Plasmason

REGENERATE

Do you own an amplifier, pre-amplifier, tuner, or integrated amplifier that is ten to fifty years old? Did you know that the electronic components used in these products typically have a life expectancy of only seven to ten years? Electronic components deteriorate with aging and temperature cycling. This slow deterioration over time can significantly change the electrical performance and audio quality of the product. Resistors tend to change resistance value and given enough time, losing their tolerance. Electrolytic capacitors can have life expectancy as low as 10,000 hours (a little more than a year of continuous use). The high quality electrolytic, typically has a life expectancy of only 50,000 hours (five and a half years of continuous use). These components should be replaced! Other types of capacitors can also deteriorate, typically exposing the leak. Transistors can not only short or open junctions, they can also leak, or become noisy. Transistors can deteriorate without junction failures, primarily due to outward migration, following packet failures. Vacuum lamps or valves require periodic replacement, as well as having problems with shorting, leaking and emitting. Commercial products typically use the most cost effective components. Plasmason, will use the best components available. The carbon composition of the resistors is used to preserve the original sonic characteristics. Where practical, polypropylene or polystyrene capacitors are used due to their good signal characteristics and low dissipation factor. Vishay resistors and Auricaps are available upon request at additional cost. Where electrolytic is required, computer grade or high temperature long life types are chosen, shunted with polypropylenes. Using high quality capacitors in the signal path yields a dramatic sonic improvement in most amplifiers. Any amplifier with severe distortion or blown fuses is in need of repair. Severe impairment is usually due to problems with the amplifier's power stages; although any malfunctioning stage may produce distortion. Blown fuses usually indicate problems with the power supply or amplifier output stages. The more subtle signs of a malfunctioning amplifier are mild to moderate distortion or a loss of musical clarity. These conditions could be due to aging and could be produced by any of the stages in the amplifier. If you have a transistor amplifier, here are some signs to look for, since determining if your amplifier is malfunctioning. Abnormal or uneven heating of the heat sinks, at idle, is a sign of incorrect currents, or the presence of compensation voltages, or both. If tapping the speaker switch on the amplifier makes a loud bang, that's a sign of compensating voltages. Not only will these conditions cause the amplifier to run hotter than normal, it can be destructive to loudspeakers. If you have a tube amplifier, here are some signs to look for, to determine if your amplifier is malfunctioning. Abnormal heating of the output transformers is a sign of bias or unbalance problems. A dull red glow from the internal tube structure or power tubes at idle is a sign of bias problems. If the internal structures of the power tubes glow bright red at idle, your amplifier is probably already destroyed. Biasing problems can cause lamps to draw too much current, resulting in shortened lamp life, output transformer heating, and additional power dissipation which could damage the supply transformer.