Count me in as a guy who prefers the KT-88.
Just sayin.
Just sayin.
Getting into Tube Equipment
Hey there,
I have been gradually getting into vinyl and hi-fi for a while now. I mostly listen to folk, country, and some bluesy-rock music. Examples include the Grateful Dead, Sturgill Simpson, John Denver, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
I have been forward thinking about audio equipment I would like to have in the future. The components I am most eager to upgrade are my amp and phono preamp. For the amp, I am very interested in one of the Dynaco clones people are selling like the ST-70, ST-120 or the M-125 by Bob Latino. However, my first order of business will have to be getting a phono preamp with a volume control because these amps do not have a volume control. I would like to preface, I am not independently wealthy and do not expect to be in my life. Therefore, a $12,000 stereo setup does not seem like a reasonable option for me.
Can anyone please give me direction on either getting a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS or a used EAR 834P?
Additionally, If I could get some direction on an amp, it would be useful. Right now I own the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary speakers and I really love them. The only thing I can see upgrading to is a pair of used Harbeth Super hl5plus speakers but this would be in the more distant future. Based on what I currently have and will be using for awhile, as well as my future considerations, are any of the amps I am considering a best fit?
-Thomas
I have been gradually getting into vinyl and hi-fi for a while now. I mostly listen to folk, country, and some bluesy-rock music. Examples include the Grateful Dead, Sturgill Simpson, John Denver, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
I have been forward thinking about audio equipment I would like to have in the future. The components I am most eager to upgrade are my amp and phono preamp. For the amp, I am very interested in one of the Dynaco clones people are selling like the ST-70, ST-120 or the M-125 by Bob Latino. However, my first order of business will have to be getting a phono preamp with a volume control because these amps do not have a volume control. I would like to preface, I am not independently wealthy and do not expect to be in my life. Therefore, a $12,000 stereo setup does not seem like a reasonable option for me.
Can anyone please give me direction on either getting a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS or a used EAR 834P?
Additionally, If I could get some direction on an amp, it would be useful. Right now I own the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary speakers and I really love them. The only thing I can see upgrading to is a pair of used Harbeth Super hl5plus speakers but this would be in the more distant future. Based on what I currently have and will be using for awhile, as well as my future considerations, are any of the amps I am considering a best fit?
-Thomas
- ...
- 60 posts total
@buellrider97 thank you for your kind words, as well. You would do extremely well with the MKIII. They will put out the horsepower you want. You also do a little better with them on the 6AN8 pricing and availability instead of the ST70’s 7199. As I stated previously, you need to consider the coupling caps in regard to low-end performance. As the MKIII caps are already larger than the ST70, you get more bass out of the box, but may want to take one more step there. If you decide to go with the Latino 120s, you’ll still do very, very well. I mentioned mostly taking the new kit route with the ST70 for cosmetic reasons, unless you find an affordable unit to salvage its transformers. As you well know, the original MKIII transformers are true beasts, and beyond most of what we see in current tube amplifiers up to $10K. With that, I suggest a different tack, get a pair of original MKIIs or MKIIIs as I don’t think we can beat those trannies. Unless you find them with pristine (not likely at a reasonable sum) chrome or the very cool restomods folks like Will Vincent produce, I’d then order the gleaming, mirror finished stainless steel chassis and parts kits from Kevin at DynaKit Parts in NJ. Again, I think your taste will align with mine in thinking the original, more simple, and more immediate, insightful sound of the original Dynaco circuit bests the succeeding efforts to improve upon it with the Mullard’s higher gain, and increased circuitry / parts count. As many replacement boards have come down the pike in the past, I would love for someone to produce one of the original Dynaco circuit implementing a double triode phase splitter / driver (I won’t mention also removing the negative feedback loop, and making the appropriate compensation in gain), but with such low volumes these days, how could it be profitable enough for them to happen? I’ve hardwired a couple on my own with 8 pin and 9 pin tube sockets pre-mounted on terminal boards you can source from a place like Antique Electronic Supply. This sort of thing is stepping out there a bit - you might consider it a tangent or something to consider one day, but for now, just prefer to get a straight version of something working. But I’d also still look up Bob Latino for a modern set of RCA jacks and loudspeaker binding posts. You raise an excellent point on the power cable, and that’s a must have. Since you already have a nice stash for rectifiers and output tubes and are ready to go, there’s not a lot else to consider. They’re wonderfully simple amplifiers that sound a lot better than today’s audiophiles expect, and prove more than reliable. Hope you enjoy the ride! |
Bob Latino's kits are definitely a good way to go.+1 Sound is excellent. Preferred over PrimaLuna PL5 and NuForce ST-10 which I also own. As built by VTA, the M-125's were very noisy, but can be quietened quite a bit. In my case, almost 40db. Complete instructions: http://ielogical.com/Audio/VTA_M-125.php |
- 60 posts total