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Can I build a Dynakit ST-35?

ADClosson

ADClosson

Member
Greetings, all. I've been living contentedly with an old Yamaha A-1000 that, with the capable guidance of AK members, I recapped and repaired a few years back. I still enjoy the Yamaha and will hang on to it, but I'd like to try something else for comparison's sake.

Dynakit Parts looks like an attractive and fun way of testing the tube waters, and the ST-35 appears to be a respected albeit relatively low wattage entree into tube amplification.

My question: can someone with limited technical skills build a Dynakit? I've soldered parts in and out of my Yamaha and succeeded at repairing it, but I'm not an electrician. I'm not particularly adept at a multimeter, either. How demanding are these builds?

Thanks,

Aaron
 
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You are probably about the same skill level, as most people who built these kits "back in the day". And, a multimeter, now, is much easier to use than one was, then.

As long as you don't just plow through blindly when you don't understand something (there's plenty of people here that can answer questions, on pretty much any aspect of the assembly and testing process), you follow instructions to the proverbial "T", and you use common sense, you should be fine.

I would practice with the multimeter before starting, though. Just a good idea to be familiar with it. Get some random parts, and measure them- resistors and such. Measure the battery in your car (should be 12 volts DC, naturally). If you can get where you can measure resistance and voltage reliably, you should be set.

The old saw about "measure twice, and cut once" does apply here. Taking care on wire routing and lengths (before cutting anything), will go a long way on making it neat and easy...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
ADClosson said:
Greetings, all. I've been living contentedly with an old Yamaha A-1000 that, with the capable guidance of AK members, I recapped and repaired a few years back. I still enjoy the Yamaha and will hang on to it, but I'd like to try something else for comparison's sake.

Dynakit Parts looks like an attractive and fun way of testing the tube waters, and the ST-35 appears to be a respected albeit relatively low wattage entree into tube amplification.

My question: can someone with limited technical skills build a Dynakit? I've soldered parts in and out of my Yamaha and succeeded at repairing it, but I'm not an electrician. I'm not particularly adept at a multimeter, either. How demanding are these builds?

Thanks,

Aaron
Click to expand...
I had a friend that sold dynaco kits. As many people asked if they were difficult to build he let his 2 kids
( a boy 15 and a girl 13 ) build a MkIII each. Both made it, and the amps were delivered to an new owner.

No, it's not difficult. Follow the instructions verbally and solder carefully. Leaded solder is recommended by me.
Backtrace each step and don't rush.
Finally, don't make any departs, if you want a modified build, build first and use it, then continue withj
whatever you want. But if you sell it later an unmodified amp is of greater value.
 
I built both the Dynakit ST-35 kit and the VTA ST-70 kit. The ST-70 was easier to build for me. Bob's instructions are excellent. The ST-35 is very compact with not much room inside the chassis. The only problem I had with the ST-35 was wiring the output tube sockets. The hook up wire sent is stranded and it can be difficult getting 3 or more wires connected to one soldering eye on the sockets. If the wire was solid core it would have been easier to wrap some of the additional wires to the sockets. Bob sends solid core wire with his ST-70 kits. The instructions are very good for the ST-35 as well. Other than my fat fingers dealing with the stranded hookup wire, the ST-35 kit went together pretty easily. If you decide to give it a go, do follow the instructions very carefully and re check your work every step of the way. I would suggest buying the optional 62 ohm choke to use in place of the 50 ohm resistor in the power supply. It doesn't cost much and helps smooth out more of the AC ripple. My ST-35 is very quiet using the choke.
 
I built the Dynakit ST-35 successfully a few years ago (I was listening to it just minutes ago), starting with a skill set comparable to yours. Lavane is quite right the the hardest part is wiring the tube sockets, because you're working in some tight spots, and the recommendations for wire lengths are not generous. But take your time, check everything twice before soldering, and you'll be fine. Here's my build thread https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/richpa-builds-a-dynakit.70237/
 
RichPA said:
I built the Dynakit ST-35 successfully a few years ago (I was listening to it just minutes ago), starting with a skill set comparable to yours. Lavane is quite right the the hardest part is wiring the tube sockets, because you're working in some tight spots, and the recommendations for wire lengths are not generous. But take your time, check everything twice before soldering, and you'll be fine. Here's my build thread https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/richpa-builds-a-dynakit.70237/
Click to expand...
What output tubes did you end up using? I've read in various posts here and elsewhere that Sovtek EL84M's or JJ's are prefered due to being able to handle higher voltages since the EL84 is driven a bit hard in these amps.
 
If you can draw it, you can build it. Plenty of drawings on how to assemble these. Take your time and follow the directions and YOU CAN DO IT!
 
If you can solder and read you can build it. It's handy to have a multi meter to check component values and voltages....one with capacitance measure is best. Have fun!

Even tho I don't think VTA offers an ST-35 kit, their support, sound quality, and documentation were excellent, and very helpful to me during my two ST-70 builds.
 
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Lavane said:
What output tubes did you end up using? I've read in various posts here and elsewhere that Sovtek EL84M's or JJ's are prefered due to being able to handle higher voltages since the EL84 is driven a bit hard in these amps.
Click to expand...

JJs
 
knotscott said:
If you can solder and read you can build it. Have fun!

Even tho I don't think VTA offers an ST-35 kit, their support, sound quality, and documentation were excellent, and very helpful to me during my two ST-70 builds.
Click to expand...
I found the VTA instructions just a little better. Probably due to wording?
But the ST-35 instructions are very good. Just reread slowly if needed.
 
Thanks to all for the replies. After some deliberation and an impulsive buy, I've taken a different direction.

I've purchased a completely restored/rebuilt ST-70. Everything is new except the transformers and chassis. It arrives tomorrow. Given that a kit is almost the same price that I paid, I feel like I did ok. In my subjective opinion, this rather distinctive color scheme is handsome.

Screen Shot 2020-05-07 at 12.26.15 PM.png Screen Shot 2020-05-08 at 8.38.03 AM.png

My goal is merely to test the tube waters—can I actually perceive a difference, and is it one that I admire? My prediction is that I will prefer my 120 watt Yamaha integrated for its sheer power and bass assurance. But I need to try the tube route to definitely know where I stand.

Now I'm agonizing over a preamp. The prudent side of me says to get something cheap, perhaps an NAD (I have an NAD CD player, so it would match). There's a C 216 for sale at a reasonable price. But on the other hand The Music Room currently has a semi-reasonably priced Mcintosh C38. I think I'd keep the Mac/Dynaco pair for aesthetic reasons alone.

Anyone care to wager on my final verdict on tube versus SS? Obviously my music taste factors, and it is eclectic. I enjoy bass-heavy electronic, but also symphonic and baroque era music, ambient, etc. My gut tells me SS will be more versatile, but I'm eager to see if there's anything to this tube business. Speakers are the reasonably efficient ADS L520s and the more difficult Snell E Type IIIs.
 
That's a nice looking restore. I like the colors too. I keep some SS equipment for when I want to really crank it up. But for normal listening it's tubes all the way. Not to say the VTA ST-70 I have doesn't get loud with plenty of bass, but SS power amps do rattle the windows nicely. :D
Why not have two systems? One with a tube preamp and amp, and one Solid State? I use an amp and speaker selector. I can switch between two amplifiers and two sets of speakers.
 
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