Anyone had their amplifier serviced?

[wolfie1]

I have found a site that offers full upgrades of key components for "old school" NAD amps. They replace OEM components with higher quality,modern equivalents.

A clearer midrange and top end, and better controlled bass are the alleged benefits, returning the amp to its former glory.

Has anyone had their amp (NAD or anything else) serviced, and what was the result?

[LPspinner]

Hi wolfie1

It’s a common practice with some brands of specialist amplification (Naim comes to mind) that every 10 - 15 years or so certain parts are replaced. The main offender are electrolytic capacitors as the electrolyte in these can dry out witch results in a lower than specified value. Most of the other componentry will hold its indicated value quite steadily and should not need replacing unless it fails.

Personally the overriding factor would be the cost of the service vs. the purchase cost of an amplifier. If it’s getting close to half the value of a new amplifier I would probably think twice. It all depends on how much you like the old amplifier in the first place. With the more exotic amplifiers, yes a service is cost effective because the replacement cost of the amplifier will be quite high. However with general consumer electronics, if the amplifier runs OK and you are happy with the sound, I would leave well alone. Save you money for a more exotic amplifier or spend the money on CD’s and music instead. Increasing the size of your music collection is the biggest upgrade you will ever make…

PS What was the URL to the website? I’m curious to see what he claims he does.

LPSpinner

[gazza73]

Not too sure about amplifiers but about 12 months ago I had to have the capacitors replaced on my Linn Karik CD player after they started to leak and the difference in sound quality was amazing. It was like a new CD Player. The whole musical picture was so much more focused and detailed. The most major difference was the quiet parts of the music that were so much more quiet than before. More capable of reproducing emotion and I suppose micro dynamics than before.

It was so night and day that I rang my dealer and asked what on earth he had done expecting a long list of new parts but it was only the capacitors that had been swaped for modern ones.

I don't know why this should happen but if it works for CD Player, I'm pretty sure it will has as much if not more of an effect on amplifiers.

[wolfie1]

Thanks for the comprehensive replies.

Here is the link to the company offering the NAD upgrade:

http://www.fideleaudio.co.uk

At only £80, the upgrade seems very good value for money considering the work that is done. Also, I am bearing in mind that I have been advised that I would need to spend near £500 or more on a new amp that would yield worthwhile improvements in sound quality over the classic NAD 3020e.

Also, I have found another firm that can offer significant upgrades to my Marantz CD63 player. Depending on the options I choose, this will cost up to £220.

http://www.chevinaudio.co.uk/index.htm

So, put the two together and a potentially "new" system for £300 which may cost upto £750 to match if buying new kit?

[rwtomkins]

Cyrus offer an overhaul service for their legacy amps, notably the Cyrus Two, and I had mine done by them. The main thing they do is replace the capacitors but they also check all the circuits for dry joints and fix any other faults they can find. They used to charge for parts and labour but they got fed up with people sending in amps, diagnosing the faults for them and providing estimates only for the owners to say they didn't want the work done after all. So now they charge a flat rate, which I think is running at £150 (inc. all parts, labour and VAT).

It's a lot of money for an old amp but you can justify it if you believe you would have to pay £1,000 for a present-day amp that could match the quality of an as-new Cyrus Two. In my case the capacitors were dying on me and I was very pleased with the results of the overhaul.

From what I understand capacitors do deteriorate over time and any audio equipment containing them would probably benefit from having them replaced after 10-15 years. This goes for amps, CD players and the crossovers in loudspeakers.

It would be useful to know of an outfit that offered this service across a range of brands at a reasonable price, but I don't know of one. Although Wilmslow Audio, the loudspeaker specialists, would probably do almost any crossover.

[jonny_B_good]

Dear Forum

I have just joined and this is my first post in the hope of getting some sound advice ...

I have just inherited a Cyrus integrated CD7 CD Player with Van Den Hul Source phono cables to a Cyrus 7 Amplifier and Cyrus CLS50 Maple speakers - all originally bought in 2001.

Sound is amazing and if a little too crisp and clear ! Audio picture however is better that I have ever heard before and it totally blows away the Cambridge Audio kit I had before.

Now; would any Forum members advise me to have an overhaul of the system and send it back to Cyrus just to "freshen things up" and can anyone advise on next steps for upgrades ?

Do the PSX-R's really make a difference to sound ? Would I need two power units (one for CD and other for amp) ? Would it be better as next step to get a Cyprus pre-amp ?

Also would like to add a radio.... Does anyone own the Cyrus DAB unit ?

Thanks in advance !

Jonny