We all know that amps aren’t cheap and they need to be replaced when they die on themself. Some people can get lazy and just put off buying new ones after it dies, while others just buy a new one the next day or even on the same day.
While some of these people may do that because they don’t want to wait, others may just want to replace their amp right away so it will work properly for longer without issues.
Regardless of your reasons, we still believe everyone should know how long an amplifier lasts before you replace it so you don’t get stuck with a faulty amp and have wasted your money on repairs only to find out it would’ve been better if you bought a new one from the beginning.
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Amplifier’s Life:
Generally, amplifiers either last 3-5 years or about 2-3 years depending on your usage and conditions. This is because they’re made with the same material and parts as before ( these could be better but they’re still made up of the same stuff ).
However, over time your amps may get more defective states where they stop working properly or when you notice that sound quality has lowered when compared to its performance in the past.
Due to this and other factors such as poor use and aging processes, it’s quite common for amplifiers to go bad by the time their warranty period is up, which usually happens around 3 years or even earlier than that.
How to Choose an Amplifier that last long?
Chances are you no longer have to ask this question anymore because it has become one of the most common concerns among people buying an amplifier. Attaining the best amplifier for your needs wouldn’t be easy if you don’t know how to choose one that will last long even during its lifespan.
1. Amplifier’s Type:
This is definitely one of the factors that you must consider when choosing an amplifier. You should choose amplifiers that are of good quality and of course, quality materials provided by them whether new or used. With all these benefits, you can be sure that your amps would last long even before its warranty period ends up.
2. Type of Amplifiers:
This is what’s known as Class D amplifiers, and these are the top amps that provide good performance and still last long even during its lifespan. Such amps may include Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, JL Audio and many others that we’ve listed in this article.
3. Amplifier Materials:
Up to this time, we’ve listed the most common materials in an amplifier which includes aluminum-magnesium alloy, solid state and vacuum tube (valve). But there are also other types of materials including ceramic magnets and germanium transistors.
Best 5 materials for Amplifiers:
1. Aluminum-Magnesium Alloy:
This is known as the best material for making good quality amplifiers that provide the best performance and even last longer than usual.
2. Solid State:
This is another type of material used to make amplifiers. But it’s still not as good as aluminum-magnesium alloy when it comes to providing performance and durability during its lifespan.
3. Vacuum Tube (Valve):
This type of amplifier is also used to provide high quality and long lasting products, but it’s still not as reliable and convenient during its lifespan than aluminum-magnesium alloy and solid state.
4. Ceramic Magnets:
These are also used to make amplifiers, but even though these provide great sounds, they’re not as reliable as aluminum-magnesium alloys.
5. Germanium Transistors:
This is the least durable type of amplifier materials. This is because it’s used in cheaper amplifiers to provide well-balanced audio performance, which would probably last around 2 years or even less than that if you don’t take care of it too much.
How to Make an Amplifier Last Long?
Now that you’ve chosen the right amplifier for your needs and now, you’re still wondering how to make it last long so it would not disappoint you by going bad too early.
Here are some tips on how to use amplifiers properly to help them last long:
1. Keep it Cool:
If possible, keep the amp in a cool environment so it would work smoothly and won’t have any problems or encounter any issues later on. This is because amplifiers tend to overheat from time to time especially if they’re being used for a longer period of time.
2. Don’t Overload Your Amp:
This is as simple as it sounds, don’t overload your amplifier by playing high wattage speakers with low impedance ratings. This may cause the amp to stop working over time due to overheating and other issues involving its internal parts.
3. Save Money:
You’ll need money to repair your amps if they encounter issues later on due to overloading or overheating, so make sure that you don’t do this since it’ll cost you a lot of money if you don’t know how to make an amplifier last long at all.
4. Clean it Regularly:
Whether you’re using an old or new amplifier, don’t forget to keep cleaning its fan (if it has one), input jacks and many other parts to make sure that its internal parts are working smoothly.
5. Keep the Cables Organized:
Try to keep your cables organized since they can easily wear out if they’re tangled up which can also cause performance issues with your amps in the future.
Conclusion:
Getting an amplifier that lasts long isn’t difficult at all if you know what you’re doing and how to pick one that will be reliable and convenient for your needs. It’s also very important to choose amplifiers of good quality and made with quality materials so it could provide the best performance even during its lifespan.
FAQ:
Q: How long do amps last?
A: In a decent amp, they tend to last many thousands of hours, therefore providing years of use, but they do fail over time. Provided that an amp does not run really hot, like a pure Class-A design (e.g., Plinius, Gryphon, and certain Pass amps), the best way to increase longevity is to keep it powered up 24/7.
Q: How long do preamp tubes last?
A: Preamp Tubes are generally at their best 2 – 3 years. Power Tubes are generally at their best 1 – 1.5 years. Rectifier Tubes are generally at their best 3 – 5+ years. Loss in signal in one or more modes of the amp (channel, reverb, fx-loop) Low end response is not as clear and distorts earlier.
Q: How long can an amp last in a closet?
A: Between heat and vibration alone, there’s enough energy in the room to damage a lot of stuff in 28 years. And if the amp’s been sitting in a closet for much of that time, you may find some disgusting stuff inside when you pop the case. There’s no reason why an amplifier can’t be kept in excellent condition for many decades.
Q: How long do guitar tubes last?
A: The usable life of any tube will depend on how hard it’s actually used in the circuit. Some circuits will use tubes harder than others and we all know that some players play harder than others. Power tubes can last years in a light-playing situation while lasting only 6 months in heavy playing conditions.