Vintage v's New Dynakit Mark III - Advice please

Hello all

I have recently purchased from eBay an original Dynakit Mark III , unassembled in its original box and am in the process of building same. I plan to purchase another Mark III to go with a Dynaco PAS 3 that I have also just purchased. I am substituting the SDS main PCB and the capacitor PCB from them as well ( in the Mk III)

My dilema is this.

Do I purchase a "modern" kit from Triode with current transformers, again substituting SDS PCB's x 2 ( Main and CapsPCB) OR do I wait and purchase an "old" MK III from eBay. The debate seems to resolve around the Output transformer , original V's current. I would appreciate the wisdom of the group to help me here !

Here in Australia we are 240 Vac line voltage, Should I purchase a modern 240 Vac Power transformer for any units I run here in Australia OR run the 110Vac transformers from a step down PS ?

If the groups wisdom is go 240Vac, I will have available for sale/trade x 1 NOS ( never used 110Vac Power Transformer) and x 1 Main original PCB also unused NOS. Maybe someone has a Mk III they want trade / sell for consideration for the Transformer/PCB ??

On a slightly different note - Dynaco PAS 3. I have read the possible upgrades out there and frankly there is alot of controversy re how far one should go. I suspect the electrolytics and selenium is a no brainer, how do others feel about the rest. I have reservations that some of the upgrade paths are unfounded and not technically supported, eg : Phono upgrade on PAS 3. Is there a link to simple and objective upgrading of the PAS 3???

Thankyou and appreciate your advice

Cheers
Bruce
Sydney Australia

brud wrote:Hello all

I have recently purchased from eBay an original Dynakit Mark III , unassembled in its original box and am in the process of building same. I plan to purchase another Mark III to go with a Dynaco PAS 3 that I have also just purchased. I am substituting the SDS main PCB and the capacitor PCB from them as well ( in the Mk III)

My dilema is this.

Do I purchase a "modern" kit from Triode with current transformers, again substituting SDS PCB's x 2 ( Main and CapsPCB) OR do I wait and purchase an "old" MK III from eBay. The debate seems to resolve around the Output transformer , original V's current. I would appreciate the wisdom of the group to help me here !

Here in Australia we are 240 Vac line voltage, Should I purchase a modern 240 Vac Power transformer for any units I run here in Australia OR run the 110Vac transformers from a step down PS ?

If the groups wisdom is go 240Vac, I will have available for sale/trade x 1 NOS ( never used 110Vac Power Transformer) and x 1 Main original PCB also unused NOS. Maybe someone has a Mk III they want trade / sell for consideration for the Transformer/PCB ??

On a slightly different note - Dynaco PAS 3. I have read the possible upgrades out there and frankly there is alot of controversy re how far one should go. I suspect the electrolytics and selenium is a no brainer, how do others feel about the rest. I have reservations that some of the upgrade paths are unfounded and not technically supported, eg : Phono upgrade on PAS 3. Is there a link to simple and objective upgrading of the PAS 3???

Thankyou and appreciate your advice

Cheers
Bruce
Sydney Australia

Why don't you buy a MkIII from dynakitparts.com ? It's the original.
http://www.dynakitparts.com/dynakit-products/amplifier-kits?product_id=210

As for the PAS3, apart from Se replacement ( maybe a power board) see:
http://triodeelectronics.com/sdslacabofor1.html

just wait and listen. Use your ears. A lot of "snake-oil" mods is out there, some
is beneign, some is detrimental.

.

If you have your heart set on tube monoblocks... Here is what I would do in descending order of preference:

1) Buy a vintage pair of matching MkIIIs to update/restore
2) Buy a new pair of modern MkIII kits
3) Find a second vintage MkIII to rebuild along with yours

...j

I did #1 above a couple years back and would do it again.

.

Bob Latino wrote:I would buy a new Mark III kit from Dynakitparts rather than Triode Electronics. The Mark III kit costs $100 LESS from Dynakitparts. Also - recently Triode Electronics has had some issues with answering customer Emails and shipping parts promptly. Read this forum post below from about a year ago regarding Triode Electronics  ..

Triode Electronics issues ...

Bob

Hi Bob

We measured a 20 volt difference between the transformers at Dynakitparts and the ones from Triode Electronics. Here the voltage was 460v on Dyna vs. 480v on Triode. How does that impact performance?, I'm referring to mkiii transformers

do both, if you can.  Go for the VTA / Dynaparts MkIIIs while you wait for the second vintage III to show up. Meanwhile, build and enjoy the Dynaparts IIIs. I have these (octal version), and they're mighty fine amps.  
Of course, the second vintage unit is unlikely to be an 'in the box' version, but at least they'll be roughly contemporary.  then you can "A/B" the systems and see what you like.  Sell the lesser ones to recoup costs.  Have fun!

K.