What's the best EL34 amp besides 8b?

Funny thing about the ST-70. Although it has a modest pedigree, it totally gave its competition a harsh run for the money- on paper it kept up with the Marantz 8B pretty easily. Its biggest weakness is actually its rectifier- it uses a single 5AR4 and should have had two.

There is an excellent thread about the amplifier on audiokarma:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=578485

If this amplifier is properly rebuilt it is a solid performer. New filter capacitors are available from Antique Radio Supply in Arizona.

Yes, the H/K Citation 2 is an impressive amp- my favorite from the classic era.

The ST-70 is a good amp, but at full power the 5AR4 rectifier is under stress. They should have designed it for a pair of them.

There is an excellent thread on the ST-70 design over on Audiokarma.