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Post by mossback on Feb 15, 2008 18:54:08 GMT 7
Our friends in Hong Knog been busy.  www.gnostic-tech.com/BLACK12.htmlI heard an early prototype of the Black 12 in 2003. Richard has been working this project for some time now. I audition it early next month and perhaps will bring one back to the states with me. Perfect match to our LS speakers. James, I need to start thinking of a good story to tell Ann if bring them home. The “oh they just followed me home honey” is not gona make it this time if fear.  What do you suggest my LS friends? |
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Post by splendor on Feb 16, 2008 6:31:52 GMT 7
Your good friends had asked you to audition the amp, and you will send it back anytime, but "if" it sounds nice to your ears, like it's the last and best amp, Ann will understand that you wanna keep it!
Does this sound like you're faking?
This Mr. Black 12 is worth a Leak?
Or maybe skirt off to Malaysia hear the BS? No pun intended Dan!
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Post by splendor on Feb 16, 2008 6:34:18 GMT 7
Just been to the site. My goodness! It looks lovely! Let Richard send it over to me for safekeeping until you arrive Dan!
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Post by mossback on Feb 17, 2008 11:31:12 GMT 7
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Post by Moz on Mar 3, 2008 14:39:20 GMT 7
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Post by Moz on Mar 3, 2008 15:06:25 GMT 7
Here's Richard's listening room  |
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Post by splendor on Apr 3, 2008 8:41:59 GMT 7
Well here's a "new" old amp that I am revisiting at the moment. They're the Mark IVs Dynaco mono blocks. A "divorced" ST70 if you like! Mating again!
I know of someone in the Wiredstate forum who will not depart from it. And just yet, I may have found some good solid reason why he hasn't despite what many have done.
First, it's still that midrange "bloom." Some would argue against it and say it's "too tubey" a sound. With the Mark IVs, I'd beg to differ. Definitely, the amps don't sound all that tubey! With the Fisher 50Cs, and some upgrades in parts by Dan Hayes of Boeing, I think they border more on "neutrality" than being just vintage "tubey." It's a "new" airplane, ha ha!
Now I know those who were once upon a time hooked to the ST 70 know this. But many audio friends who have chosen another amp for the LS3/5A will easily say it "lacks" soundstage, and bass (its achilles' heel) is a little "loosier," and lacking in tightness and so on and so forth. While this can also be attributed to the amp's state and condition, stock or modified, the dynaco surely posseses that unmistakable smooth clear tube sound that I think works quite well with my Spendor LS3/5a. As I recall, it did well with Moz's spendors and those Rogers too at Ben's. Or even at Ferdy's, driving those Stirlings! Jacintha's voice, as I vividly recall, was indeed so wrapped in melancholia on those Stirlings with the ST 70 in Rivo'ed form.
In fact, I'm quite prepared to say that the soundstage is good, like it's deep, and the bass while a little loose, yes, can make the LS go as low as the energy permits. My stromberg 6V6 will sound a little deeper in bass tone in comparison to the Mark IVs, but will not sound as "clear" and "neutral" if you'll permit me in the mids and upper ranges thereof. There's also something "good" to be had with its "more watts" power in drving the LS. I noticed that piano sound in particular is more "piano-like" in body (bloom), and seems to "float" out of nowhere in the room without the LS tweeters overly stating its tone. Could it be the el34s quality that we are listening to or just some good recording? I'd like to think it's both the amp/preamp (fisher 50Cs), and the recording for sure!
After listening to the Mark IVs for days on end, I must say that I have indeed found "new" confidence in these old amps. And this may well be the reason why many still swear by these amps (dynaco ST70 and Mark IVs) for the LS3/5A after all these years
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Post by Moz on Apr 3, 2008 9:09:27 GMT 7
No that you mention it, I do recall the presence and decay of the piano in Jacinta's Moon River as well as Dan Wrights Black & White.
Plugging Oscar's XF2's also added a new dimensionality, and finess to the presentation.
Though we tried different St-70's from stock to fully modded ones by Rene and the ferrari one of Cleby, it still retained it's signature sound.
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Post by splendor on Apr 3, 2008 11:42:13 GMT 7
Thanks for that! Those were the things I treasured and remembered really about the ST70 too!
I think basically it's the "ultralinear" quality that makes me love the presentation of this amp. Yes the piano in "Moonriver" had the weight and tingle of the ivories. I remember you inserting the gold pins 7199s if I recall right, and the sound became all the more "linear" and bodied, and smoother. "Skylark" oozes with clarity and finesse with fine details that never became overbearing on the ears. Seductive Jacintha whispering those words as if!
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What do you suggest my LS friends?
