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What tubes are you running with your Dynaco ST70

cocovinyl176

Active Member
Hi-Curious what some of you with (stock) ST70's are using for tubes. Are there specific Tubes any of you find deliver best sound quality? Does having the Original transformers without it upgraded somewhat limit options? Look forward your replies.
 
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I've got two sets of Mark iiis.

My original Mark iiis came with reissued Tung Sol 6550s. I'd first "upgraded" those power tubes with Svetlanas. They kind of gave off little blue coronas here and there and hummed a bit. Removed those and replaced them with gray-plate three hole Tung Sols. Then upgraded to gray-plate no holes.

The gray-plate no holes are my second favorite tubes so far. In my left mono amp, I have a pair of well matched black plates from 1959. Waiting to get two more for the right channel once I can afford them, very pricey.

I took the stock rectifiers out and replaced them with gz34 Hammonds. Then, I've since replaced those with 37s. They are very tall, look nice.

I've replaced the 12ax7s with an ei replica of the telefunken tube which may be from Yugoslavia? My brother claims they're as good as the very expensive Telefunkens.

I've been using leftover tubes for my other Mark iiis and playing around with different driver tubes for the ax7s and au7s.

If been trying like new old stock 5751s and various Raytheons, Sylvanias, tung sols, etc.

My brother sold me one of his sets of Mark iiis and he did the Poseidon board mod on it, so I have to deal with the 12au7 driver tubes as well. I have tried bh7s in there too.

I run my original Mark 7s with a Pas2 pre and the other one with a Pat 4. I have no complaints with either one. They rock.

Oh, don't forget to check that bias after you make changes.
 
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Regardless of which tubes, the amplifier should be checked for proper functioning. A good way to do a baseline health check on the amplifier is to take voltage readings at the nodes listed in the voltage tables in the original manual. The voltage tables are on the page with the power supply schematic.

Once the basic health of the amplifier is established, different tubes are a matter of sonic taste. Original transformers and not being otherwise upgraded shouldn't matter.
Thanks guys. This unit has totally been restored. new original circuit board and capacitors. Currently using Electro Harmonics el34's. My Bias is se at 1.36 so that it doesn't run too hot. I see many folks using the the KT77/66/88 OR 6550-I'm guessing I would need to MOD my transformers in order to utilizes such options? Was wondering how different they might sound.
 
Currently, I'm using Electro-Harmonix 6CA7s with my ST-70, which sound great. I'd been using a set of their EL34s for the past 10 years or so; they still sounded pretty good, but one of them red-plated this past fall, so I decided it was time for a change even though re-seating the tubes cleared the fault (probably a loose/dirty contact in the socket). Before that, I ran JJ E34Ls for a few years, but one of the pairs went soft prematurely, so I replaced them with EL34EHs. I've long been toying with trying 807s, but have yet to build the adapters.
-Adam
st70_3.jpg

(should take a new picture; this is when it still had the JJ E34Ls)
 
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Mine has the bigger power trany and the tubes4hifi board. I don't know if the KT77's are right for a stock 70, but they do sound nice.
People that have tried the EH-6CA7 fat boys seem to really like them. I want to try a set myself and they should run fine in a stock 70.
 
Sounds like you are using the original Dynaco circuit. A fine choice. It was originally designed for EL34 or 6CA7. IIRC going to 6L6 tube family results in lower power output with more distortion. Running the bias lower than the recommended 1.56VDC for any tube will result in higher distortion. But, many say they cannot hear it.

EH EL34 is a good choice for the original Stereo 70 because they extend the top end and are lively. Some other EL34s are more laid back and rolled off up top in the original Stereo 70.

The output transformers should not have to be changed for the tubes Dynaco originally allowed. The alternate power tubes mentioned in the original Stereo 70 manual are 5881 and KT66, provided they can be biased, which is another issue. KT88/6550 was never recommended by Dynaco for the Stereo 70.

With regard to the original power transformer, there has been much discussion as to whether it is adequate even for the original tube complement, but as long as it does not buzz or vibrate excessively and is not blowing the 3A fuse, it should be fine.

With regard to KT77, they are often spoken of as a drop in replacement for EL34/6CA7, though Dynaco did not mention KT77 in the manual. When I used KT77 in my Stereo 70, things definitely ran hotter, temperature-wise. There are beefier power transformers available from Triode USA and dynakitparts.com, which are considered a general upgrade. But, again, if you have the original Dynaco power transformer and it is not making too much mechanical noise and not blowing the 3A fuse, I don't see why it shouldn't work fine.

As for sonic differences, some folks use 6L6 types (including KT66) in the Stereo 70 and like it a lot, even though measured distortion may be higher. Again, a practical concern is being able to bias them.

For 6550/KT88, an upgraded power transformer would probably be a good idea, though I would question compatibility with the original output transformers.
Thank you, peter. I am just intetstred I’m playing around with (potential) diverse sound. To be honest, I do not notice any distortion setting at the lower recommended bias, although I am going to set to 1.56 to try and listen for any difference. Again, I did it because I thought it may run a bit cooler. I’m pretty interested in checking out the 6CA7‘s. I’ll shoot a pic of the until up later...just in case there was interest.
 
Thank you, peter. I am just intetstred I’m playing around with (potential) diverse sound. To be honest, I do not notice any distortion setting at the lower recommended bias, although I am going to set to 1.56 to try and listen for any difference. Again, I did it because I thought it may run a bit cooler. I’m pretty interested in checking out the 6CA7‘s. I’ll shoot a pic of the until up later...just in case there was interest.

EH-6CA7 Fat B that is.
 
I run EH 6CA7’s in my st-70 and really like them. I also have the VTA board. I actually just replaced the power transformer on my amp this weekend with the larger one from Dynakit parts (no affil). The original was making all kinds of racket and had a huge turn on jump. It was a very old production tranny, and the new one is much quieter with no jump at turn on, although it does still vibrate some. I want to try some kt66 or kt77’s once it’s time for another set of output tubes.
 
I'm running SED/Winged C EL34's, British Mullard GZ34 and a pair of Sylvania 7687 (with adapters).
 
btw- I set the Bias to 1.56.. somewhat of difference, but probably b/c I changed out my AR3a (I was using earlier) to a set of KLH Model Six.
 
I found this thread and it seems worthy of a kick.
For the last 8-10 months, I have used the EH 6CA7 which sounded good until I changed speakers. The Canton Karats aren’t really bright but the metal domed tweeter.....yea, maybe a tad bright.

So I put the Chinese Nesstones back in and the presentation is warmer and more balanced. They are making some mechanical noises at warm up and cool down that concern me. $40 for a matched quad and I didn’t expect much.

Other options for a warm, smooth sounding tube?
 
I found this thread and it seems worthy of a kick.
For the last 8-10 months, I have used the EH 6CA7 which sounded good until I changed speakers. The Canton Karats aren’t really bright but the metal domed tweeter.....yea, maybe a tad bright.

So I put the Chinese Nesstones back in and the presentation is warmer and more balanced. They are making some mechanical noises at warm up and cool down that concern me. $40 for a matched quad and I didn’t expect much.

Other options for a warm, smooth sounding tube?
EL34 has lowest distortion.
 
I've used only new production tubes, some used Sovtek EL34's that came with the amp, EH 6CA7's, and I just put in a quad of the Gold Lion KT-66's. I haven't had nearly enough time to judge the KT-66 tubes, but I definitely prefer the 6CA7's to the EL34's. They aren't the finest example of EL34, so I need to try a better quality EL34 someday.
 
I saw a post on another forum that the EHs are ‘ok if your miss the sound of Solid State’.
The sound was good with them when I was using Rectilinear and AR speakers but these Cantons have an aluminum tweeter and are a tad brighter. They are very detailed monitors from top to bottom and very revealing of everything they are fed.
I’m loving the sound with the Chinese Nesstones in.
 
I saw a post on another forum that the EHs are ‘ok if your miss the sound of Solid State’.
The sound was good with them when I was using Rectilinear and AR speakers but these Cantons have an aluminum tweeter and are a tad brighter. They are very detailed monitors from top to bottom and very revealing of everything they are fed.
I’m loving the sound with the Chinese Nesstones in.
Maybe Nesstone would tell you who made the tube he put his brand on.
 
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