Capacitor failure rate

Can anyone tell me why capacitors can last much longer than their 'mean time before failure' specification in an audio amp?
I mean - I have run tube and S.S amps for decades and have never suffered a failure (except where the diy design company has got it wrong.... but that's another story).
The reason I ask is that I am considering an amplifier to add to my collection that has so much filtering/ reservoir capacitance that if the caps did fail or dry out.... I'd have to spend more than my car is worth to replace them! it's quite a worry.

 

Quark being a quantum partical specialist, I would have though you would have know the answer
Caps, 'lifed hours' usually refer to the 'In-use working time', when a cap is idling so to speak, they can last decades, so if your amps at stand by, the draw/load through the caps is some what different different.
Depends too on caps construction materials and applications too, like 'M' caps in the manger driver arrays (maybe )
I have an old trio amp 26 years old, caps are orignal and still functioning, without any signs of distress, prehaps they knew what they were doing then. Wm

 

Mr Master Wadia,
Many thanks for your reply. Hey I'm not a quantum physicist; just an alien with big ears!
I need help too you know! But.. You forgot how temperature affects a cap, oil filled or not. Ha!
So what about the Akku/ batteries in a big Shaeffer ASR/ AKU amp? Such batteries gradually drop off peak in an alarm system and have to be replaced, so what happens to them in the Shaeffer AKKU?
Has the ASR amp or it's power supply every caused you a concern? How long have you had them?
Thanks for any info you can supply.
Mr Quirky Quarky.

 

Quark, I'm afraid most of my budget goes on feeding the local church mice at the parish of St Manger of the blessed aural redemption, so all my time is spent helping needy lesser mortals of the lower planes of hifidom.
So my experiance is some what limited in the field of asr amplification, since your post was specifically for cap lifing and not battery degregation over time, may I be excused sir?, I am but a poor soul who needs sonic enlightment to help me through these dark, dank, purtred souless audio voids can you and your zeroboxes help my plight?, my life is but a boil on the bum of humanity without your divine guidence of master of coopers pairs.
I feel we all must pilgrimage to Manger Uk, to cleanse our souls from this vile stentch which is music, praise be to hifi, forgive us Quark for we have sinned, lets us prey for exorisum of the unholy ghost of mere mortal hifi :kneel:

 

Ha! yer a funny guy Wadia Monster - if somewhat over zealous in your worship of false deities of the lesser audio churchdom. You should take time in resurgence brother; regroup your spirits, renew your faith and finally take joy in the pleasures of the Great Earth-Mother Sound System. About the pilgrammage however, at least you have shown a modicum of repentance; for that at least The Earth Mother may forgive.......
I'll be checking on your progress later my boy.

 

Oh ancient and wise sage quark, please forgive my unreverence towards the great god of sound (Manger), my unforgiving towards "the best at any price" was dashed upon hearing them for the first time, my expectations we bolstered & underpinned by more than one 'Orgasmic inducing owners claims" coupled with the prospect of cheaper US imports, Gleefully did I make the pilgrimage to a 'born again audio christain' , there they confronted me, resplendant, purposefull, yet understated, whilst almost juicing my silkies with anticipation, the play botton was resleased, the moment came, the first chord was struck.............................YEE Gods, what tis this sound Oh enuthuisatic owner ? Tis M/F on speed (the accuracy, the detail, partial dynamics & openiness we somewhat above average, but music ???), surely I must be mistaken, but NO a further 2 hours left an Artic sensation, with a generous layer of frosting piped on top, sadly I could not share the owners relentless enthusing for said sound gerenation devices
Please forgive my cardinal sin, I'll cast myself into the firey pits inaccurate musical reproduction, uttering those infamous words before I depart, "Brothers lets us Rock"
Prehaps, the are a few disconcerning audiophiles, who collections, just extents past Pat barber, Dina Krall, Nora Jones, Barquet, 'trad jazz kats' and dares to venture into late 60's early 70's prog rock, with a dash of Mahlar on one of his 'off days', then sir, the zeroboxes will find a match made in audio heaven.
I salute you. Wm

 

I heard them too, shortly before needing to be rushed to casualty to be treated for metaphorical frostbite of the eardrum......

.... but I would not be so uncharitable as to imply that these events may be related.

Cheers