by "gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
Published 01/27/2017 at 17:16
by "gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
Published 01/27/2017 at 17:16
Tags: Audiositelock
STARS: 5
Part of my stereo system is a borrowed Dynaco ST70, so I’ve been keeping my eye out for one of my own in case my friend wants his back at some point. The problem was, ST70s are quite expensive, and I’ve never seen another really early one with the best transformers. Until today, I just snagged this one for $260, which might seem like a lot for an amp that doesn’t even have tubes, but that’s less than just these transformers usually sell for. The front looks a bit hack with the volume knob and moved input jacks, but it’ll work. It has a different board on it that I believe takes two 6sn7s and one 12ax7, but I need to find info on it to be sure. If it’s a custom job, I’m not sure what my plan is. Finding good EL34 power tubes for a reasonable price might be hard too, but before I try that I’ll be testing it with the power tubes from the other ST70 to make sure it even works.
"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
01/27/2017 at 17:33, STARS: 0
Those amps always confuse me. Working on a Raspberry Pi in an old stereo cabinet now. Trying not to zap myself!
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
01/27/2017 at 17:37, STARS: 1
As a tube enthusiast and mild audiophile, nice!
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
01/27/2017 at 17:40, STARS: 0
They’re odd, but I’m doing my best to learn how they work.
How does a Raspberry Pi get involved in a stereo cabinet?
"Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif" (lumpy44)
01/27/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 1
Can run Spotify from it and run it from your phone. Thought it might be kinda cool.
Sort of like this: http://lifehacker.com/transform-a-vintage-radio-into-a-raspberry-pi-powered-w-474682370
"jimz" (jimz)
01/27/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 2
vacuum tubes aren’t hard to find thanks to eastern Europe, but they’re not always cheap. especially when you’re buying in “matched” sets. But Parts Express to the rescue:
https://www.parts-express.com/cat/vacuum-tubes/1600
about $80-120 for a matched quartet.
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
01/27/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 1
I have a pair of Executone P12's that I built out of the scrap pile at my old job. I currently have no speakers that can actually handle them(50w!!), so they are in storage. All the tubes are Western Electric I think, and they were NOS from the parts room lol. They are single channel, but that’s why I got two.
You can always try your hand at some cheap russian tubes.
"jimz" (jimz)
01/27/2017 at 19:15, STARS: 1
"jimz" (jimz)
01/27/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 0
yeah, the plate voltages of power tubes is nothing to fuck around with.
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
01/27/2017 at 20:10, STARS: 1
I think I’m spoiled by the Mullards on the one I’m currently using...:might have to find something similar
"BunkyTheMelon" (bunkythemelon)
01/27/2017 at 20:29, STARS: 2
I can’t really speak much about tube home audio as well as guitar stuff, I had a Tiny Terror and giant 100w head re-tubed with Gold Lions, and the sound was amazing. My $. 02
"MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow" (myjeepgetsstuckinthesnow)
01/27/2017 at 20:59, STARS: 1
Those fat bases are something special.
"MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow" (myjeepgetsstuckinthesnow)
01/27/2017 at 21:03, STARS: 1
The Electro-Harmonix EL34's in a matched quad are reasonable and sound very good.
"fintail" (fintail)
01/27/2017 at 23:10, STARS: 1
I don’t have any old stereo equipment, but right know I am listening to a lovely old tube radio, this Motorola 51-AB from 1939. It is fairly rare, and is considered one of the best “car grille” design radios:
I had the chassis restored a couple years ago, and it plays like new now. Something about the way these old machines sound that just can’t be duplicated. I found this at an estate sale when I was a teen, and have held on to it.
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
01/27/2017 at 23:12, STARS: 1
That’s really cool. There isnt any way to recreate tube sound, only tubes can do it. My friend who lent me the other Dynaco got me hooked
"fintail" (fintail)
01/28/2017 at 00:16, STARS: 1
I’ve had a thing for old radios and wind up phonos since I was a kid. There’s just something to the sound. There’s an AM station in Seattle that plays old music a lot, tonight it is a lot of material from 1938, which has a time warp effect with this radio. It’s an experience.
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
01/28/2017 at 01:36, STARS: 1
That reminds me of my favourite memory from my Volvo 144. I was driving home through a neighborhood with older buildings, with very early David Bowie playing on the original radio. There was basically nothing to prove that it wasn’t 1969 or 1970.
"jimz" (jimz)
01/28/2017 at 06:49, STARS: 1
just had the thought that I’m old enough to remember when drugstores and places like KMart had tube testers near the door. back when TVs had like a dozen vacuum tubes in them, if it started acting up you’d pull out all of the tubes, go to the store and pop them into the console on the tester and it’d tell you if any were bad.
Imagine going into CVS today and seeing this:
"fintail" (fintail)
01/28/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 1
I get that in my fintail too. It has a vintage period correct Becker Europa radio, which is usually playing oldies. I mostly take it out on weekend days, when other old cars come out for a drive. It’s amusing when the approaching car is a 58 Chevy or chrome bumper MGB with no other cars on the road, and a mid 60s song is on the radio - especially as much of the housing in my area dates from that time. Time warp.