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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

    Completed My ST120

    wgallupe
    wgallupe
    wgallupe


    Posts : 138
    Join date : 2014-05-18
    Age : 70
    Location : Central Mass.
    • Post n°1

    Completed My ST120 Empty Completed My ST120

    Post by wgallupe Sat Oct 04, 2014 9:50 am

    Hi All,

    See link below for some pics of my ST120. The build was a lot of fun and was easy too. Since I'm not a Dynaco purest I made a few changes to suit my 'needs'. I hope my mods don't offend anyone:

    Added a cover plate to hide the driver board.
    Added a face plate for a more 'traditional' look.
    Added four jacks on the top surface instead of using the front mounted octal sockets for bias power access points.
    Input signal enters from the back and goes straight to the driver board using a fixed length of VH Audio Pulsar cable. (My favorite for DIY interconnects).
    Moved the power switch to the front panel.
    Transformer covers are nickel plated.  

    Anyway, my wiring may not be the neatest job I've seen on this forum but I'm confident it will provide years of reliable service. The amp powered up without issue. Followed the bias instructions. Ran it for a few hours in my 'workshop' system. Now its upstairs where it has displaced a McCormack DNA 0.5 Deluxe solid state amp. I can't believe that this ST120 has more 'balls' than the McCormack! Its heavier too! So far I like what I'm hearing. Will come back with more comments later.

    Regards,
    Wayne

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wnhb97yseo63r8f/AAB-xAlZDXWFCGto-T7o9bYGa?dl=0
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    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    Posts : 3262
    Join date : 2008-11-26
    Location : Massachusetts
    • Post n°2

    Completed My ST120 Empty Re: Completed My ST120

    Post by Bob Latino Sat Oct 04, 2014 11:05 am

    Hi Wayne,

    I looked at your photos ... A real nice custom build of the VTA ST-120 ..

    Re: > "I can't believe that this ST120 has more 'balls' than the McCormack!" Although the VTA ST-120 amp is rated @ 60 WPC, it is really a 72 WPC amp (tested) with KT88 output tubes. The KT120 output tubes add about 8% power so with KT120 output tubes the amp is about a 77 - 78 WPC amp. Since tube amps when pushed hard tend to distort "gracefully", most distortion components are many times not even heard by the listener. As such, tube amps in general tend to "sound louder" than their solid state counterparts which have equal wattage ratings. Since the McCormack DNA .5 is a 100 WPC rated amp, I am not surprised that your VTA ST-120 sounds as loud or louder than your McCormack amp.

    Bob
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    • Post n°3

    Completed My ST120 Empty Re: Completed My ST120

    Post by Guest Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:14 pm

    nicely done sir!....looks really cool!! cyclops
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    Dale Stevens
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    Dale Stevens


    Posts : 201
    Join date : 2014-07-06
    Age : 74
    Location : Loris, SC
    • Post n°4

    Completed My ST120 Empty Re: Completed My ST120

    Post by Dale Stevens Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:48 pm

    Wayne, nice covers (both face and dvr board) How did you do that? Just completed my ST120
    and would love to have those! Anyone step up and offer these for sale?? Dale
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    wgallupe
    wgallupe
    wgallupe


    Posts : 138
    Join date : 2014-05-18
    Age : 70
    Location : Central Mass.
    • Post n°5

    Completed My ST120 Empty Re: Completed My ST120

    Post by wgallupe Mon Oct 06, 2014 1:45 pm

    Thanks for the comments guys.

    Bob, thanks for the explanation. Not only does it play as loud as the DNA .5, it also has more authority in the bass. Like it has better control of the woofers. Something I did not expect from tubes. It also sounds sweeter in the mids and highs (something I was expecting to get with tubes).

    Dale, The plates come from Front Panel Express. You can download thier free soft ware and design anything you want. Submit the order, pay online and it shows up at you door in a couple weeks:   http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/

    Montana, I see from your ST120 pics that you are using them too. That looks really, really nice!

    Wayne
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    Dogstar
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    Dogstar


    Posts : 361
    Join date : 2014-06-23
    • Post n°6

    Completed My ST120 Empty Re: Completed My ST120

    Post by Dogstar Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:24 pm

    Are you using the Marantz preamp section with your VTA ST-120?
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    wgallupe
    wgallupe
    wgallupe


    Posts : 138
    Join date : 2014-05-18
    Age : 70
    Location : Central Mass.
    • Post n°7

    Completed My ST120 Empty Re: Completed My ST120

    Post by wgallupe Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:47 pm

    No, it was only hooked up to the Marantz for testing after final assembly. Its currently being driven by a VTA SP13. Together, they sound wonderful...
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    • Post n°8

    Completed My ST120 Empty Re: Completed My ST120

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