Dynaco ST-70 Series 3 Tube Amplifier Review

[Sal1950]

Used to have an original Dyna 70 from a used audio gear shop in Berkeley. Predictably gummy sounding but nice on old, damaged LPs.

An old Amir review thread here getting some new life and breath.
The original ST 70 is just an iconic amp to own if your into collecting. It was the one that taught beginners and poor folks what a good amp could sound like if you didn't have the pockets for Marantz or Mac or Harman. I kept a bone stock ST70 on the shelf just for nostalgia and would plug it into my LaScala's every couple years just for kicks. It's 35wpc was still like a nucular plant into their 104db sens. It was soft on both ends and missing a bit a detail throughout but yet could sound fine after a smoke or two. I was very sad when I had to give it up with a lot of other stuff at retirement, but the only constant in life is change.. Below photo was one of my ebay sales photos proving it could work and be biased.

But how, exactly, is it better?

Now you want to go off on a different ulterior tangent, mine was in fact a completely different piece of art than the original LP. But mpv's claim was of un-readability, where LP sleeves suffer from ware and tear, abuse, fadeing, more. The high resolution digital file remains the same forever and is highly detailed. Simply a demo file.

 

[Robin L]

I'll bet it was Honest Bob. I got mine there.

It was in the 1980s, a used shop on University near the U.C. Theater.

 

[mpw]

An old Amir review thread here getting some new life and breath.
The original ST 70 is just an iconic amp to own if your into collecting. It was the one that taught beginners and poor folks what a good amp could sound like if you didn't have the pockets for Marantz or Mac or Harman. I kept a bone stock ST70 on the shelf just for nostalgia and would plug it into my LaScala's every couple years just for kicks. It's 35wpc was still like a nucular plant into their 104db sens. It was soft on both ends and missing a bit a detail throughout but yet could sound fine after a smoke or two. I was very sad when I had to give it up with a lot of other stuff at retirement, but the only constant in life is change.. Below photo was one of my ebay sales photos proving it could work and be biased.
View attachment 538067

Now you want to go off on a different ulterior tangent, mine was in fact a completely different piece of art than the original LP. But mpv's claim was of un-readability, where LP sleeves suffer from ware and tear, abuse, fadeing, more. The high resolution digital file remains the same forever and is highly detailed. Simply a demo file.

until ones computer disk crashes then all files are lost for good like ones media server as well.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

It was in the 1980s, a used shop on University near the U.C. Theater.

OK, I remember that one too. Honest Bob was on Shattuck.

 

[Sal1950]

until ones computer disk crashes then all files are lost for good like ones media server as well.

You never learned about doing backups?
All wayl too far off-topic for a ST70 review, I'm done there.

I'll bet it was Honest Bob. I got mine there.

Honest Bob? I knew a used car dealer on N. Western Ave in Chicago called Honest Bobs.
Good Credit, Bad Credit, No Credit At All, come on down to Honest Bobs

 

[antcollinet]

LPs continue to be the gold standard for musical reproduction.

A brave statement to make on a science based forum. I have a reasonable and growing vinyl collection, but am under no illusion regarding the performance of the medium compared to digital.

 

[rjp]

fwiw, I do currently own an ST70 Series 3 (the topic of this review) in case anyone has questions or just wants to discuss ownership experiences.

I don't use it as much lately, but not sure I could ever bring myself to sell it.

 

[mpw]

A brave statement to make on a science based forum. I have a reasonable and growing vinyl collection, but am under no illusion regarding the performance of the medium compared to digital.

If you don't think the performance of Lp's is up to digital (which I doubt) then why the growing collection of Lp's? I mean we are all scientist here so if science says digital is better then why even own 1 Lp ? Anyway CD's are a medium that has past most digital that people listen to is streaming services. Why is every major artist producing an Lp along with having it on a streaming service and throwing a CD in at times for no additional cost ?

 

[Chr1]

Primarily as they are extremely profitable to the record companies. All about the money. Lol.

 

[mpw]

Primarily as they are extremely profitable to the record companies. All about the money. Lol.

Yes, but if everyone thinks digital is better then an Lp then why make an Lp in the first place as most people think that an Lp is inferior to digital and only "old men' like that outdated format ? Maybe they should get rid of all the record plants, ban us from playing Lp's and make us all pay for streaming services as this is the way it is done now, get with the program !

 

[antcollinet]

If you don't think the performance of Lp's is up to digital (which I doubt) then why the growing collection of Lp's?

There is more to enjoyment of listening to music than absolute sound quality.

There is a whole thread about this if you are interested:

Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

Please note: due to lack of oversight, this thread has been locked. More current discussion of vinyl playback, can be found at the following thread… https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-courteous-vinyl-playback-discussion.34143/post-1192239 I'm a member of a couple of...

www.audiosciencereview.com

You'll need some dedication though - it runs to over 500 pages.
Here is a couple of my personal contributions

Vinyl is not as bad as I expected.

Reflecting upon this thread -- all y'all are almost ready for the ultimate medium. Of course, I am referring to... 8trackin2 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr Eight track. ker-chunk. Best of all, tracking alignment requires only a folded paper matchbook. :cool: If you are doing eight track you need...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

I've blathered about using tube amps in my set up for decades because I perceive a certain effect that sounds slightly more live, now, happening, natural. I blind tested my tube preamp against solid state so I have some level of confidence that's not all in my head. There's no reason for it to...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[MatrixS2000]

Yes, but if everyone thinks digital is better then an Lp then why make an Lp in the first place as most people think that an Lp is inferior to digital and only "old men' like that outdated format ? Maybe they should get rid of all the record plants, ban us from playing Lp's and make us all pay for streaming services as this is the way it is done now, get with the program !

If you want to have a chance at this discussion, you need to separate the format’s container from its mastering. As a format, digital >> than vinyl - no doubt about it. But the contents inside those containers are an entirely different discussion. A vinyl release and a digital release can sound different because they were mastered differently. Preference for one or the other are perfectly valid choices.

 

[mpw]

There is more to enjoyment of listening to music than absolute sound quality.

There is a whole thread about this if you are interested:

Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

Please note: due to lack of oversight, this thread has been locked. More current discussion of vinyl playback, can be found at the following thread… https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-courteous-vinyl-playback-discussion.34143/post-1192239 I'm a member of a couple of...

www.audiosciencereview.com

You'll need some dedication though - it runs to over 500 pages.
Here is a couple of my personal contributions

Vinyl is not as bad as I expected.

Reflecting upon this thread -- all y'all are almost ready for the ultimate medium. Of course, I am referring to... 8trackin2 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr Eight track. ker-chunk. Best of all, tracking alignment requires only a folded paper matchbook. :cool: If you are doing eight track you need...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

I've blathered about using tube amps in my set up for decades because I perceive a certain effect that sounds slightly more live, now, happening, natural. I blind tested my tube preamp against solid state so I have some level of confidence that's not all in my head. There's no reason for it to...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thanks, interesting stuff for sure. The vinyl vs. digital debate also applies to photography as many photographers like more vintage lens that give character and the little imperfections make it more perfect from an artistic viewpoint as modern lens are more accurate, clinical and detailed which science confirms. One drop of the needle on to an Lp is always a treat its not an nostalgic trip but more an emotional trip.