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After months of research and pestering posts I finally decided on the Latino ST-70 kit with EL34 output tubes.
My reasons are - and not limited too:
I am familiar with the ST-70. It was my first WOW moment in audio. Why I sold it???????????????????
It is a well reviewed design based on the classic ST-70.
High quality parts right out of the box. No long tweaking process and parts sourcing long after it's built.
From reviews it has a great set of instructions and plenty of support if you run into any problems.
The basic ST-70 is a rock solid amplifier. I've had one and it's pretty tough and isn't a tube eater.
Great iron. In the end when it comes to tubes it really is all about the "iron" quality.
Well dressed extra thick steel and plated chassis.
Output tube flexibility. If down the road I feel a need to "play" I can try different output tube types.
At 60 watts extra power is always a plus. And a bit extra headroom doesn't hurt.
Thanks for putting up with me and not banning me for life with my endless prattling posts.
Thank you all
charles
Follow Ups:
Just one thing. It's a new circuit. It's not a Stereo 70.
"Just one thing. It's a new circuit. It's not a Stereo 70."
Exactly: one more reason to buy the Latino kit.
I am confident that it still retains the bones of the original unit. It's based on a good and well tested design. Basically a fully tweaked out version.
I'm not that worried.
thanks
charles
I didn't mean it as a negative just that it's significantly different than the old Stereo 70 circuit and the main thing both amps have in common is they are push/pull tube designs.. I'd be surprised since it isn't as limited economics wise if it isn't better especially given what we've learned over half a century.
+1
Hopefully it all works out well for you.
Years ago I rebuilt My bought New ST70 with a Full Curcio rebuild... $$$.
Loved it until my brother brought over his then New NAD. the AB comparison resulted in my.. Never.. powering up the ST70 again.
What I thought was Exemplary sounds (hey! I was Young and Naïve)
were actually Farty Bass and truncated highs.
All this on Tannoy GRF's .. a V forgiving of crappy gear speaker.
G'luck
Edits: 08/04/15 08/04/15 08/04/15
I've seldom heard that kind of statement from someone going from similar priced tube to SS and I've NEVER heard it from someone that got an NAD and I was an NAD dealer and we carried the silver series.
E
T
I really don't like to slam a product, person or design. But what eventually turned me off and caused me to sell off my original ST-70 was doing the full Curcio mods. It really, I mean REALLLYYYYYYYYY sucked to fun out of that amp. Now I can see how that NAD did sound betterAfter having SEVERAL NAD products I would have to agree. Ironic as this may sound, the ST-70 will be replacing a NAD C275BEE that is currently in the setup. I've tried EVERYTHING to sweeten this amp up. And NO dice!
That's one dry amp fells!!!!
charles
Edits: 08/05/15
The most important thing is that you're sure/satisfied. Rarity means little. There are many variables in a tube amp that are not there in an SS amp. Tube strength, bias etc. Good luck!
E
T
After decades of collecting and generally hoarding stereos, I've come to the conclusion that I am, at heart, a tube kinda guy.
I TRIED making an effort to bring my audio tastes up into the 21st century. But all the new gear I tried left me "flat" and going back to my vintage/tube stuff. Right now I mainly use a Sherwood S-5000 that was fully rebuilt by Mike Samra. It really, I mean REALLY would be hard to compete against this little dynamo of an amp.
The Conrad Johnson Classic 2SE (which happens to be new and I DO happen to like - tubed) is going to be paired with the ST-70 as my second "A" system. I like to rotate "A" systems every other month to keep life interesting.
Used with my Quads, its glorious, Bottle head foreplay III preamp Sim moon Phono and thorens TT.
I had this amp when I had a Rogue Tempest II 100 watt integrated with Spendor SP1/2e. and the bass on the Bob Latino ST70 (Really Tubes 4 HIfi VTA board) was better.
You made a wise decision.
Sweet setup
The Latino amp chassis is stainless steel, not plated.
Do yourself a favor and order a Genelex reissue GZ34 rectifier from Jim McShane.
John K.
Let us know how the build goes. I'd love to build one myself but I don't have a lot of spare time on my hands. I might get one that is pre-built someday.... or if 'someday' is several years out I might have time to build one! Enjoy.
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