2. amps-preamps
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A good Preamp for ST70

Hello. I recently bought a Will Vincent ST 70 and I am wanting some advice on a good preamp. Built in phono is not a must but I would like to stick with tubes. This particular St70 has an interesting retro look to it with the meter on the front and of course the exposed tubes. As such I would really like to find a preamp that not only sounds good but has a similar look. As a contrast I would use the CJ PV 14 I have now. I hope that makes sense. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Tracy
kollert
gopher
499 posts
 
I used an Eastern Electric Minimax preamplifier with Tom Tutay mods when I had my lightly upgraded Dynaco ST-70 and it was a super musical combination. I have upgraded my components significantly since then and I'm not sure its more musical than what I used to experience with that pairing. Would love to try my current Shindo pre with an ST70 for grins.
trelja
3,223 posts
 
Hoopster, your opinion is at least as valid as anyone else's.

I also like the suggestion from Gopher regarding the EE Minimax.

Personally, I even get great results using a CD player (including my Dynaco CDV-2) going straight into my ST70. In my second system with either the Merlin VSM or Fried A/6 loudspeakers that the Dynaco pairs so well with, I feel far more than satisfied on a late night.
tommy583
73 posts
 
Kollert,

I too have a ST-70 rebuilt by Will Vincent. I'm currently using a Rogue Metis preamp with it. I think they look great together and sound great too.

Happy hunting,
Tommy
kollert OP
13 posts
 
As luck would have it I purchased a EE Pre last night lightly modded. And I found a stock PAS3 to mess with as well. Tommy 583 I will keep an eye out for a Rogue Metis as well. Thanks everybody!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
Kollert and Hoopster, it seems to me that to do a proper update, its about $900.00. The power supplies are rebuilt, then the circuit boards are updated. The tone controls are removed and the EQ for the phono is updated and moved to the circuit board ( the stock unit has the EQ elements mounted on the selector switch). I like to install a high quality RCA connection for the phono, so the lower level input connectors are replaced. Finally the volume control is replaced with a stepped switch and regulation is added. The idea is to keep everything in the original chassis, without major modification to the chassis (otherwise you might as well start from scratch).
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