Dynaco ST-70

Cayuga
Cayuga Posts: 480
edited May 2011 in Electronics
I didn't get any feedback about the Fisher X-1000 amp, so how about the Dynaco ST-70? I've looked at all kinds of articles on-line, looking for members thoughts.
Post edited by Cayuga on
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,936
    edited April 2011
    (FWIW) I like the less common Dynaco ST-35 better as a (more or less) stock product. The ST-70 can be made pretty good by replacing/upgrading/modifying pretty much everything but the iron...

    (again, FWIW) All things being equal, I like the sound of PP EL84 amps better than PP EL34 amps, but that's just me :-P

    (N.B. a notable exception is the Marantz 8B; PP EL34 stereo and just a hell of a beautifully built and fine sounding amplifier)



    The X-1000 is a rare and exceptional piece; I've never seen one in the flesh, so I cannot comment.
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited April 2011
    Thanks for the info, I'm looking at buying the Dynaco because I can get the Pre and tuner with the amp for a great price. The Dynaco stuff is all original one owner. The X-1000 has be updated and is going for $650, not bad?
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited April 2011
    Both pieces have a huge following and there are many upgrades/mods that can be done to either. The Fisher is the rarer of the two and if it's already been modernized (new caps and resisters as needed) a very decent price. I believe the Fisher has a bit more power than the Dynaco and is also a pre amp. If it were my money I'd be leaning toward the Fisher but either is going to give a substantial amount of tube lovin'.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited April 2011
    Thanks again for the feedback, I'm going to get the Dynaco toying with getting the Fisher as well. See ya tax return
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited April 2011
    Cayuga wrote: »
    Thanks again for the feedback, I'm going to get the Dynaco toying with getting the Fisher as well. See ya tax return

    That Dynaco ST-70 is the amp that got me hooked on tubes a couple years back. My best friend's father passed away, and when my friend (who lives out of town) came back to settle the estate, he let me audition his Dad's ST-70 amp with PAS-3X preamp for several weeks with the thought I would buy it for a decent price. My friend had little interest in audio and wanted it to go to a good home.

    After my friend heard how good it sounded, he became interested and decided to cart it back to Colorado. I was glad he did for the sentimental value, and now my friend is big-time into audio too. I ended up buying one on eBay. After rolling some tubes and getting my feet wet, I started buying more and more tube gear and tubes.

    That ST-70 has a lot of potential!
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited April 2011
    Thanks inspiredsports, I'm getting the PAS-3X with the amp and a tuner. I can't wait, I've always used solid state stuff so this should be fun.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,936
    edited April 2011
    Disclaimer - if I ever stumble across a restoreable ST-70 at a good price... it will come home with me :-)
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited April 2011
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Disclaimer - if I ever stumble across a restoreable ST-70 at a good price... it will come home with me :-)

    And sit on the shelf beside the Eico ST-70 and ST-40?:wink:
    I'm sorry I couldn't help myslef.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,936
    edited April 2011
    Fongolio wrote: »
    And sit on the shelf beside the Eico ST-70 and ST-40?:wink:
    I'm sorry I couldn't help myslef.

    no need to apologize; that's probably exactly what would happen :-)

    that said, retirement isn't that far off; those projects are all queued up!
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited April 2011
    I have seen cleaned up ones on E-BAY for $300 and up and on AUDIOGON maybe even more. So many are gutting them powdercoating then building up from there . Their resergence has been amazing and now even people at garage sales know what they got . Preformance wise I've been told the ST-70s are the best and like I said there are hundreds out there in kinds of condition with and with out moodification.With a Dynaco PAS-3 PRE and some decent speakers you have a vintage rig.
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited April 2011
    I ended up with the ST-70, PAS-2, PAT-4 ,a tuner and a quad-box. Today I completed the Dynaco family with a pair of A-25's. Everything is at the shop being tuned up, as soon as I get them back I will post a family picture.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited April 2011
    Looks like the tube bug bit you hard. Congrats! I'm looking forward to seeing the photos.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited April 2011
    I've always wanted to try some tube gear, I think this Dynaco package is a nice start. I even got myself a tube tester.
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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited April 2011
    Those old Dynaco a-25's sound very nice (I have a pair) but that ST-70 will power many much bigger speakers. My Eico ST-70 with very similar power makes my SDA-1C's sound as sweet as honey. You've got a great setup for a start and you have many speaker options for the future. Congrats on a really nice setup.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
    Carver TFM-55
    NAD 1130 Pre-amp
    Rega Planar 3 TT/Shelter 501 MkII
    The Clamp
    Revox A77 Mk IV Dolby reel to reel
    Thorens TD160/Mission 774 arm/Stanton 881S Shibata
    Nakamichi CR7 Cassette Deck
    Rotel RCD-855 with modified tube output stage
    Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus
    ADC Soundshaper 3 EQ
    Ben's IC's
    Nitty Gritty 1.5FI RCM
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,669
    edited April 2011
    Congrats Cayuga. enjoy.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited May 2011
    Thanks for the nice replies, the minute I get these back from the shop I will post pictures. This whole Dynaco system was purchased new by one guy, he used it on a daily bases until five years ago. Before turning the amp on, I felt a trip to the shop for a look see would make sense.
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