Amplifiers

NE5 · 25 Jul 2025 at 00:38

I'm looking at new amplifiers, apologies if I've posted this before.

I don't want one with all fancy lighting and gadgets, just one with a wire input from a tablet, and/or a usb flash drive.

I want it to have tone controls, for my hearing.

My current rotel is now 30 years old, and even though I use it with an equaliser i can't get over the feeling that the sound has depreciated, and my aging ears don't help.

Either way, I'm prepared to buy a new amplifier.

Another Rotel, or something for my 8 year old KEFQ300 speakers

How much depreciation do people think this old amplifier will have ? Do you think a new one will be much better ? YOu can't get dems anymore, so its pure speculation I realise that, but I'll take the chance so long as the input is there.

kitfit1 · 25 Jul 2025 at 05:49

9 times out of 10 the reason for old amps sound to degrade is bad capacitors. They start to bulge and even leak.
If you have always liked your Rotel and it does what you want it to, consider having it serviced. A proper service by an expert will effectively bring the amp back into spec and render the amp as good as new.

hornetstinger · 25 Jul 2025 at 07:28

New amp like wiim amp pro will have a streamer, eq and peq functions

NE5 · 26 Jul 2025 at 12:30

kitfit1 said:
9 times out of 10 the reason for old amps sound to degrade is bad capacitors. They start to bulge and even leak.
If you have always liked your Rotel and it does what you want it to, consider having it serviced. A proper service by an expert will effectively bring the amp back into spec and render the amp as good as new.

where would you do that ? All the old electrical shops in Newcastle don't exist anymore, bar one, and the last time I went there he had a backlog a mile long.

kitfit1 · 26 Jul 2025 at 13:10

NE5 said:
where would you do that ? All the old electrical shops in Newcastle don't exist anymore, bar one, and the last time I went there he had a backlog a mile long.

Give Class A Audio in Sheffield a ring. They are primarily a Naim and Linn service center, but for a service and re-cap of a Rotel it would be a walk in the park for them.