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In Reply to: RE: Dynaco ST-70 vs Cronus Magnum posted by airtime on December 28, 2014 at 10:40:39
Would YOU go for the $2300 Cronus or the $800 ST-70?
Again for classical low level music and dependability
charels
Follow Ups:
If you want to use a passive, why the Cronus integrated instead of the Atlas amp?
marc g. - audiophile by day, music lover by night
Edits: 01/03/15 01/03/15
After giving it a moment or two of thought ... I think I'd go with the ST-70. Think how much fun building it will be. Think about how much CHEAPER it will be! Why fork over all the money for the preamp section of the Cronus when you will never use it. Makes no sense to me. With the passive you'll have zero maintenance, no preamp signal tubes to buy, and none of the sonic signature of the preamp superimposed on your music. The drawback as I see it of the ST-70 is the EL34's. I might be tempted to go for the ST-120. Your requirements may change with time and the extra oomph might come in handy some day.
You can get a volume pot on the Latino ST-70 so no preamp needed unless you have more than one source. The amp will run EL34, 6CA7, KT77, 6L6's, 6550's and KT88's. I'd also consider have Bob assemble it unless that is something you really want to do and I'd get it w/o tubes.
Agree completely on having Bob assemble it. If there ever becomes a need/desire to sell, it's much better to be able to say it was factory assembled.
So you're saying the OP won't use the phono preamp built into the Chronus?
What do you suppose is in the line stage section of the Chronus? I'd imagine a selector switch and a level control, much like a passive preamp. OTOH, a passive preamp will need to have reasonably low input impedance (in order to have reasonably low output impedance), and this is an issue that can be avoided by going with an integrated.
I don't need a phono section
And if I went with the ST-70 I was going to buy this passive preamp.
You might want to call Guy Hammel of Placette and tell him what you are thinking of using it with. If memory serves correctly, when I spoke with Guy a while ago he said the amp should ideally have a sensitivity of 1.0 volt or better for full output. The original Stereo 70 is not this sensitive (1.3 volts). I don't know what the sensitivity is for the Latino amp. If I am remembering this incorrectly I apologize in advance, but I'd verify the input sensitivity of the Latino amp and then talk with Guy before making a decision, or vice versa.
Edits: 12/30/14 12/30/14 12/31/14 12/31/14
I also want to use the passive for my solid state amp as well. Right now I am using a cobbled 10k passive attenuator with no trouble on my NAD C275BEE and as a source volume control on my Sherwood.
I should add that I REALLY want IR volume control. Being my source is a streaming player. And each channel has VERY different volume settings.
I don't know, I kinda need the Placette and I really don't need the ST-70. Just looking for toys to buy with my Christmas money ($2000)?
The Placette passive is supposed to be excellent. I almost bought one, once. I'd definitely talk with Guy first, though, and tell him what you might use it with - maybe there's more to it than just the level.
Edits: 12/31/14
9K is pretty low input impedance, what are your source components?
The Alps RK40 in the Cronus is a respected part, but it's still no switched attenuator. Your passive pre + ST-70 is actually ending up to be the same price as the Cronus.
The one other factor is whether you think you'll ever end up with 16 Ohm speakers, in which case the ST-70 will really come in handy.
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