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It's official the tube amps have been put away

68.231.156.10
Posted on June 17, 2017 at 12:35:26
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Well, only stored. With temps topping out at 118-120 all week it was finally time to unhook the Latino ST-70. At least until around October or late September.

But don't worry because I hooked up the Sherwood S-5000 in it's place - oh I love that stereo! Yes it's tubes but it puts out far less heat.

In between I like to rotate my Conrad Johnson Classic 2SE preamp and fully restored Marantz 250M power amp. Kind of a Spring Fall type setup.

I also have a NAD C275BEE power amp. However that actually puts out as much heat as the ST-70. It's a cooker!

 

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RE: It's official the tube amps have been put away, posted on June 17, 2017 at 12:48:14
DannyR
Audiophile

Posts: 611
Joined: January 21, 2001
 I have a Van Alstine fet valve hybrid amp that also gets as hot as my tube amps. Have you ever considered bolting a fan to the top of your st70's cage to keep it cool during the summer? A really large 220v fan running at 120v seems to do the job and doesn't really make any noise.

 

What is a Latino ST70?, posted on June 17, 2017 at 16:51:53
briggs
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Connecticut
Joined: April 16, 2002
 Is the chassis lettering in Spanish?

 

RE: It's official the tube amps have been put away, posted on June 17, 2017 at 18:38:18
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 4594
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005
Ya, we were all worried about what you were going to do about that. All kidding aside, it's only in the 90's in Prescott. Still using tubes, although it's only a 8 watt per channel amp.....

 

RE: It's official the tube amps have been put away, posted on June 17, 2017 at 19:16:14
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 When I got in my Jeep the thermometer read 132 degrees - Yowza! the next few days they are predicting 118 or so. But in the sun (132 degrees) it's killer! We lost five hikers in the last two days from the heat.

How's the fire situation up there? I was just hiking up there just before the fires.

 

RE: What is a Latino ST70?, posted on June 17, 2017 at 19:17:20
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I'm sorry it is a VTA ST-70 made by Bob Latino. People just seem to call them "Latino's". But Dynaco is still printed on the chassis.

 

Yeah, but, posted on June 17, 2017 at 20:45:22
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37589
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 It's a dry heat. :)

 

RE: Yeah, but, posted on June 18, 2017 at 07:23:43
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Even in the sun I can hike into the low hundreds. Once it gets above 104 you are taking your life in your hands. Something about 104 seems to be the human physiological cut off point.

this time of year in central Arizona the news reports a death or two a week, mostly tourists, that die because of the heat. Last week three Germans and three locals in their 20's.

I still work in the yard or in my garage for an hour before I have to either sit down or go inside to cool off. You do acclimate to higher temperatures. I prefer and feel more comfortable with temps in the mid 90's


 

So..., posted on June 18, 2017 at 15:01:49
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37589
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 how high do you allow your listening room to rise? Do you require frequent hydration?

I've got sixteen 6550C outputs going in my amps. Upstairs thermostat set to 79 with ceiling fan on low speed. Quite comfortable for me. :)

 

RE: Yeah, but, posted on June 18, 2017 at 17:06:02
fredtr
Audiophile

Posts: 1987
Location: Phoenix
Joined: January 4, 2005
 I'm also in the Phoenix area, sort of adjusted to it by schedule and activities. Bike ride and other things outside 5AM to around 9AM. In the pool 5:30PM to 8:30PM.

Some years switch to lower power tubes, but solar panels and more BTU's compensate for the tubes.

 

RE: It's official the tube amps have been put away, posted on June 18, 2017 at 20:50:58
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 4594
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005

No fires here in Prescott....

 

You need some SET, posted on June 19, 2017 at 07:57:02
dadbar
Audiophile

Posts: 1675
Location: Portland OR
Joined: June 29, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 25, 2006
 My 2A3 amp puts out very little heat.....and very little power, too. Perfect for summa.

 

Another Suggestion, posted on June 19, 2017 at 13:18:26
Lee of Omaha
Dealer

Posts: 1800
Location: Omaha NE
Joined: September 8, 2006
 We modify ST-70s using the 6SN7 tubesforhifi 6SN7 board. With the earlier power transformer the extra heater current draw causes the transformer to run hot. We use a wimpy but quiet little 12 volt fan run at 9 volts. You can't hear it from 3 feet away.

It took a transformer from to hot to leave your hand on (too hot!) to just warm (you could leave your hand on it comfortably all day) in 20 minutes.

Since transformers are just insulation, copper wire, and iron, as long as you cool them you can run them over spec without trouble.

Based on that and another experience, it is amazing how little air you have to move to make a major difference in temperature.

 

RE: Another Suggestion, posted on June 19, 2017 at 14:23:33
briggs
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Connecticut
Joined: April 16, 2002
 The ST70 should have been the ST50. It is not a legitimate 35 wpc amp.

 

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