Best Affordable Vintage Amplifier: DYNACO ST70!

I wasn't planning on buying this hot little Dynaco, but I couldn't let it go! For vintage curious audiophiles this might be the best way in! Affordable tube glories await!

0:00 Meet the Dynaco ST70!
3:15 The RCA 7199
6:03 Ben restored this ST70
9:23 Something's going on
10:35 Vintage vs new, sound different!
12:27 Audiophiliac Viewer System of the Day!
13:40 Ouro

#audiophile #dynaco #hifi

[jamesdoranto]

I wish I had known about this amp before spending thousands on my Mcintosh mc275, in a sense the 275 was an end goal so I would have gotten it anyways. But, I put more hours on the ST70 I picked up last year. Maybe it's because i'm trying to preserve the Mc's tubes but truthfully the ST70 and it's little brother the SCA35 have such an amazingly full dynamic tube sound. I really recommend pairing the 70 with the dynaco pre PAS series for it's stellar passive and active eq section. Worth every penny folks! get one before they dry up, I was lucky to buy them during the dip. Thanks alot Steve lol

[jeffbrooke]

I've been a Dynaco, Heathkit, Fisher tube junkie for nearly 40-years. Good to see a program like this!

[patrickvannuland]

I inherited this same amp as the Dynakit version my dad built in 1968, along with his Altec A7-500 speakers. I grew up with them, and gauge every system I've ever owned to THAT sound.

[stevescudder]

I built my ST-70 around 1967 while in college. I chose it because it was the cheapest way I knew to get quality stereo. I had an Eico preamp from a previous swap, along with a Garrard turntable. It worked, but I had crummy speakers . My next purchase was the Dynaco A-25 speakers. I must say that was a great combination and served me well for years and years. I have recently updated all the dangerous components and still love the sound. I use it in the garage since my wife thinks it's ugly -- and too hot!

[chrisblock]

Yep, they knew how to make great sound in '59... Kind of Blue & Time Out are two examples from '59 that come to mind.

[iampryso]

Steve, as I commented to your previous mention of this amp, I built a Dynakit ST70 for my first stereo system in 1966. True that was a huge step up from what I'd been hearing at the time, but it included a certain musical magic that was planted in my audio memory. I've churned through countless systems since then but some elements of that sonic pleasure remain as my standard.

Still, it would be interesting for you to now compare yours with one which had a few more common "updates" -- speaker terminals, power cord, rectifier upgrade, 7199 upgrade, etc.

[SweatLaserXP]

My parents own a Dynaco factory-built SCA-35 integrated amplifier, and I have had a lot of great listening experiences with it. It has that honey-kissed golden sound that you can only get with an old tube circuit. Low noise, neutrality, and detail, are nice but sometimes you want the sonic equivalent of taking a fat bong hit and then everything you listen to sounds awesome. Thanks a lot, Steve.

[jimashby]

Excellent stuff. I'm going to the basement and dig it out. Mine was Factory assembled to my Grandfather.
I also have some Hafler amps.
And a Heathkit I put together myself in 1970-71 .

[AudiophileLyfe]

I ordered what I could find on ebay, they are disappearing quickly thanks to this video. But I got a nice restored one and am so excited to be able to enjoy it.

[LarryHernandez-Yoo]

Omg I'm drooling I forgot how incredible these sound. I'm shopping right now yahooo

[stimpy]

I built the DH 101 and it was a nice little preamp. I also owned an upgraded ST 70 that I used to drive my Stax electrostatic headphones. David Hafler is one of the great designers of the 20th century

[deltasonics]

The speaker hook ups are not actually 'barrier strips'. They are simply terminal strips. Nit picky I know but newbies deserve correct info. The 'barrier strip' has barriers between each screw terminal. The Dynaco amps and pres all performed well above their price range. Thank you Steve for a great video

[spacecadet]

My first experience of good hi-fi was when I heard my band director's system at his house in 1983. He had a pair of Snell A2's driven by a Hafler 500 - that changed my life and I spent the beginning of my career in the hi-fi business. I was off to the races. Great review!

[mitchparker]

Probably too much information but I love the smell of tubes, transformers and wires all left unboxed. Something alchemic about it.

[ThePerkri]

Thanks for this, Steve. Very timely review. Just over a week ago, I picked up a Scott 222D. Different, but similar. Made in 64’. Everything you have described was like my experience with the 222D. Wasn’t sure what to expect, but liked it - even in its original condition with 60 year old parts. So much so, I’m sending it out for a full restoration.

[rakitakhan]

My best friend still has an ST70. Sounds great !

[genehart]

Time has been the true test of these products. Right now there are kits available to build brand new Stereo70 amps and there are a vast number of input boards and replacement parts. Don't forget the companion pre amps PAS 2 and 3 which are perfect companions.

[georgecovetskie]

Around 1972 I was walking home from school with just a few books in my hand.
It was just drizzling lightly so I walked fast to get home.
Suddenly, I seen at a curb was this big old console system getting rained on.
I was was an electronics student and of course was curious what the guts were inside, so I had my pocket knife to take the back cover off.
All tube system and seperate modules for radio, preamp and power amp. The Power amp was the Dynakit ST70. The same one we had at the school. So, I had to take it out.
I brought it home, hooked it up and the dam thing worked fine.
I still have that amp. Needs some TLC but it works till this day.
I have a studio for home recording and I took my Bose 1800 power amp out to try the system with the ST70. YES, It still sounded great and had this special sound desire that made me use it for 2 days. I found some things it actually did better than the Bose. Some recordings I could actually hear slide on the pedal steel and crystal clear tones the bose just barely portrayed.
I agree with you its hard to let go of something like this but one day someone might convince me they want it more than me. 🙂

[fletchermunson]

Biggest screw up of my audio career was letting go a pair of Dynamo MkIII mono amplifiers that had the caps and resistors upgraded. They were glorious but I blew it and sold them off. One of my few audio regrets.

[richhudnut]

I am still using my Hafler 280-xl, it's so good...