02-02-2019, 10:43 AM
Up to this point I have only been able to score in the past, but I have been able to score a Klipsch Forte II's score. Went ahead and ordered the Crites titanium diaphragms and its capacitors that he sells and I upgraded the crossovers. Speakers sounded pretty sweet as far as I was concerned. But then I start reading about how these speakers love to be powered by a tube amp. I started looking into my options and came across the cheaper Chinese amps tube. Ordered a Gemtune for $ 389 off the Amazon and gave it a whirlwind hooked up to a new NAD C165bee preamp. It sounded pretty great. Much better than any of the vintage receivers I was a 60 Hz hum coming out of my speakers without the preamp or anything else hooked up to it. The kind of hum that got louder the higher you turn the volume up on the amp. Thinking the tube was defective, I felt it back and got a replacement but it had the same issue. Tried different speakers, tried a different rectifier tube and some of the other tubes to no avail. I think it just comes down to the fact that these Chinese tubes are inexpensive. Then I discovered the tube amps that Bob Latino sells. He sells a sweet amp that is basically an improved version of the famous Dynaco 70. He calls it the VTA ST-70. I ordered the kit with the cap upgrades and should get it on Tuesday. Super excited to build it and I hear they sound amazing. I like the idea that I can get support whenever I need it and it's just a phone call or email away. Anyone else have any experience with this amp?