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Why did you acquire them? Are you a person who enjoys a system because you love the music? Or do you enjoy "tweaking," "modding," or "re-building?" Are you attempting to build a tube-type system that you wish to optimize and then make it your primary listening system (or at least, a system you will be using on a regular basis), or is this an "experiment in progress" that will be a continuing "project" from now on?

If this is for your continuing listening enjoyment, I would be quite *nervous* placing the Stereo 70 into continuing service without replacing a few 40 to 50 year-old capacitors. I would STRONGLY suggest you acquire an "under chassis" capacitor board. Our benefactor, Joe, sells a GREAT one and since it is hidden under the chassis, the original quad capacitor can remain (disconnected) mounted to the chassis. I would also replace the four coupling capacitors on the Driver Board. The originals are rather notorious for becoming leaky. When you install the capacitor board, you will also replace the selenium rectifier and associated capacitors in the bias supply. Other than that, the rest of the parts will probably be fine!

But, if you are a "modder" at heart, have at it! After all, YOU bought the units.

BUT:

If you are expecting these units to significantly appreciate and become more valuable, you will probably be disappointed. It's quite doubtful that they will keep up with inflation. The Stereo 70 is the greatest selling amplifier of all time by a BIG margin! Exact numbers are not available, but estimates range from 300,000 to 500,000 units during the LONG production run. No other amplifier is even CLOSE to the number of Stereo 70's that were sold.

If you're looking for a brand that will appreciate, try a McIntosh. People forget that EVERY Dynaco unit was manufactured to sell at the LOWEST price possible - yet still *sound* very good. That was the GENIUS of the folks at Dynaco. They really KNEW which corners they could cut without diminishing the sound quality of the product significantly.

However, if these units are cosmetically outstanding, I would *STRONGLY* suggest that you avoid "BUTCHERING" them! As with classic cars, make sure that ANY change you make can be totally reversed later. In other words, no new holes in the chassis. Don't plate the transformer bells in chrome. (Many folks think it looks "expensive" and is desirable. It is not! It destroys the "Industrial Chic" look, but MUCH more importantly, it impedes the elimination of heat from the transformers.)

In other words, fix what needs fixin' and do your best to keep them LOOKING original.

Make sense?

Hope this helps.

Bill Thomas



Topic - Opinions (mod/restore or not) ST-70 PAS3 - bigkdunham@gmail.com 07:10:29 02/18/11 ( 5)