avguytx Posted December 16, 2016 Author Share Posted December 16, 2016 I'm seriously leaning towards one of the Dynaco VTA ST-70's or ST-120 amplifier kits with tubes. It pretty much comes with everything that's needed and it will be at the max limit I could spend reasonably. Just got to decide if I "need" the ST-120's 60wpc or if the 35wpc of the ST-70 would work. It will be on CF-3's for now and, maybe one day, the Bell clones. I don't feel as comfortable with a Chinese amp as I'm not as good on running down issues with a sketchy diagram. These guys are in the US. I've also got an email in to an old buddy from my years spent as a rep for Sunfire, plus having talked to him numerous times since the late 80's at CES shows in Vegas and Chicago....Bob Carver. He's looking into some things, too. May be beyond me but never hurts to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 Dunno if PP 6BQ5 is your thing, but the Dynaco ST35 is a nice amplifier. A local retired AE was getting the original Dynaco amplifiers/iron, doing some sort of modifications to the front end driver/phase splitter, and had rather excellent sounding amplifiers. http://www.dynakitparts.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 16, 2016 Author Share Posted December 16, 2016 That's not a bad deal, really. Wonder why their kits are cheaper than the other VTA kits? I'd seen their site before but didn't really look too far. Ohh.,...no tubes with theirs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 18, 2016 Author Share Posted December 18, 2016 So what's the comparison of the Dynakit versus the VTA models? Anyone ever compared? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 18, 2016 Author Share Posted December 18, 2016 Or any other recommendations for something in that price range for something new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 18, 2016 Author Share Posted December 18, 2016 Or how about a Dared VP-80? I wasn't really leaning towards an integrated, though. But nice. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2016-New-Dared-VP-80-tube-PP-amp-w-phono-stage-sub-output-45wps-60lb-best-amp-/361852608382?hash=item5440189f7e:g:DEIAAOSwYIxX4D4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 19, 2016 Author Share Posted December 19, 2016 I'm hearing crickets. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 I'm figuring you know Dared is a Chinese audio brand. The only Dared amplifier I ever heard was a VP 845 with Khorns...but it was very brief... Seems like quality gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 19, 2016 Author Share Posted December 19, 2016 Scratch that. Don't really want to go offshore. Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 17 minutes ago, mike stehr said: I'm figuring you know Dared is a Chinese audio brand. The only Dared amplifier I ever heard was a VP 845 with Khorns...but it was very brief... Seems like quality gear. That is one nice looking amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 19, 2016 Author Share Posted December 19, 2016 Good looking amp but looks like it was pricey when new. Even used is still up there. Looks like some on ebay for $1800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted December 24, 2016 Author Share Posted December 24, 2016 Going to go with either the VTA ST-70 or the ST-120. 35wpc or 60wpc. (Tested a little more) There's about $190 price difference in kit form plus the tubes. I know that 35wpc is plenty for 100+dB sensitivity speakers and even for the CF-3's but 60wpc could be handy if I rotate something else in. Ugh...decisions, decisions. I'll start on the Belle bins and tops sometime after first of year. Was going to during Christmas break but my mother's health has been erratic in the last half of this year. Or I may ask if longdrive will build me a pair of bottoms since he's about an hour from me. Ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 Well, with all this time I've spent in the hospital with my mother in hospice care, I've pondered more. So if it were down to a choice of a Bottlehead Stereomour II 2a3 amp versus the Latino ST-70/120 at similar price points, what's everyone's personal opinion of what they'd go with? It would be run on my CF-3's (99db @ 1 watt) for now and eventally Belle clones (103db). I know....some like more tube power, some like the allure of the SET sonic nature (which I'm curious of as well) Again, just curious of others opinions and I take them as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I like 2A3s, but if the bottle head and ST 70 or 120 are similar in price, I'd go with the Latino ST-70 or 120. You can discover SET later on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 Thanks for the reply, Mike. Was leaning more the VTA direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkane Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Bottlehead Our Stereomour pushing 2a3's is fantastic and support awesome. Build guide makes assembly easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 I've decided on the Bob Latino ST-120 amplifier pretty much and am ready to place my order. But then I start pondering if it would be worth it to spend another $200 for the MK3 mono blocks. I know there's advantages to having separate PS's per channel which won't make that much difference in SQ. I believe Bob said the ST-120 has a 13lb transformer and the MK3's use an 8lb per chassis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 Well, Bob and Roy both seem to feel that the ST-120 and Mk3's are too much power and not needed for the Klipsch speakers. Bob said to save my money and get the 70 and still stays with that opinion. Maybe the 70 is the one to go with for now and put that other money towards my other projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogwylde09 Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Don't let me sway you, but personally I'd go monoblock. Just me...Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 VTA ST-70 ordered this morning with 6550 tube set. This amp will be more than plenty for the 99db sensitivity CF-3's I use and also with the Belle clones I'll be building later. I ordered it with the both capacitor upgrades, the 3 pole speaker connections for 4 and 8 ohm taps, and the stepped attenuator. Looking forward to the amp coming later this week! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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