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| Model: | Dynaco ST-70 KIT |
| Category: | Amplifier (Tube) |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $695 |
| Description: | An upgraded Dynaco ST-70 in KIT form |
| Manufacturer URL: | Dynaco ST-70 KIT |
| Model Picture: | View |
| Review by hubbard3@comcast.net on June 28, 2008 at 04:22:02 IP Address: 68.38.133.194 | Add Your Review for the Dynaco ST-70 KIT |
I was looking for Dynaco products on Audiogon and ran across an ad from Bob Latino. He offers a new ST-70 amp in kit form with all new or upgrades parts for $695. I`ve been wanting to try another tube amp for quite some time but the cost for even a used one is out of reach. I gave him a call, we talked and it was at my door in 3 days. All the parts are in separate resealable bags and clearly labeled. The assembly instructions are very easy and leave no guesswork. Included is a color pictorial of the completed bottom section so you can go back and check your work. I`ve never built a kit before and this one is a joy. The unit comes with a stainless steel chassis( gorgeous, looks like a mirror),upgraded driver board which takes 3- 12at7`s, 4 bias adjust pots for the EL34`s, exact copies and makeup of the original transformers and more. After assembly it took about 100 hrs. to really shine and I was very pleased. Being a 40+ year veteran tweakoholic in this hobby I asked Bob how I could go further. A few days later 4 Russian PIO caps arrived. I would suggest if you purchase the kit get these caps from the start they make a HUGE differance after broken in. Replaced the 12at7`s with GE triple mica and the EL34`s ( although the Valve Art supplied with the kit turned out to be really great tubes) with EH EL34`s. Tried many things , mostly hype , and I must say this is a sure keeper.
| Product Weakness: | none at all |
| Product Strengths: | price point for certain, ability to tweak to my hearts` content,texture and TONE quality, detail, real detail not electronically exaggerated HF to sound like you`re hearing more. |
| Amplifier: | ST-70 |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Musical Fidelity CR3 |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | CAL Aria and Euphonic Technologies |
| Speakers: | MMG`s and Cain and Cain Abby |
| Cables/Interconnects: | Sleltz anti cable and interconnect |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Rock, jazz, acostic |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 12 x 20 x 8 |
| Room Comments/Treatments: | acoustic foam panels |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | 30 days |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Powervar |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
How did it do driving the MMGs, and how long did it take to build??
Hello,
I'm happy when I see post like this where people in the hobby found the equipment they like. It made my day!
I too have a Dynaco ST-70. I have mine for 5 years now and counting. Although mine have the Full Curcio mods. I drove many speakers with my amp (Altec 604's, Bozak Rhapsody, Fostex base 167E in MLTL, Insignia, Vintage Panasonic, and even the red headed step child BOSE 301's), and love the sound. I am fortunate that my unit is so quiet and the transformers are in pristine condition, other reasons why I can never let go of the amp. I felt like I will never find another one close to the condition of what I have. Granted that most of the decals on the chassis have seen better days, the PT and OPT's does not have a single scratch on them let alone burnt marks.
Congratulations! I am happy for you!
regards,
Abe
I have to agree with Mr. Hubbards comments.
I've built both Bob Latino's ST-70 and his new ST-120. They are the most fun electronic kits I've ever built. His directions are detailed and well thought out.
I also am using the Russian PIO .22 UFD coupling caps in both amps. Bob can provide a matched set for each amp. I must make a warning in using these caps. They have a bare metal case and bare metal leads - and the leads are quite short. Be extremely careful when mounting them on the VTA board. You must avoid having either the case or the leads touch anything nearby. In building my ST-70, one of my output tubes had runaway bias and couldn't be biased until I discovered one of the leads for the PIO on that tube was just touching one of the nearby 12AT7 socket PCB pins protruding through the back of the board. I trimmed down those pins and applied teflon PTFE tubing to the leads to ensure isolation. That solved the problem.
I can't recommend these kits strongly enough.
I am fascinated by that ST-120. I gather you are happy with the performance. What speakers have you tried it with? I'm wondering how it would work with the insensitive Joseph RM33's.
I'm thrilled with the performance. I'm using EI KT-90's and Gold Lion KT88's. I really like the Weber WZ68 rectifier with this amp. It really adds to the power and I like it better than a tube rectifier, including the Mullard GZ34. The transformers Bob had made for this amp are really special. I'm using the ST-120 on Quad 988's where it seems to have plenty of power to spare, even in triode mode. This is a quiet amp. With my ear next to the speakers, I hear nothing, no hum at all.
I'm thinking about trying the Weber rectifier in a Bell 2420 to replace the 6CA4.
Excellent and acurate review thanks for bringing it to peoples attentionI remember the ST70 my father had in the basement hooked up to a pr of Bozaks. So a few years ago I wanted to try tubes again and bought a working ST70 for about 325 delivered. It sounded fine but I wanted to upgrade the 40 year old circut and did my research. I found the VTA board from Tubes for Hifi about $135 in kit.
Took me a few hours to put togther and install. This is the same board and design Bob uses (Amp in review). All I can tell you is it became a world class 35 watt amp. I also put in a Mallard rectefier tube (This is a must if you want the best bass welll worth the $70) The bass became nothing short of amazing. Three dimentional sound and stable.
I Use this amp as a back up with my Botllehead foreplay III preamp and empire 698 TT in my second system and depending on the speakers I try this system competes with my 10K PASS labs system on some levels
I highly recomend this mod or Bobs amps, Both guys are excellent to deal with. I'm sure this amp can compete with the likes of Quick silver and any other el34 based amp if not better them...
Three friends and myself just finished about a 4 hour session with the Bob Latino ST 70. Music was varied, but mostly jazz, blues and folk. Both analog and digital sources were used. Alternately driving a set of Salk SongTowers or Dynaudio 140s, the Latino was quite transparent and possessed a sense of ease beyond what you might expect from only 40 tube watts. I might also add that this amp can sound "real". Given good program material, the performers are in the room. Both speakers used are rated as 4 ohm loads, so that would seem to make things a little more awkward for your average med. power tube amp. No problems were noted over the 4 hour span. The Dynaudios being smaller and bit more power hungry were a little less convincing in the bass, but still quite respectable. The only departure from the stock amp is a quad of Genalex re-issue KT 88s and 3 NOS Mullard 12AT7s. I might add that the new beefier power transformer Bob uses allows the use of the 6550 family of tubes..... in addition to EL 34s, 6L6s , etc.
Thanks for the review. I wondered about those kits, but I have a
ST-70 in my closet that needs the Curcio mods done. I had second
thoughts after purchase. Now I think I can do it. It will make a nice
summer evening (s) project. Thanks again for the review.....DK
Its avaialble as a kit with all parts or put together. Excellent customer service
http://www.tubes4hifi.com/
Head over to the Dynaco forum (and tube DIY). What you need to do to bring that to life has been discussed many times. You may already know what needs to happen, but the archives are worth a search anyway. Topics like power supply boards, driver boards, new tube sockets, etc... are all there.
Ya, I have it all I just needed to be inspired to do it. This review
has inspired me......DK
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