The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


4 posters

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70

    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Admin


    Posts : 3260
    Join date : 2008-11-26
    Location : Massachusetts

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 Empty The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70

    Post by Bob Latino Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:03 am

    I had a customer Email me and mention that at one time he had a version of the Dynaco ST-70 made by Audio Research between 1970 and 1974). He said it ran really hot, broke down a few times but sounded good when it was working right.

    Audio Research had 3 versions of the Dynaco ST-70 that they put out during the early '70's - the C1, C2 and C3 (photos of each and a schematic of the C3 below).

    C1 below > The C1 used a tube rectifier with two OA2 voltage regulator tubes. The driver circuit used SIX driver tubes (three for each channel). This amp had THIRTEEN tubes on a relatively small 9 1/2 inch by 13 inch chassis. No wonder the amp ran hot! It had 4 X EL34 or 6L6 output tubes, 2 X 12AX7, 4 X 6FQ7, 2 X OA2 and a 5AR4/GZ34 tube rectifier.

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 ARC_C1_zpsgblazkqq

    C2 below > Pretty much the same tube line up but now the front tube sockets were capped and the amp has better output terminals on the rear.

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 ARC_C2_zpsodvp7cfx

    C3 below > Gone is tube rectification and the circuit has been altered now with 3 X 12AX7's and no OA2 voltage regulators. (only 11 tubes now) This last version was available now as an UPGRADE to existing ST-70's. You sent your ST-70 to Audio Research with a check for $385 and they did the upgrade for you and shipped the amp back to you. I do not think that many were sent in. The $385 was about triple the cost of the original ST-70 in kit form. The C3 version also used a much larger board that was suspended below the original board opening.

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 ARC_C3_zpsfozvsbts

    ARC C3 schematic below ..

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 ARCST_70C3_zpsb0scmeh4

    Bob

    DougWHolt likes this post

    Roy Mottram
    Roy Mottram
    Admin


    Posts : 1840
    Join date : 2008-11-30

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 Empty Re: The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70

    Post by Roy Mottram Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:54 am

    I used to sell quite a few of these 10-15 years ago on ebay, I had my own board layout and parts kit, with much better quality PCB and parts than the ARC kit.
    But I quit selling them because they weren't anywhere near half as good as the VTA70 board, which is so much simplier and so much less money!
    www.tubes4hifi.com/ST70.htm
    avatar
    Bluesman


    Posts : 1
    Join date : 2010-08-02

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 Empty Re: The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70

    Post by Bluesman Thu Jun 18, 2015 11:29 am

    I have an ARC-ST70-C3 that I bought in 2010 in partially completed form. The chassis and all parts were new, so evidently one could buy a version of this amp even if they did not have a donor Dynaco chassis and transformers. Or maybe the Dynaco parts were sourced elsewhere.

    It had some wiring completed, with build manual checked off to match what had been done. Had been that way since mid '70s. Philips STR-387 6L6GCs were still in sealed bags, as was the stuffed pcb. Family story was that the builder had suffered a debilitating stroke and was never able to work on his electronic projects any longer.

    I sent the amp to Bill Bittle in Florida and had him finish it for me. While it is a nice amp, and is still as new, I have used it very little, mainly because it runs so hot, even with fans on it, but also because it can't hold a candle to my restored HH Scott amps for ease of use and SQ.

    Cheers,
    Greg
    avatar
    TPW


    Posts : 7
    Join date : 2015-09-18

    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 Empty Re: The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70

    Post by TPW Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:29 pm

    My daughter and I built the ARC-ST70-C3 kit in the late 80s'. I got the kit from Old Colony Soundlab if I remember correctly. Nice sounding amp but as others have said it ran super hot. The high quality circuit board charred in less than a year.

    Sponsored content


    The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70 Empty Re: The Audio Research versions of the Dynaco ST-70

    Post by Sponsored content


      Current date/time is Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:33 pm