thinking of was from the Digifine series, probably the JVC AX-Z1010

[Lawrence001]

That's right I remember now. Have you ever heard one are they that good or was it just someone overhyping it?

[bumpy]

Just buy it! Life's too short. What's the worst that can happen if it dosen't work? You loose a bit of cash but have a lovely box full of vintage components, You could always flog it on Dickinsons real deal in a year or two. :D

Love the sentiment, but its nearly £2K. Not a 'bit of cash' for me :)

[Gazjam]

If you really want it, go for it.

40 years though,
I'd take it to a reputable Service Tech to let them give it an MOT.
Can even upgrade caps, power supplies etc when he's there.

That said, if you go too far it'll sound like a different amp.

[bumpy]

OK, I'll throw it out there for more focussed debate.

Its a Threshold Audio S200 E/Stasis. Hugely rated at the time and remembered with nostalgia, but is there better to be bought at that price (£1750)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285609289747?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D7770 08%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D202308 11125216%26meid%3D534df9c2bb7244e687ea9b062591ffb1 %26pid%3D101771%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone% 26itm%3D285609289747%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D43 75194%26algv%3DWatchlistVariantWithMLR%26brand%3DB rand&_trksid=p4375194.c101771.m47999&_trkparms=parentrq%3A9ba49d9818c0ad98aca1b6cbffff9 678%7Cpageci%3Ae1dc8488-a251-11ee-be74-3e7096064809%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage

[Gazjam]

For me it would depend on how much of a nostalgia hit it might be?

No doubt a great amp in its day,
State of the Art moves on though a fair bit in 40 years?

You buying for absolute perceived sound quality, or nostalgia?

My experience of that was hearing a well set up pair of Quad ELS63s and finding them a bit Meh in comparison to some more modern speakers I liked.
All those years of reading magazine reviews and forum posts as well...

Definitely taking a Punt on the Threshold,
Do you know its history?

Any niggles can be easily fixed by a decent Tech.

[oldius]

I had a Nelson Pass Stasis amplifier - Nakamichi CA7 pre and PA7 power - and it was licensed by Nakamichi from Threshold. IMO, they are superb products and mine gave flawless service. I did have it fully re-capped though, and it wasn't cheap, but it had a delicious sound quality.

[mikeyb]

Ok without taking import tax and vat into account it's twice the price of one available from Germany.

£1750 seems expensive, even for a 'recaped' one [emoji14]

I'd like to know who did the work before buying.

Go in with a low offer, they're selling the husbands kit so you never know an offer might be accepted.

[walpurgis]

An Adcom GFA-545 II would compete in performance at a lot less cost. It is also a Pass design.

[Wakefield Turntables]

its nearly £2K

I don't remember reading the price. Yep £2K is a nice wedge. I'd probably pass then.

[Swann36]

I like your wooden sideboard but what about air flow around the amps or do you put 1 on the top as you use it

[oldius]

I like your wooden sideboard but what about air flow around the amps or do you put 1 on the top as you use itThere is plenty of space above and holes cutout behind for each amps' cabling.

Sent from my 2201116TG using Tapatalk

[Macca]

Price is not unreasonable given the condition.
If you are buying for sound quality alone then I'd pass but if it's one you really wanted from the past, or you just like the looks (which are cool) then go for it.

[mikeyb]

The one in Germany is gone