How good can an ST-70 be made?

I'm new here but I am NOT trolling.

I have a few DIY amp projects under my belt, a scratchbuilt 300B using a Hammond OPT (JE Labs), a kit Assemblage ST-40 (an EL34 amp) and some hotrodding of classic Naim amps. In my home I alternate between the two tube amps because each has their shortcomings: bass in the 300B and midrange sweetness in the ST-40. What I miss in one I can pretty much find in the other. I listen to classical, folk and instrumental music mostly although I have recently discovered a strange compulsion for Kwaito.

I am mulling about new projects to take on and I am considering an ST70, mainly because I've been reading some good things about its OPT. If I do this, I will probably be buying the amp solely for the OPT. Likely, I'll put a new driver board in, change all the connectors, tweak the PS and probably put in a new power transformer as well.

Once this is done, how good will an ST70 be? Not good for the money, not good for a vintage amp, but good in an objective sense. An example may be the Denon DL103 cart, which to me is a really good moving coil. Its $160 price is of secondary concern to its "goodness"

Maybe what I am asking is whether or not an ST70 can be made great based on the virtues of its OPT.

Welcome to the board, Summilux.

I can't answer your question in detail, though I think other knowledgeable folks on the board will jump in and be able to give you a very good sense of how a modern ST70 rates, along with a sense of value for the money.

I just wanted to comment that you're describing an ambitious project there, but obviously you've got the DIY bug that has returned some great results for the effort invested.

I was wondering, though, are you talking about designing your own driver board, or do you mean you'll be choosing one of the available modern drivers to modify a stock ST 70?

I was persuaded that there are 2 or 3 modern driver boards available that are truly magnificent. Joe Curcio offers one, but I some how came to the conclusion (can't remember exactly how, now) that the VTA board was a better choice.

If you check out the version of the ST 70 available from the accompanying site tubes4hifi.com, you'll find it comes with upgraded transformers, caps, and a few other goodies. Essentially, several desirable mods all in one package.

That's what I opted for.

Now, I wish I could tell you how it compares to other tube power amps in the $1k to $5k price range, but I can't.

I can tell you that compared to my Naim Nait2 (which I dearly love), the Dynaco is mouth wateringly good.

FWIW

Brenton

Brenton,

I won't scratch build something. I'll use someone else's board. Based on internet reviews, I'd probably go for the VTA board although there is a tempting Welborne/Kimmel board on the 'bay right now.

The Naim Nait1 was my first "real" amp and I still have it. My Flat Earth system is a Naim NAC32.5/SNAPS and mono-ed NAP110. All of them have been given an audiophile going over: better caps, better supply regulation based on info from PinkFish. I hook it up with some Linn Kans and an LP12. It sounds pretty nice, I must admit that Naim/Linn do the PRaT thing very well, but its nothing like TOOBES!

Jonathan

Yo John,

I've been spending a lot of time on Pink Fish, finding a lot of information and assistance there.

I, too, have an LP12, and thanks to guidance on PinkFish, had the confidence to do some upgrading to it with new springs, Cetech Subchassis, acrylic baseboard, and a used Ittok from one of the PFM members that I sent right off to j7 for the foam and wiring treatment for which he is so highly praised.

Speakerwise, I'm still with my 1991 original Linn Index II's. I'm working on something I hope will be better. If not, I'll be buying. How do you like the Kans?

Always loved the ... impact of the Nait. Maybe that's the PRaT thing to which you and others refer.

I quite agree with you, though, about how tubes is different!

I LOVE the Kans (Mk I). Because I listen to music in a small room 10x12, my 300B and ST-40 drive them pretty well and they are quite musical. Using them with a tube amp helps tone down the brittleness they can have with solid state. They are no match for my homebrew FOostex with respect to clarity, but sound good nonetheless.

Jonathan

Jon,

RE: what you said above ....

"I am mulling about new projects to take on and I am considering an ST70, mainly because I've been reading some good things about its OPT. If I do this, I will probably be buying the amp solely for the OPT. Likely, I'll put a new driver board in, change all the connectors, tweak the PS and probably put in a new power transformer as well."

The only two really good things about the original Dynaco amps were the OUTPUT transformers and the Mullard tubes. The myth that "that old iron just can't be beat" is that - just a myth. I have listened to OPT from Dynakitparts and they are every bit as good as the original Dynaco OPT. It is not that hard to take an output transformer apart and "reverse engineer" the transformer noting stack height, size of wire and winding technique and replicate that transformer and have it sound identical to the original Dynaco transformer. You can buy a used A-470 output transformer on Ebay for $60 when a new one goes for $90 but what do you get? A transformer primary that has looked at 440 volts for maybe 50 years, brittle wires that the strands break, cloth insulation that is hard to strip and leads that are probably now too short because when "Bubba" removed it from the amp he just cut the leads instead of desoldering them.

To buy an ST-70 for $300 - $350 just for the output transformers IMHO just doesn't make sense. If all you want are just the output transformers then use the $300 and buy NEW all THREE transformers and you will also get along with the two new OPT a far superior POWER transformer that won't hum, buzz and vibrate like many of the original undersized Dynaco PA-060 power transformers. It will also run cooler because the new ones have about a 5/8 inch higher stack with about 2 pounds more iron in there to dissipate the heat.

Bob

There's some of that expert advice I was talkin' about.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Bob -- and I know I'm inviting you to offer a self serving opinion here -- but fun as it may be to get an old Dynaco and rebuild it, wouldn't the quickest and perhaps cost-effectivest (sic) route to a state of the art ST 70 be to get one of your kits?

John, I'm interested to hear that the tube jobs really smooth out the Kan speakers. I drooled over the Kans back in the early 90's.

I'm interested to know what you built with the Fostex drivers.

Brenton

I used the Fostex FE127 PAWO plans at planet_10 hi fi. The not only sound good but have a very good wife acceptance factor.

Johnathan,

Sent you a PM.

B.

Hi Jonathan, Roy here, caught your question . . .
I started this hobby/biz over 20 years ago, and during all that time, have bought, sold, and rebuilt probably 100 hi-fi tube amps, and I know that Bob has probably done even more than that.
Of course it's my opinion, and someone who doesn't know me may think I'm biased, but IMHO
I would have to say that the amps Bob and I sell would beat out 80-90% of what's on the market, and that includes the $5000+ spread. I'd say Bob's kit (with my VTA board in it) is an absolute steal at any price from $600-800, and I've been told by several dozen customers that it for sure beats out anything available for under $2500. I have a neighbor who's been thru several AudioResearch tube amps the past half-dozen years and I even bought one for myself to make a fair comparision, and it PALED!!! It was a ten year old, not a new $4000 one, but I sold it fast for $1000 and haven't turned back. Bob is also correct in saying a new one is a bargain compared to an older used one. Several years ago I even offered a money back guarantee, never had anyone take me up on it. That's hard to do on a complete amp with a low profit margin, but on the kit's I was selling it helped to open up alot of disbelieving eyes and minds.

Bob, Roy,

You guys are gonna go crazy from insomnia, and / or obsessive compulsive disorder from your meticulous attention to your customers, potential customers, and forum-community members.

Don't get me wrong here, I really appreciate your generosity here, and other members too, who follow suit with friendly, well informed support.

But in the interests of ensuring you guys are still gonna be here for me over the next 20 years (since that's apparently how long I keep my amplifiers), I do hope you're taking time for whatever takes the stress out of life for you.

If not, I insist you get to it. Doctor's orders. And I don't want to hear any excuses.

;-)

Brenton