do electronics go off(stale)

[superpiper]

I tried listening to my Technics CDX5D amp via the headphone out a few nights ago.

The amp is seldom used (thanks to kids&time ) but i wondered how it would sound in respect to my ipod.

It sounded crap.

now , either it is crap , or the ipod is good, or the amp has "died"
So i'm wondering, would a digital class A amp degrade over time?

(I bought it in 1989)

Oh, and its digital via a toslink from the CD player, so no, the interconnects arn't rusty!!!

 

[Nerull]

Most of the time, on consumer equipment, the headphone jack is simply put on there to add to the functionality of the thing, not to be of audiophile-like quality. So chances are, it always sounded like crap. The iPod isn't the best of sources, but it'll probably outclass a headphone out jack on a piece of consumer equipment (most headphone outs are just tacked on).

Electronics also don't go "stale", but some will degrade given time (capacitors). Chances are the headphone jack always sounded like crap, hehe. Nothing a few thousand dollar Wadia can't fix.

~Thomas

 

[ericj]

Electrolytic capacitors can dry out over time, especially if stored in a hot, dry place - like an attic.

Sometimes the electrolyte 're-forms' after some time powered up, but lots of people are skeptical of that process.

It's pretty common for afficianados of vintage solid state gear to completely re-cap old stereo components. Even if the old caps seem to be functioning, newer electrolyte formulas beat the pants off of the old ones every day of the week and twice on sunday.

Edit: oh, just saw that you say it's digital via toslink. I doubt anything truly age-related would affect the digital path. Maybe the laser head is dirty?

 

[AudioCats]

I bet the DAC in the ipod is better than what is in the '89 amp. and let me see, hummm, 1989, wasn't everybody still using TL082 as audio opamps around that time?

NE5532 was the hot chip back then.

your iPod is good, congrets

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

iPods are good, think of it as a $300 source component that benefits from one of the best economy of scale, ever.

 

[germanium]

The dielectric in electrolytics is formed with electric & over time with no electric applied the dielectric will need to be reformed. This is done with a variac type variable transformer. during the reforming process you slowly turn up the voltage for a few days untill you reach standard full line voltage of 120 volts (america) or whatever the voltage is in your area. Old caps that haven't properly been reformed have benn known to arch over inside or develope pressure & bulge & several other small catastrophies. Caps needing reforming after long sitting stagnant is not a myth, it is fact. How much effect this has on sound is somewat questionable but at least I do think there is some improvement over time of use. Bad sonding amps exist though that sound bad no matter how well the dielectric is formed in the caps.

 

[ericj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by germanium /img/forum/go_quote.gif The dielectric in electrolytics is formed with electric & over time with no electric applied the dielectric will need to be reformed. This is done with a variac type variable transformer. during the reforming process you slowly turn up the voltage for a few days untill you reach standard full line voltage of 120 volts (america) or whatever the voltage is in your area. Old caps that haven't properly been reformed have benn known to arch over inside or develope pressure & bulge & several other small catastrophies. Caps needing reforming after long sitting stagnant is not a myth, it is fact. How much effect this has on sound is somewat questionable but at least I do think there is some improvement over time of use. Bad sonding amps exist though that sound bad no matter how well the dielectric is formed in the caps.

That, plus it's usually in a fluid suspension. If it's water based, re-forming the electrolyte helps but can never make it like-new.