Modified Dynaco ST-70

[BuzzK]

In light of the current interest in the ST-70, I thought I'd post a pic of the one that I am currently listening to. It features:

• Mullard EL34's
• Chromed chassis
• Welbourne Labs driver kit
• Eico ST-70 power transformer
• Recapped with all new hardware

- Buzz

 

[Wmacky]

This sounds like a nice intro to a "post a pic of your ST 70 thread" Can you have too many?

 

[DanO55]

Too many Stereo 70s

This sounds like a nice intro to a "post a pic of your ST 70 thread" Can you have too many?

Nope.

 

[cfranz]

Very nice. I think I'll save myself time and hate you now. :tears:

 

[coffee123]

I kinda like how you put the plate on top there, you should totally use a piece of polished aluminum, or black anodized aluminum cut to fit square in the center, ooh that would look good.

Mark

 

[kconnor]

Rebuilt this one a few years ago. All new components except for the chassis and transformers. Put in a SDS cap board. Thinking about doing another one with all out Curcio mods. I painted the transformer endbells flat black but I kind of wish I'd done them in gloss. I bought the Curcio driver board blank and stuffed it myself.

 

[derekva]

I should post my modified ST-35 amp photos...

-D

 

[SpruceMoose]

yes, you should. anyway here's my st70 before i put the rig inside an Edison gramophone cabinet. the amp is stock, except for the selenium replacement diode and binding posts screwed into the speaker screw holes.

 

[Wmacky]

Here's my scratch build from a couple years back. All new parts. Started with nothing, but got through my first build with lots of help from the crew here!

 

[joeriz]

Here is mine. It uses the DiyTube driver board.

 

[JHoman]

Those are too sweet! I want one, but have not made the leap yet. I have been thinking about the ST-120 Bob Latino puts out...... maybe after Christmas?:scratch2:

 

[PabloL]

Those are too sweet! I want one, but have not made the leap yet. I have been thinking about the ST-120 Bob Latino puts out...... maybe after Christmas?:scratch2:

Yeah! I've almost pulled the trigger on that one a few times... I always wonder how they sound.

 

[JHoman]

Yeah! I've almost pulled the trigger on that one a few times... I always wonder how they sound.

I have not heard anything but good stuff about these, I have never seen one up for sale, to me thats a good sign. I just don't know about building one myself...... :scratch2:

 

[shelly_d]

Here's my scratch build from a couple years back. All new parts. Started with nothing, but got through my first build with lots of help from the crew here!

If you don't mind my asking, what output tubes are those? They don't look like your garden variety EL34's.

 

[jhoak]

I have not heard anything but good stuff about these, I have never seen one up for sale, to me thats a good sign. I just don't know about building one myself...... :scratch2:

I've never seen one up for sale either but I did luck in to one.

I had posted in a thread over at the Klipsch forum about wanting to buy one of the VTA ST-120s at some point. A couple of day later I got an email from a guy that had one in a "B" system that never got any use. He offered it to me at a really really good price so I bit.

What arrived last Thursday was a VTA ST-120 built by Bob Latino. It has 3 NOS Mullard CV4024 driver tubes a Sovtech rectifier and a matched quad of Valve Art KT-88s. According to the PO all under 20 hours. Not even broken in yet

I had an email conversation with Mr. Latino about this amp and yes he built it and it's about a year and a half old. The original buyer did opt for the power supply cap upgrade but I guess the Russian PIO coupling caps weren't available at the time.

I've ordered one of the Weber Copper Cap SS rectifiers (per BL's suggestion) and the PIO caps from BL. I'll be ordering a set of Genelex Gold Lion KT88s as soon as the Christmas spending frenzy passes.

Of course the obvious question is how does it sound? Answer... VERY VERY good. It's driving a pair of completely rebuilt Klipsch La Scalas. I'm now anxious to get the upgrades in place so it'll be the very BEST it can be.

Not bad for $700 delivered Oh yea... I'll be posting pictures of it in a couple of days

 

[kitjunkie]

Here is mine. A Will Vincent special with upgraded Hovland Musicaps.

 

[Wmacky]

If you don't mind my asking, what output tubes are those? They don't look like your garden variety EL34's.

EH 6CA7's

 

[thevic24]

Here is mine. A Will Vincent special with upgraded Hovland Musicaps.

very nice looking amp there. hows it sound? i was thinking of having will build me 2 st-70's at the beginning of the year. i say 2 because i will most likely bi-amp my kappa's when i rotate them into the system and mabie bridge them on my time frames when i rotate them in as well.


-vic

 

[kitjunkie]

very nice looking amp there. hows it sound? i was thinking of having will build me 2 st-70's at the beginning of the year. i say 2 because i will most likely bi-amp my kappa's when i rotate them into the system and mabie bridge them on my time frames when i rotate them in as well.


-vic

Vic,

It sounds surprisingly good. I wasn't sure what to expect as I'd never heard an ST-70 before, modded or otherwise. Will seems to think that the Hovland caps make a big difference. To my ears, it sounds better than a McIntosh 275 that I had, but not quite as good as my VTL ST-150. Overall, for the money, I think it's hard to beat.

Steve

 

[thevic24]

Vic,

It sounds surprisingly good. I wasn't sure what to expect as I'd never heard an ST-70 before, modded or otherwise. Will seems to think that the Hovland caps make a big difference. To my ears, it sounds better than a McIntosh 275 that I had, but not quite as good as my VTL ST-150. Overall, for the money, I think it's hard to beat.

Steve

cool, so id say your a happy customer of will's. i have herd nothing but great to excellent things about all of his amps. i think iam sold and will get one built for shure and may have to do 2.

thanks

-vic