Vintage Power Amp vs new age power amp

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

From the engineering stand point the technology of new audio componets degrades in order to deliver higher profits.
The peak of audio engineering happened in mid-70's. The peak of vacume tube audio engineering in late 50's. Techically serviced vintage equipment isn't any worse than modern at all.

I wish you had stated that in reverse. Hence the advent of the vintage enthusiast. IMO, They are actually better.

07-16-12: Marakanetz
From the engineering stand point the technology of new audio componets degrades in order to deliver higher profits.

Really? Where do you come up with that?

Modern amps on average have wider bandwidth, faster rise times, higher current, higher damping factor, lower distortion, and audibly better signal-to-noise ratio. Do they achieve this with cheaper parts? No, they have better build quality with better transformers, glass epoxy printed circuit boards (instead of phenolic), better wiring, closer tolerance-matched components, and even better RCA jacks and speaker terminals.

Around 1972, the audio world gasped when Bob Carver offered the Phase Linear 400 at around $450. Adjusted for inflation, that bargain would be $2300 today. Do you really assert you can't get a better--and especially better built--amp for $2300 today? Or how about the excellent amps available today priced below that from Parasound, Adcom, Rotel, Emotiva, Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Odyssey Audio, Rogue Audio, PrimaLuna, and many others? If anything, larger production runs and automated processes make narrower profit margins viable via economy of scale.