Some Help Needed for a Newbie--Choice of Tube Amp

wordherder62

AK Member
All right, I'm on the edge of taking the plunge into the world of tube amps. I've found a couple to choose from that are in clean, working condition. Both amps are unmodified and in pretty much original condition. Everything is clean and functional and both have been being used recently, so no issue with sitting around for years.

So, of course, here are the choices: Bogen RP-60 receiver and Dynaco SCA-35 Integrated amp.

Pluses? Minuses? Pros? Cons? Scale tipping factors?

Thanks,
Richard
 
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Tipping factor?

IF.....you listen to a lot of radio......go with the Bogen.
If not......grab the Dynaco.

Steve
 
laciate ogni speranza...

look at specs for signal to noise ratio for the phono section of each unit. a lower number, usually in db's, is more desirable. you can always add a tube tuner at a later date, and a receiver is slightly more complicated, so i vote for the integrated amp. what sort of speakers are you going to use? the usual caveats; if you can afford it, buy a well sorted out unit. if you get a questionable piece, count on re-capping etc. before you plug it in for the first time. get ready to spend a lot of time listening to it, because you'll want to. have fun!
 
I think higher number s/n ratio is better. Anyways, might be lil tough to find specs for both phono sections.

I vote for getting both, if you can swing it. Try each out and keep the one that fits best, sell the other. Of course, you run the risk of getting "the sickness", whereby you keep acquiring tube gear without selling most of it. :)
 
With 300+ fountain pens; about two-dozen manual typewriters; hundreds of books; dozens of LPs (and growing); four turntables; three receivers; multiple sets of speakers; and God knows what else there is no question of getting the sickness.

And, yes, finding specs on these is like finding the formula for Coca-Cola.

And, no, both is not on the option list given the fact I just took a five percent pay cut.

Richard
 
Specs have nothing to do with how good it will sound....this is why J Gordon Holt started "The Stereophile". See if you can get an audition with both and have a listen.
 
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The Bogen uses 7355 output tubes for a total of around 35 watts per side.
That's theoretically twice the power,, but the Dynaco will push moderatley sensitve speakers just fine.
7355's are getting a bit scarce but you can find them. You'll find tons of info on the Dynaco and most parts are readily available, along with a ton od advice on mods. It'll be cheaper to refurb and uses EL84's, for which there are a whole lotta options.

Here's the specs on the Dynaco:
Inputs: Low and high level magnetic phono, ceramic phono, NAB 7-1/2" tape head, radio, tape, spare
Outputs: Tape, 8 and 16 ohm speakers, center channel loudspeaker, headphone provision.
Controls: Selector, Volume, Balance, Blend, Individual Treble and Bass for each channel, Tape Monitor, Loudness, Scratch Filter, Power.
Power:
35 watts continuous;
45 watts IHF music power (both channels).

Frequency Response: ±.5 dB 10 cps to 40 kc. Response not affected by position of volume control.

Power Response: 20 cps to 20 kc without exceeding 1 percent distortion within 1 dB of 17.5 watts, each channel)

Tone Control Range:
±12 dB at 15 kc;
±12 dB at 50 cps.

Sensitivity for rated output:
2.5 mV at tape head;
4 mV at low level magnetic phono;
1 volt at high level.

IM Distortion:less than 1 percent at 17.5 watts (each channel), less than 0.2 percent at average levels.

Hum and Noise:

70 dB below 10 millivolt input for rated output on low level inputs;
80 dB on high level.

Power consumption: 110 watts, 120 volts, 60 cycle AC (120/240 volt, 50/60 cycle operation available with optional PB-028 transformer).

Tube complement: 12AX7/ECC83 (2), 7199 (2), 6BQ5/EL-84/7189 (4)

Silicon diodes: 500 mA, 1000 PIV (2)
 
Dynaco components have always been considered an excellent performance value. There are lots of parts and expertise available. If you go for the SCA-35, consider an FM-3 tuner to accompany it. Though the SCA-35 is a good entry-level into tubes, personally I'd go for a Dynaco PAS-3 pre-amp, ST-70 tube amp (double the power of the SCA-35), and FM-3. They would be a nice complement to the KLH-17s, a very good & always popular speaker.
 
All good suggestions. At this point, money is the limiting factor and, with only a few hundred dollars to devote to this right now, I'm looking for something that fits in the budget and allows me to learn more about tubes and how they sound to my ears and what works for me. I'd love to have ST-70 money right now, but I don't. And, in some ways, if I did, it would also open me up to the choice between vintage and new and all the pros and cons that brings. At that point, a Jolida amp and a coupld of others would enter the picture.

But I don't have to worry about it as I said. A five percent pay cut for me (one day furloughs each month) that follows the same deal for my wife has cut money available for play in my household. So, my budget on this is pretty restrictive and that also means I won't have a lot to experiment with in terms of repairs/restoration/mods--at least initially.

It does sound like the Dynaco is a favorite, however, for some great practical reasons in terms of parts, modifications, clear modernizing paths, etc.

Thanks,
Richard
 
i'm really no help at all

I think higher number s/n ratio is better.

i was thinking of s/n ratios expressed in negative db's. the higher the absolute value, the better. i'm really not that knowledgable, so i gladly defer.

i also concur with a listening test as being superior to picking a unit by spec's. that's like picking a car by what color it is.

so here's my final opinion, the receiver looks cooler.
 
It does sound like the Dynaco is a favorite, however, for some great practical reasons in terms of parts, modifications, clear modernizing paths, etc.

Thanks,
Richard
I wouldnt say that. If I seen them both side x side for similar $ I would take the Bogen.

- the Bogen has the option of AM/FM
- 7355 is a great tube with more than double the power of the SCA35 (and easy enough to find on eBay or tubes online sites)
- the Bogen is tube rectified which I (and many) prefer
- the Bogen has a headphone jack
- the Bogen generally has obviously better build quality and was not available as a DIY kit
(as the Dynacos were so you might end up with an amp where poor skills= poor performance= a lot more work than you bargained for)
JMO
WopOnTour
 
To add to WOT's comments:

- 6L6 tubes can easily be retrofitted in place of 7355s, with little more than just re-wiring the tube sockets. The 6L6 is just about the most ubiquitous audio tube ever (for good reason!)...

I'd also go for the Bogen, I'd think. More potential there...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
I still love my Elite 80's from Ideal Innovations, Syd there runs some specials on eBay every so often and they can be had for a very reasonable price. I have a pair so I'm bi-amping my Altecs, they seem to have a ton of power for only a 20 watt per channel rating. Ideal Innovations

Elite-80_Amps_Pair_01.jpg
 
I still love my Elite 80's from Ideal Innovations, Syd there runs some specials on eBay every so often and they can be had for a very reasonable price. I have a pair so I'm bi-amping my Altecs, they seem to have a ton of power for only a 20 watt per channel rating. Ideal Innovations

Believe me, these folks are on my short list when money is available to go this route. I'm impressed by their products and, as I said, they are on the short list. I'm just not in that budget zone right now after taking a five percent pay cut on the heels of the same for my wife. The household budget is in a more hunkered-down mode! :sigh:

Richard
 
The Bogen it is!

So, I got the Bogen and it's shipping out to me Monday. I can't wait for it to arrive next weekend before I have to head out of town for a few days I hope? We'll see. Extra power and some other factors sold me, though I'm sure it won't be my last tube amp purchase and is, for now, simply my most recent one.

Richard
 
Bogen it is!

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Well, I decided to go with the Bogen for several reasons. The receiver made something of a difference as I do listen to FM and, more importantly, the additional power and some reassurance I could have it rewired to accept different power tubes down the road if need be swayed me because of the size and circumstances of my listening room.

And, I'll have to say I'm mightily impressed after it being here for about an hour now. It is the full answer to what I got a glimpse of with a Grant Fidelity B-283 tube processor on my SS setup before. The warmth of the sound and the tone is right in the sweet spot for my listening tastes. I'm sure it's not got tons of bass but, again, I'm not listening to anything where that becomes a real issue. Not even remotely.

I'm sure I'll want to look at refurbishing it down the road but I'm enjoying it as it sits for now and that will be an as-the-money-comes kind of project to stay high on the WAF ledger.

I'm so glad I work from home on days like today!

Richard
 
I still love my Elite 80's from Ideal Innovations, Syd there runs some specials on eBay every so often and they can be had for a very reasonable price. I have a pair so I'm bi-amping my Altecs, they seem to have a ton of power for only a 20 watt per channel rating. Ideal Innovations

Elite-80_Amps_Pair_01.jpg

Nice looking amps.. are those 6v6 tubes?
 
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