It's like the audio engineer that told his wife:

[themagicmanmdt]

I love you, plus or minus 2db


but, no, seriously


anybody finding any older gear that, even reasonably restored, is just not 'to spec' anymore? transformers drooping? you name it.

it's interesting to see or hear how old gear isn't (or is still) fixable and amazing sounding 30-50 years later.

[The Real MC]

I love you, plus or minus 2db

So it's not how many dB it is, but how you use it?

[Darlington Pair]

I love you, plus or minus 2db

So it's not how many dB it is, but how you use it?

Yes, because of hard limiting.

[Scodiddly]

Transformers changing behavior is *very* interesting, since it really shouldn't be happening.

Maybe picking up some magnetization of the core? That came up a long while ago in some pro audio forum as part of a "turning off phantom power before plugging in" discussion. The claimed solution for transformers that had picked up a bit of a magnetic charge was to send some strong AC through there, sort of like degaussing tape heads.

[jhharvest]

If it's old, old transformers then I wouldn't be surprised that even the ratios might change over time. The lacquer insulating the wound wire disintegrates over time and that might short out sections of it. Mechanical vibration over decades might loosen the coils. With a small transformer the surface could theoretically oxidise. I don't know if this ever happens though but in theory given how much old gear there is...