Forget transistors, tubes are still very hot

Gary Krakow Columnist • E-mail

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Before there was the transistor, there was the tube. Lots of them. Televisions, radios — if it was electronic, it had a tube in it. Then, in the 1950s and 60s, transistors revolutionized the industry. They allowed manufacturers to make smaller, cooler-running circuits — and eventually lower prices.

But tubes never disappeared completely, particularly when it came to stereo equipment. Hi-fi fans will tell you that nothing sounds as sweet as equipment that allows tubes to shape the sound. That’s why hundreds of happy tube fanatics flocked to the first annual Vacuum Tube Valley Expo in Piscataway, N.J., this past weekend to see old — and new — designs.

Dynaco was a legendary manufacturer of innovative and inexpensive hi-fi gear that made its name with early vacuum tube models. In the late 1950s and early 60s many hobbyists bought Dyna do-it-yourself kits and constructed their own control and power amplifiers as well as FM tuners.

More than 40 years later, classic Dynaco tube equipment is still in great demand by aficionados. Mark IIIs, Stereo-70s and the rare Stereo-35 amps sell for hundreds on the popular auction Web sites. They originally sold for well under $100.

Finding a working, classic Dynaco in mint condition is like money in the bank. But finding one in very good or good condition is not so easy anymore. If owners haven’t changed the circuitry (sometimes for the better — most of the time not) then the amps themselves need some first aid to sound their best.

That’s why it was so wonderful to walk into a room at the show and see brand-spanking new Dyna amps on display. Beautiful, shiny new reproductions of the original (greatly desired)tube models. Needless to say, at an exposition full of tube fanatics, the Dynakit room was packed.

Kevin Devaney is to thank for resurrecting the Dyna name. A businessman and avid Dynaco hi-fi fan, Kevin bought whatever was left of Dynaco when others had finished draining every penny out of the well-known brand name.

Kevin decided the Dynaco brand name needed to be brought back to life — especially the tube models. The best way to do that, he decided, was to redesign the early tube amplifier kits.  That way costs would be kept as low as possible, with hobbyists doing the actual construction — just like 40 years ago.

Dynakitparts.com The new version of the Dynaco Stereo-35 looks identical to the old one.

On display at the show were Kevin’s new Dynakit amplifiers — the new Mark IV (40-watt monoblock, $425-450 depending on the capacitors), the ST-35 (17.5 watts/channel stereo amp, $450-480) and the ST-70 (35 watts/channel stereo amp, $625-650). 

The famous brown metal tube cage is optional.  So are the tubes. Since tube gear fans have their favorite tubes, Kevin decided to leave that up to the hobbyists.

In a short listen, Kevin’s new ST-35 sounded terrific playing CDs on a pair of Omega Super 3 XRS speakers.  Kevin has promised that I’ll be able to audition the amp very soon. It should be interesting to compare it to my original Stereo-35, which is still in very good condition.

Kevin hinted that if his new-old amps sell well, other old Dynaco gear might be in line for ressurection in the future.

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