2. amps-preamps
  3. 1301002577

A good Preamp for ST70

Hello. I recently bought a Will Vincent ST 70 and I am wanting some advice on a good preamp. Built in phono is not a must but I would like to stick with tubes. This particular St70 has an interesting retro look to it with the meter on the front and of course the exposed tubes. As such I would really like to find a preamp that not only sounds good but has a similar look. As a contrast I would use the CJ PV 14 I have now. I hope that makes sense. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Tracy
kollert
trelja
3,223 posts
 
Hoopster, your opinion is at least as valid as anyone else's.

I also like the suggestion from Gopher regarding the EE Minimax.

Personally, I even get great results using a CD player (including my Dynaco CDV-2) going straight into my ST70. In my second system with either the Merlin VSM or Fried A/6 loudspeakers that the Dynaco pairs so well with, I feel far more than satisfied on a late night.
tommy583
73 posts
 
Kollert,

I too have a ST-70 rebuilt by Will Vincent. I'm currently using a Rogue Metis preamp with it. I think they look great together and sound great too.

Happy hunting,
Tommy
kollert OP
13 posts
 
As luck would have it I purchased a EE Pre last night lightly modded. And I found a stock PAS3 to mess with as well. Tommy 583 I will keep an eye out for a Rogue Metis as well. Thanks everybody!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,640 posts
 
Kollert and Hoopster, it seems to me that to do a proper update, its about $900.00. The power supplies are rebuilt, then the circuit boards are updated. The tone controls are removed and the EQ for the phono is updated and moved to the circuit board ( the stock unit has the EQ elements mounted on the selector switch). I like to install a high quality RCA connection for the phono, so the lower level input connectors are replaced. Finally the volume control is replaced with a stepped switch and regulation is added. The idea is to keep everything in the original chassis, without major modification to the chassis (otherwise you might as well start from scratch).
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