If you say your modular design is reliable then you must first define
reliable............HP's, Kenwoods, Motorolas that have been in use
for thirty years or more will all have connector problems.


On one of my benches I have an HP-1707B, an Eico 950B, and a Heathkit
IG-72. All are older than 30 years. I let my nephews use this bench.
Nothing on the bench has connector problems.

If there is one general type of electronic equipment that has a wide
variety of -lots- of connectors it's the reel-to-reel deck. I have a
large collection of vintage decks including Akai, Rheem/Roberts, TEAC,
Sony, Wollensak, Ampex, Concertone, Viking.....etc, etc. Most of them
are more than 30 years old and none of them have, or had, connector
problems except for the occasional loose phone jack.

When I was in the USMC the only connectors I had to replace were on
coax cables (the operators were quite rough with them) and the big,
bulky interconnection cables used on the command amtraks (which had
about 20-30 radios and intercom units and were heavily abused). None
of the connectors inside the radios ever needed replacement.

When I was working at the commercial radio shop the story was about
the same; mostly coax connectors and the occasional power plug.

During my time at the station, the only connectors that needed
replacement were ones that had frequent and punishing use, mostly 1/4"
plugs & jacks and XLR's. I don't suspect that the connectors in this
amp will get that kind of use.

So for you to categorically declare that any equipment that has "been
in use for thirty years or more will all have connector problems" is
complete and utter bull****.

Attention. Sell your solder stock. It will fall drastically.

If those
same connectors were solder joints you would eliminate that aspect
of reliability.


Wrong. Interconnection wires that are soldered have a high rate of
failure in abusive environments. That's why auto manufacturers use
connectors, even under the hood (and out of the nearly two dozen
vehicles I've owned, none of them had any connection problems,
either).

I'll repeat myself. SELL YOUR SOLDER STOCK