Way too much Stuff on hand

[rollo]

  Over the years we have accumulated lots of gear, cables, speakers. 6 preamps, 10 amps, 3 DACS, 2 TT, 4 pairs speakers. Time to reduce the herd. What about you. Wanna sell ? trade ? keep the stuff ?

charles

[Nick B]

Well, I haven't posted specifics yet, but I am looking for a tube amp. Have only owned VAC 90 monos and a Modjeski RM 9 and those were over 30 years ago. Cant even recall the tubes. But whatever I get, I dont want a 50-60+ lb amp and it really needs to be a budget reference as my current solid state set up is so good. I am thinking about a Miller Audio maxxed out St 70 for starters. Am open to other suggestions, whether new, used, a kit etc

[mresseguie]

Nick and/or Charles,

I'm interested to know what you have for sale/trade. The timing isn't the best for me as I'll fly off to Asia this month.

I've got a pair of barely used Don Sachs dual 300b mono amps (two 300b tubes per mono amp) rated at ~27w/ch that I plan to sell in order to make room for 'something special'. I have 1 or 2 extra DACs.

Michael

[toobluvr]

Well, I haven't posted specifics yet, but I am looking for a tube amp. Have only owned VAC 90 monos and a Modjeski RM 9 and those were over 30 years ago. Cant even recall the tubes. But whatever I get, I dont want a 50-60+ lb amp and it really needs to be a budget reference as my current solid state set up is so good. I am thinking about a Miller Audio maxxed out St 70 for starters. Am open to other suggestions, whether new, used, a kit etc

You might wanna take a look at this ST-70 by Kenny Russell at GetDynaco.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuCvhzQfXkI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpgCVY0ldXg

https://www.getdynaco.com/home

If you scan this guy's YT channel you'll  get a feel for his experience and preferences.  He definitely leans to warmth, musicality and dimensionality.  He has heard and owned some great gear, and his tastes seem to align with my own, so I tend to lend credence to his claims.  Also, he compares it very favorably to some well known and highly regarded and much pricier tube amps.  I find this reassuring.

I have no direct experience with this Ken Russell stuff, but I do own an ST-70 rebuilt by Chris Keller in NC.  It is VG and his work is very highly regarded. 

This the exact amp I bought:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649729466-dynaco-st-70-totally-restored-and-upgraded/

Check out Chris' customer feedback here, all 100% very favorable:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/userfeedback.php?user_id=52467&transaction_type=seller

Good luck in your search! 

~ John

[Nick B]

Nick and/or Charles,

I'm interested to know what you have for sale/trade. The timing isn't the best for me as I'll fly off to Asia this month.

I've got a pair of barely used Don Sachs dual 300b mono amps (two 300b tubes per mono amp) rated at ~27w/ch that I plan to sell in order to make room for 'something special'. I have 1 or 2 extra DACs.

Michael

Hi Michael,

The only thing I have been considering selling is some of my WyWires cables. As to amplifiers, unless the monos are very small, I only have room for a stereo amp. My speakers are 88.5 db efficient and need a minimum of 35 W per Dave to drive my JMR Voce Grande. So I doubt if I have room for your 300B monos and there doesn't appear to be enough power either.

Nick

[Nick B]

Well, I haven't posted specifics yet, but I am looking for a tube amp. Have only owned VAC 90 monos and a Modjeski RM 9 and those were over 30 years ago. Cant even recall the tubes. But whatever I get, I dont want a 50-60+ lb amp and it really needs to be a budget reference as my current solid state set up is so good. I am thinking about a Miller Audio maxxed out St 70 for starters. Am open to other suggestions, whether new, used, a kit etc

You might wanna take a look at this ST-70 by Kenny Russell at GetDynaco.com:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuCvhzQfXkI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpgCVY0ldXg

https://www.getdynaco.com/home

If you scan this guy's YT channel you'll  get a feel for his experience and preferences.  He definitely leans to warmth, musicality and dimensionality.  He has heard and owned some great gear, and his tastes seem to align with my own, so I tend to lend credence to his claims.  Also, he compares it very favorably to some well known and highly regarded and much pricier tube amps.  I find this reassuring.

I have no direct experience with this Ken Russell stuff, but I do own an ST-70 rebuilt by Chris Keller in NC.  It is VG and his work is very highly regarded. 

This the exact amp I bought:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649729466-dynaco-st-70-totally-restored-and-upgraded/

Check out Chris' customer feedback here, all 100% very favorable:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/userfeedback.php?user_id=52467&transaction_type=seller

Good luck in your search! 

~ John

Hi John,

When I was researching these amps a year or two ago, I was very interested in the Will Vincent and Kenny Russell builds. The Vincent ST 70s are very stylish imo, but I didn't have confidence that it woul provide great sound. I also spoke with him and asked if he was open to you using different parts than his standard build and the answer was no.

I also looked at Kenny Russell's version and spoke with him as well. I liked his parts selection, but didn't care for the old style chrome chassis and the worst thing was his use of terminal strips in the rear. I think those cheapie strips would have an effect on the performance. So I asked Kenny if he would consider a different chassis and I also asked him more importantly if he would consider putting binding posts there instead. The answer was no and he seemed a bit annoyed with my requests.

The most pleasant guy by far to speak with so far has been Bryan Miller. He offers custom color chassis, excellent parts and has flexibility as to installing different parts per the customers request.

I am pretty sure I have seen Chris version of the ST 70 before. I have a couple of concerns about his version: the first is that he uses a rectifier tube and I would prefer to have a solid state rectifier. I've read some comments that for a modified amp, the solid state rectifier is the way to go. Another concern would be that the transformers are the originals. I think there are some versions out there that use bigger transformers. The last item would be that I very much like the 6NS7 tube that was used on my Supratek preamp. I don't have any experience with the 12au7 tubes. I am fine with manual biasing, but the Miller version also offers an auto bias upgrade.

So there are some good modified ST 70 versions available and I appreciate you providing the information about Chris.

Nick 

[toobluvr]

Wow Nick.....you appear to be well schooled in all the Dynacos out there.  Well done!!   

Interesting you mention the Will Vincent version.   I too love the looks.   That DoctorD guy on YT owned it and compared it to the Russell version in one of those linked videos.  He said the latter is better, FWIW.

PS:  I also own a Will Vincent Baldwin Super Organ amp.  Good amp, but I'm pretty sure you'd be short power with it on your JMRs.  In actual use the Keller ST-70 gives a much greater sense of power, grip, drive and grunt.

I think you are mistaken about Russell using terminal strips.  At the 50 second mark in this vid, modern binding posts are clearly used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuCvhzQfXkI

Like you, I also dislike the shiney chrome case.

As far as looks, IMO the Keller version is the nicest:

[P.I.]

FWIW:  If I was going to buy one of the current takes on a ST 70,  it would be Bryan Miller's version, hands down.

[Nick B]

Wow Nick.....you appear to be well schooled in all the Dynacos out there.  Well done!! 

Interesting you mention the Will Vincent version.  I too love the looks.  That DoctorD guy on YT owned it and compared it to the Russell version in one of those linked videos.  He said the latter is better, FWIW.

PS:  I also own a Will Vincent Baldwin Super Organ amp.  Good amp, but I'm pretty sure you'd be short power with it on your JMRs.  In actual use the Keller ST-70 gives a much greater sense of power, grip, drive and grunt.

I think you are mistaken about Russell using terminal strips.  At the 50 second mark in this vid, modern binding posts are clearly used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuCvhzQfXkI

Like you, I also dislike the shiney chrome case.

As far as looks, IMO the Keller version is the nicest:

Thanks for the additional info, John. In the one video that you linked, yes, Kenny used binding posts. But if you check on his website. He just offers an upgraded version of a different type of terminal strip. Then you can use an adapter to the new terminal strip to attach your cables. Again, in my opinion, that is further limiting performance doing things that way. My memory is very good talking to Kenny once or twice and him being adamant about not adding speaker binding posts. He told me that he's had too many of them damaged in shipping and he doesn't want to deal with that issue anymore. The other thing that I didn't like at all was a captive power cord. I've got some great power cords and they absolutely make a difference. Again, using a captive cord, I would be limiting performance and kind of undoing the work that I've done to achieve very low noise and excellent resolution.

I also recall one of my conversations with Will Vincent and I asked him how he was able to offer all the connections in the rear of the amp. He said he spent a long long time figuring out the correct grounding so that he was able to do that and completely be rid of hum.

I saw a number of the Dr D videos and I like the guy. Not sure how much I want to rely on his opinions based on his selection of gear and some of the things he's said. Cosmetically, yes I do like the Keller version.

[Nick B]

FWIW:  If I was going to buy one of the current takes on a ST 70,  it would be Bryan Miller's version, hands down.

I agree with you as to the Miller version. So it's likely that or a good tube amp that I can get used and that can be modded. Maybe Brad would be up for a task like modding or I'll just keep getting recommendations on qualified guys who would be willing to do it for me.

[Jack]

Nick

Why would you buy a perfectly good funtioning used tube amp and then start modifying it?  By your own admission you haven't owned a tube amp in decades and that was in a different system in a different house with much younger ears.  Based on the direction your preferences have gone in the last few years you don't even know if a tube amp would appeal to you until you got one in your system.  With that in mind I wouldn't start that journey with some custom product with costly aftermarket parts and wire in it.  Those upgrades will have little to no value to a buyer if you decide it doesn't work for you in your current system.  Though I rarely ever use them I still own three tube amps all bought used for far less than what they are worth now on the resale market. With the weather getting colder here in SC I amp going to put one of them, a stereo EL-34 amp, in the system in the next couple of days just for a change.  I have no idea whether or not the 40wpc will be enough for the speakers in the system now but if not I will change out the speakers to a more tube friendly pair.

[ejk]

Nick just find a pair of Quicksilver Midmono's and be done. Around 1500 on the used market. Great sound and great build quality. EL34 based but you can use KT88 or others. El34 sound euphoric.

[P.I.]

Nick just find a pair of Quicksilver Midmono's and be done. Around 1500 on the used market. Great sound and great build quality. EL34 based but you can use KT88 or others. El34 sound euphoric.

And... KT88 have big balls!

[rollo]

Nick and/or Charles,

I'm interested to know what you have for sale/trade. The timing isn't the best for me as I'll fly off to Asia this month.

I've got a pair of barely used Don Sachs dual 300b mono amps (two 300b tubes per mono amp) rated at ~27w/ch that I plan to sell in order to make room for 'something special'. I have 1 or 2 extra DACs.

Michael

  One Pair each of Qln Prestige one and three speakers, Aqua Acoustic La Diva transport, Inspire 4W El84 Amp, Alan Eaton 45 Amp. FOSI Z3 DAC, Fosi Amps

charles

[Nick B]

Nick

Why would you buy a perfectly good funtioning used tube amp and then start modifying it?  By your own admission you haven't owned a tube amp in decades and that was in a different system in a different house with much younger ears.  Based on the direction your preferences have gone in the last few years you don't even know if a tube amp would appeal to you until you got one in your system.  With that in mind I wouldn't start that journey with some custom product with costly aftermarket parts and wire in it.  Those upgrades will have little to no value to a buyer if you decide it doesn't work for you in your current system.  Though I rarely ever use them I still own three tube amps all bought used for far less than what they are worth now on the resale market. With the weather getting colder here in SC I amp going to put one of them, a stereo EL-34 amp, in the system in the next couple of days just for a change.  I have no idea whether or not the 40wpc will be enough for the speakers in the system now but if not I will change out the speakers to a more tube friendly pair.

Jack,

To answer your first question, I would have the good functioning amp modded if it didn't meet my expectations as to performance. You know I have been intrigued about getting a tube amp for quite a while. I really enjoy what I have and I would like to have a tube amp option. The criteria is it needs to be reasonable in weight and that would be 50 lbs or less and the performance would need to be equal to or better than the Starkrimson Ultra. I don't have confidence that just buying a used tube amp will accomplish that. I enjoyed the VAC 90 and RM 9 from years ago.

Equipment is built to a price point and I am interested in getting max performance out of whatever I buy. So that would mean improving the quality of the parts.The Miller ST 70 version gives me lots of choices. I am fine buying a used amp if the design is solid and I get some recommendations from experienced tube guys that it would be worth modifying...if I don't like the base model. I have been looking at all kinds of brands like LTA, VTL and other brands just to familiarize myself with some options.

So that's my thinking. I don't want an average sounding tube amp just to own a tube amp. It needs to perform very well. If it doesn't come together now, then maybe at some point in the future.