joessportster Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 17 hours ago, MechEngVic said: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynakit-Stereo-35-Tube-Amplifier-with-BIAS-Control-EL84-Push-Pull-Dynaco-ST-35/293329354683?hash=item444bcabfbb:g:OdAAAOSw9fZdyrlM https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynaco-St-70-Stereo-Tube-Amplifier/153651402281?hash=item23c6565629:g:JaUAAOSwg5JdhTl8 No affiliation. These are highly regarded amps. Sellers have good feedback. Or, if you are willing to spend a bit more, you can buy from the best: http://www.tubes4hifi.com/bob.htm The Best ? I have heard the latino 120 built by Bob with all available upgrades. It was a nice amp but I would not call it the best by any means. Thats a slippery slope. Amp evaluation is subjective every ones hearing is different, what appeals to one may not to another. As the OP has asked for advice in getting a tube amp calling X the BEST is not a good idea. If someone were to take that statement as solid and try a latino, not care for the sound, it may very well turn them off Tubes all together. That would be a terrible dis-service anyone with experience knows many tube amps sound different and not always better or worse just different. I personally prefer SEP, SET to push pull, but it mainly boils down to system synergy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MechEngVic Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 On 11/16/2019 at 7:28 AM, joessportster said: The Best ? I have heard the latino 120 built by Bob with all available upgrades. It was a nice amp but I would not call it the best by any means. Thats a slippery slope. Amp evaluation is subjective every ones hearing is different, what appeals to one may not to another. As the OP has asked for advice in getting a tube amp calling X the BEST is not a good idea. If someone were to take that statement as solid and try a latino, not care for the sound, it may very well turn them off Tubes all together. That would be a terrible dis-service anyone with experience knows many tube amps sound different and not always better or worse just different. I personally prefer SEP, SET to push pull, but it mainly boils down to system synergy I've never heard a tube amp I didn't like, and I've heard many. And the best tube amp I've ever heard was one of Bob's st-120's, I wish I knew exactly what tubes/upgrades it had. In my experience the "subjective" part was always elsewhere, either with poorly placed speakers, a reflective room, or a poor source, and with a little tweaking I've mostly been able to get a tube amp sounding good. I have yet to listen to a really good single-end so I will defer to your judgement there. The couple I listened to sounded gorgeous, just not loud enough. I will agree with you 100% that system cohesiveness is the main sound factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 22 hours ago, MechEngVic said: I've never heard a tube amp I didn't like, and I've heard many. And the best tube amp I've ever heard was one of Bob's st-120's, I wish I knew exactly what tubes/upgrades it had. In my experience the "subjective" part was always elsewhere, either with poorly placed speakers, a reflective room, or a poor source, and with a little tweaking I've mostly been able to get a tube amp sounding good. I have yet to listen to a really good single-end so I will defer to your judgement there. The couple I listened to sounded gorgeous, just not loud enough. I will agree with you 100% that system cohesiveness is the main sound factor. I have heard several tube amps I can live without Had they been my first experience I would have walked away questioning others logic / tastes. Tube hiss due to poor design is an instant no go here, Amps with hum that can not be dialed out wont last a week. Bobs Lat is a decent amp but not to my overall liking. I have heard better IMHO Im listening to better as I type this Simply put BEST is in the "OPINION" of the person stating same, as opinions vary and rarely conform to others views, I still submit its not helpful or wise to call X Best when giving suggestions to a beginner😊 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubo Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 $200 Class A the first few watts Half watt is screaming on the high efficiency speakers 2 watts is unbearably loud If you like the sound, recap the amp and love it. Hard to beat at any price for 100 watts in sound quality Yamaha MX-600 or 630 Stereo Power Amplifier (1987-89) Specifications Power output: 135 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo) Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz Total harmonic distortion: 0.003% Damping factor: 70 Input sensitivity: 1.14V Signal to noise ratio: 123dB Speaker load impedance: 4Ω to 16Ω Dimensions: 435 x 170 x 425mm Weight: 13kg Year: 1988 https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/yamaha/mx-600.shtml Pre Amp Emotiva USP $250-350 https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=emotiva+usp&_sacat=32852&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=12&_sadis=15&_osacat=32852&_odkw=emotiva&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&_stpos=60563 XSP-1 Differential Reference Preamp for MC & MM cartridges, $1,249.00 Gen2 new, $800 Gen1 used Audio Specifications Balanced Input to Balanced Output: S/N (signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted, ref +6 dBV): > 117 dB. Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.02 dB. THD + N (harmonic distortion plus noise, @ 1 kHz): < 0.0004%. IMD (intermodulation distortion, SMPTE method, 60 Hz/7 kHz): < 0.001%. Crosstalk (measured at +6 dBF, 10 kHz): < 100 dB. Unbalanced Input to Unbalanced Output: S/N (signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted, ref +6 dBV): > 113 dB. Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.015 dB. THD + N (harmonic distortion plus noise, @ 1 kHz): < 0.0006%. IMD (intermodulation distortion, SMPTE method, 60 Hz/7 kHz): < 0.001%. Crosstalk (measured at +6 dBF, 10 kHz): < 102 dB. Balanced Input to Unbalanced Output: S/N (signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted, ref +6 dBV): > 114 dB. Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.015 dB. THD + N (harmonic distortion plus noise, @ 1 kHz): < 0.0005%. IMD (intermodulation distortion, SMPTE method, 60 Hz/7 kHz): < 0.0015%. Crosstalk (measured at +6 dBF, 10 kHz): < 105 dB. Unbalanced Input to Balanced Output: S/N (signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted, ref +6 dBV): > 115 dB. Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.017 dB. THD + N (harmonic distortion plus noise, @ 1 kHz): < 0.0003%. IMD (intermodulation distortion, SMPTE method, 60 Hz/7 kHz): < 0.007%. Crosstalk (measured at +6 dBF, 10 kHz): < 100 dB. Phono (Moving Coil; phono in to balanced out): Gain (1 kHz, Volume at 0): approximately 60 dB. Input impedance (user selectable): 47 ohms, 100 ohms, 470 ohms, 1k ohm. S/N (signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted, ref 1.0 mV in): > 79 dB. Frequency response (ref standard RIAA curve): 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.35 dB. THD (total harmonic distortion, ref 1.0 mV): < 0.008%. IMD (intermodulation distortion, SMPTE method: < 0.15 %. Crosstalk: < 65 dB. Phono (Moving Magnet; phono in to balanced out): Gain (1 kHz, Volume at 0): approximately 40 dB. Input impedance: 47k Ohms. S/N (signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted, ref 10.0 mV in, A-weighted): > 96 dB. Frequency response (ref standard RIAA curve): 20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.3 .dB. THD (total harmonic distortion, ref 10 mV): < 0.001%. IMD (intermodulation distortion, SMPTE method: < 0.05%. Crosstalk: < 80 dB. My hand starts shaking when I roll over the order button every time..... https://emotiva.com/products/xsp-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.