The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

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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

    Tomiko power supply

    JackF999
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    JackF999


    Posts : 13
    Join date : 2013-03-05
    • Post n°1

    Tomiko power supply Empty Tomiko power supply

    Post by JackF999 Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:29 pm

    Greetings and saludos..

    I'd like opinions on these power transfomers.
    I'd like the option of some day using those darling
    KT88s or KT66s and know I would need more transformer power
    to do so.

    Those tubes look great...
    They kinda remind me of a woman I once dated back
    in the 60s.
    Well maybe not, but she did have a big adam's apple,
    and I couldn't understand why she walked like a woman and talked like a man.
    Funny name too, kinda old fashioned, mmmmm L O L A ....
    Fond memories........

    thanks
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    Bigron865
    Bigron865
    Bigron865


    Posts : 45
    Join date : 2013-03-15
    Age : 56
    Location : Birmingham Alabama
    • Post n°2

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bigron865 Mon Mar 18, 2013 3:56 pm

    I'd also like opinions on upgrading to a better PT than the 060. Any suggestions?
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    gener8r
    gener8r
    gener8r


    Posts : 61
    Join date : 2012-04-28
    • Post n°3

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by gener8r Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:55 pm

    I have used the tomikos that are sold on flea bay, both the 2 times 120 and the single 120 primary for ST70 builds. At $75.00 the single primary for U.S. use is much less expensive than the 060, they work great, are easier to mount (for scratch builds) and run quiet and cool.

    Look in the photos under my name and you'll see an ST70 I built using the tomiko.
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    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    Posts : 3277
    Join date : 2008-11-26
    Location : Massachusetts
    • Post n°4

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bob Latino Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:40 am

    Personally I would not use the Tomiko power transformer on any ST-70. Not because it does not work properly and not because it is not made well. These transformers are "Made In Japan" and are of very good quality.

    1. A torroidal type transformer on an ST-70 IMHO does not look good sitting in the back center of the amp. Of course if you don't care about the looks of the amp and you are a DIY type person maybe that doesn't mean too much to you.

    2. Putting a Tomiko on an ST-70 will devalue the amp in case you ever want to sell it. Yes - I know that the Tomiko IS a better power transformer than the original PA-060 power transformer but if you try to sell the amp at a later date the amp will bring less money than an amp with a proper looking Dynaco ST-70 power transformer.

    The Tomiko is $75 + $6 for a mounting kit to fit the transformer on an ST-70 chassis - so we are up to $81.

    All the modern power PA-060 power transformers for the ST-70 are "upgraded" transformers with higher stacks and heavier duty wiring. IMHO - spend an extra $50 or so and get an upgraded ST-70 power transformer from Dynakitparts. Your amp will look the same as the original and have a higher resale value.

    Just my opinion ...

    Bob

    Tomiko power supply Tomikotransformer_zpsaad96ffd
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    Bigron865
    Bigron865
    Bigron865


    Posts : 45
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    Age : 56
    Location : Birmingham Alabama
    • Post n°5

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bigron865 Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:53 am

    Hey Bob, what will upgrading to the PIO caps and a upgraded can cap do for me with the vta classic? I don't want so spend money upgrading if its not going to affect the sound for better dramatically.
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    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    • Post n°6

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bob Latino Tue Mar 26, 2013 11:40 am

    What amp do you have ? A VTA amp built from a kit or an original ST-70 that has been upgraded with a VTA driver board ?

    Bob
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    Bigron865
    Bigron865
    Bigron865


    Posts : 45
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    Age : 56
    Location : Birmingham Alabama
    • Post n°7

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bigron865 Tue Mar 26, 2013 11:51 am

    Original ST70 with the new classic stuffed vta board. 6ca7eh and 5814a. Everything else is original to the Dynaco. The dates on the transformers are 1964. I love the sound now but wonder if it could be better. I'm using a SS NAD1600 preamp Klipsch RB61ii speakers and Thorens TD160 with Denon DL110 mc cart.
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    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    • Post n°8

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bob Latino Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:11 pm

    The original Dynaco quad cap was only a 30, 20, 20, 20 uF cap. If you switch to an 80, 40, 30, 20 uF, the amp should have a little more bass and play better at higher volume levels and during musical peaks.

    The Russian PIO caps are important because the entire output of the driver board on both channels passes through these 4 caps to the 4 output tubes. All 4 caps are directly in the signal path. You want to pass this signal to the 4 output tubes with as little "alteration" of the musical signal as possible. The Russian PIO caps do a great job at passing the signal to the output tubes. The Russian PIO's are also not terribly expensive like other main coupling caps. Like all capacitors, The Russian PIO's take 100 to 200 hours of use to "break in" and sound their best. Evidentally something happens on the molecular level inside the cap to make the signal transfer somewhat better with some time on the caps ..

    Bob
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    Bigron865
    Bigron865
    Bigron865


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    • Post n°9

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bigron865 Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:27 pm

    That's perfect. Thanks so much for your help on this! Ill be ordering a new quad cap and some PIO caps then. Will I still need to have the jumper on the upgraded quad cap like I did on the old one? Thanks again for your help Bob!
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    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    • Post n°10

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bob Latino Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:30 pm

    Yes - keep the jumper and the 2200 ohm resistor from the original quad cap and install them on the new quad cap.

    Bob
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    Bigron865
    Bigron865
    Bigron865


    Posts : 45
    Join date : 2013-03-15
    Age : 56
    Location : Birmingham Alabama
    • Post n°11

    Tomiko power supply Empty Re: Tomiko power supply

    Post by Bigron865 Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:04 pm

    Just placed the order from Roy for the upgraded quad cap and the PIO's (hope he has them in stock). I also added the new binding posts to the order. Might as well do it all right. (Can u say upgrade-fever?)
    Thanks for the advice guys!
    Ron
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    • Post n°12

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