Vintage Power Amp vs new age power amp

Chaozhoi,

I glanced at your other thread. I think there is a good chance that you may prefer the 300dc in this case (assuming it's operating correctly).

I've been having fun putting together a vintage system in a spare room. I'm using a Marantz 16b amp and it's better than a few more "modern" amps I tried. Matching the characteristics of an amp AND speaker goes a long way toward satisfaction.

Bananas: There are adapters you can buy to make them work with the Marantz (search the bay). I bought a few sets of them when I had a Mac 275. I'm glad I kept them as I now use them on the 16b.

I would definitely consider hi end vintage over entry level current. Buconero 117 made a very important point. Not only that, but who does the rebuild is paramount to how this thing is going to end up. I'm a vintage fan and have several rebuilt amps, some of which came back with serious issues. Fortunately I have the know-how and was able to correct the problems. However, my knowledge is limited. On the other hand, since learning my lesson, I have a G.A.S. 500 Ampzilla rebuilt by Mike Bettinger of Gas Audio I would put up against anything on the planet. This thing is virtually brand new. Even the transformer is re-wound. But it cost $2250.00. I also have an Acoustat TNT 200 currently being rebuilt by non other than Roy Esposito who was part of the engineering team that designed it. This exercise is costing me about $1600.00. However, this will be state of the art. So you can end up with something which will go toe to toe with current state of the art sound at a much more reasonable outlay but more than a lot of current entry level amps.

I bought a used but new(er) Dynakit ST-70 here at Audiogon,The original owner got it from tubes4hifi.com you can get them new or build them yourself.

It has the VTA driver board,with decent tubes this amp has pleased me more than the Accuphase P-300, E202 P500 (bleck!) and Forte 4a, Wyred4sound st-250, Quicksilvers and a bunch of other great amps.

I paid $600 for it and it's a keeper. I now only run vintage tube amps from the 60's and 50's, it's the sound I've always been looking for. I have a H.H Scott 222D and Eico HF 22 monoblocks that are also top self, they will have to be pried out of my cold dead hands...

I recommend you go vintage restored tube amp, like the Scott 222 or others with great reps. plus they're dam cool!

My 2 cents

I'm not a tube guy, but I happen to have an old Dynakit ST-70 in need of tubes but otherwise in great shape. I have a brand new R. Waters designed driver board and bias module I think I'll finally get around to installing. I ran across an interesting article on the net entitled "Hot-Rodding the Eico ST-70". This guy found a way to double the output without changing the transformers and without increasing distortion. This technique apparently applies to all tube amps. You've piqued my curiosity.

I just purchased a pair of Eico HF 20 rebuilds courtesy of Jim Nicholls from JWN amps, He changed the caps and resistors, upgraded the Power xformer, and put in his own cicuit and all I can say is WOW!
I would put these up against any amp out there: Set type mids and overtones, great bass and a real 3D sound which is amazing. They also have far more power than the 20 WPC listed. If you can find an inexpensive pair of these somewhere send them to Jim for the rebuild, you won't be disappointed
He also does Dynakit rebuilds and I'm sure those sound great as well