Hi Burnedfingers.
Just checked and it was page no. 2 from:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthre ... genumber=1
However just realised that was dated 2004 and I imagine alot of upgrades/gear has passed through your hands since then! I wasn't trying to catch you out by the way, just genuinely interested in your comments.
I happen to think my hearing is very good. I wrote for Hi-Fi World a few years back, and got the opportunity to listen to alot of hideously over-priced gear. Every now and again I hear something that - despite all it's short-comings - just makes me sit back and enjoy the music. It puts me in touch with its spirit and just makes me want to do NOTHING else but listen to music constantly - the ST70 does just that. I should add that all passive components are hand-matched, and high quality (Kiwame resistors, 3 watt metal oxides, Black Gate bias caps, Arcotronics film/foil caps and so forth.), the only original parts being the two output transformers. Currently using a matched quad of JJ KT77s. Sounds fantastic to me - the presence is probably what catches my attention the most. All instruments have real body and a natural tone. As mentioned, by benchmark is the Greg Ball GB150D solid state power amps, and they take alot of beating...
I also have the VTA board, and will construct this in a week or so, and then see how it compares with my new 'stock' ST70 driver board.
I may well try a new quad cap. However first I will shield the underside of the power transformer with copper and see if that solves the hum problem. I'm also constructing a 'DC trap' as we have alot of DC on the main shere which makes the trannie vibrate alot. That could be causing microphonics in my NOS 7199s.
It's all good fun this! :)
- John