|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
69.142.61.247
Ok I HAVE to make a choice in two weeks.
The deciding factors are:
1- heat - I'm moving to Arizona and will be in a room 10-12ft at BEST. so I can't get anything that generates too much heat.
2- Sound quality for music. That's all I want - plain and simple. Classical music of all kinds.
3- Listening level is normal to low. NO loud stuff so I don't need power.
4- My speakers are 89db and I am currently using a 20 watt amp with MORE than enough power.
5- Preamp is a Conrad Johnson with a 6922 tube.
6- To a lesser extent price. Yes I am on a budget.
My choices are the Latino ST-70 or Triode ST-35. I need the better kit for my needs. Some questions are the 35 uses diode rectification. However I always remembered the EL34 ST-70 as a fine amp. I had a 35 as a kid and remember that one fondly as well. I'm REALLLLYYY confused!!!
Any advice or input would be appreciated.
charles
Follow Ups:
The Latino ST-70.
Why:
1- It comes with all the bells and whistles.
2- I originally fell in love with audio listening to an original ST-70. So I'm sure this model should hold up.
3- It will not generate an too much heat as to be a problem.
4- I can switch outputs if I choose to one day. So there is a flexibility later on if I choose. Like KT-66's.
5- The chassis is plated and well dressed.
Now I have to sell it as a present.
Thank you all for your patience in this matter.
charles
It is well above the original in performance and I don't think it will run as hot. I'd have Bob build it, sans tubes, and get the output tubes you like.
Can't afford to have a built one. But I am "handy" and did repair stereos as a hobby years ago.
THanks all
I'm not that partial to either of these tubes. The best sounding non-DHT tube I have found for chamber music in PP is the KT66 Gold Lion Genelex remake. That's been pretty much true for all the PP amps i ever owned that could use this tube in class A, B, and AB. I also found the KT77 far better than the EL34 to my ears and brain. The EL84 will work very well on lively stuff, like the Four Seasons, but sounded kind of thin on Bach's cello suites and not very rich on his violin sonatas and partitas. If you're a Mahler, Bruckner, Sibelius, etc.-lover, you have to throw a lot of money at that kind of music to really hear all of it, tube or SS.
I think you need to try the 6V6 or its close relations. They are excellent triode wired and darned good full pentode/UL.
Other people have said, short of #45s, you will not get better sound in this power range.
Eli D.
Although i do still have a triode-wired PP amp that takes the KT66.
On the negative side of the VTA ST-70
1. The VTA ST-70 cost $130 more than the Triode ST-35.
2. The tube set for the ST-35 is also less costly.
On the positive side for the VTA ST-70
1. The VTA ST-70 has double the power and will give about 3 dB more headroom.
2. The VTA ST-70 may be operated in ultralinear or triode mode.
3. The VTA ST-70 may use either a tube or solid state rectifier.
4. The Triode ST-35 uses only EL84/7189 type output tubes (or the Russian 6p14p) while the VTA ST-70 may use 6L6, EL34, KT66, KT77, KT88 or 6550 output tubes.
5. The VTA ST-70 may be set up for 4, 8 or 16 ohm speakers while the ST-35 only has 4 or 8 ohm taps.
6. The VTA ST-70 has an optional volume control (if you just have a single high level signal source) that may be used in place of the unused stereo/mono switch on the front of the chassis. This could be added to the ST-35 but you would have to drill a hole in the chassis.
7. The VTA ST-70 has an optional Time Delay Relay board for use with solid state rectifiers.
Like Mossback and SETdude, I find the Latino ST-70 a real gem. As far as small rooms in AZ., I've got one and the Latino will be fine. On the other hand, my LM 218ia will have that same small room quite toasty within an hour. It's worth it though. This is not so much an issue in the non summer months. I have a feeling all the Gold Lion re-issues ( KT66 thru KT88 ) are a winner in this amp as well. The KT77 has been mentioned by Mossback, plus I've used the KT88's with great success and I know Bob Latino likes the KT66.
I love EL-84 tubes and own a number of amps that use them including a new ST35.
For your needs I would suggest the Latino ST-70. An EL84 in a small room with those speakers would most likely work OK Bobs amp would for sure be very pleasing.
I'm not a big fan of Dynaco ST-70's. A few years ago I totally rebuilt my friends ST-70 to Bobs kit. That amp turned into a wonderful thing not even close to a Dynaco any more. I also suggest using the reissue GL KT77 tubes. Sponsor Jim McShane will get you on track with tubes.
Good luck and let us know how it worked out.
I agree and the Latino ST-70 won't be any hotter than a 6BQ5. Hey, it's a dry heat in AZ. ;-)
Since you have the 6BQ5 Sherwood go for the Latino ST-70. You have a lot of flexibility with output tubes and you may enjoy the triode mode. My 2 cents.
Edits: 07/27/15
Put UF4007 diodes in the ST-35's PSU and the switching noise level DROPS.
As heat is an issue, the lower powered amp, with SS rectified B+ is (IMO) the clear winner.
If you really want to beat the heat, find a tube/FET hybrid of modest power O/P.
Eli D.
So how would you describe the sound quality between these two amps or tube types?
Implementation details are key . FWIW, I own a 250 WPC hybrid, whose voice is darned close to that of my refurbed H/K Cit. 2. However, I gather you don't need that kind of power, expense, and heat.
I did a quick search and came up with some Class "A" DIY stuff. Class "A" = heat. :> ( You need to come up with something Class "AB".
Eli D.
The EL-84s will dissipate less heat than the EL-34s-
also less power-
EL-84 PP - are 12 -30 watts / pr depending upon the circuit
Less in triode mode-
the EL-34s in a PP amp can be good for 30-50 watts
The sound in a PP or Triode will depend greatly upon the OPT-
the little HeathKit UA-1 or 2 and the Dynaco have great iron...
Back to the heat for a moment- where will you be during the winter?, you may want the EL-34 to keep warm....
Happy Listening
Aren't EL-84s also called 6 Bar B Q 5s because they are run so hard. I don't think there is that much disparity when compared with the EL-34s. I never did understand why heat from an amp -the wattage they waste as heat- when sitting 8-10 feet away mattered any more than using a multi bulb light fixture. They are both too hot too touch, but who sits so close or on top of their tube amps. Stay away from you amp while playing, don't run them so hard, and if need be, use your central air.
Steve
A long time ago I had a pair of Dynaco MKiii monoblocks fitted with KT-88 output tubes.The thing ran so hot, that after 20 minutes I couldn't take the heat and had to move out of my listening area or turn it off. This is in a 15x18 foot room, in New Jersey, in the winter. Do don't tell me heat isn't an issue.
My Sherwood seems to emit the same or maybe even less heat as my NAD C275BEE SS amp. So no problem with that tube type.
Perhaps it was the Dyna's running KT88's? I have had many tube amps and none of them were furnaces. The 6BQ5 Eico HF81 does get very hot.
I think one of the Bob Carver 300 watt behemoths would be an issue. Smaller tube amps generate less heat than most Class A SS amps.
My vote would be EL84 but EL34's are nice and let you use KT77's, one of my all-time favs.
"A lie is half-way around the world before the truth can get its boots on."
-Mark Twain
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: