General Asylum: REVIEW: Mottram st-80 st-80 Amplifier (Tube) by merccougar89

Model:	st-80
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$650-950 kit or assembled
Description:	Custom built 40 wpc tube amp wood base
Manufacturer URL:	Mottram st-80
Model Picture:	View

Review by merccougar89 ( A ) on June 14, 2004 at 23:18:27
IP Address: 24.231.200.158

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for the st-80

Let me start by saying i have never been an avid fan of a dynaco st70 until recently.My colletion of amps include modded mac 60s and audio research M120 mono blocs a few modded dyna mark 3,s and several tube integrated amps of yesteryear.I had come across an ad on ebay for this dyna based amp in a kit of all things and i thought for the price what have i got to lose.A friend of mine wanted to break into tube audio but didnt want to spend 2300 dollars or more to get the sonic richness and accuracy that good tube amps are famous for.I suggested he try this amp because its domestic made and it has mainstream componets that are easily obtained and can be easily modded.Anyway after receiving the assembled version of the amp which is 200 dollars more than the kit and well worth it if your not an experienced kit builder,we hooked it up to my martin logan monolith 2s and i was astonished.I said to Trey,shut my bass amp off because i do have the big martin logan descent sub woofer for low low bass,Its not on he says.First thing i noticed was the deep fast controlled bass in this amp.We put on jazz at the pawn shop and the balance and detail in this amp is one of the VERY BEST I have ever heard.The amp is here now with me until he gets a set of speakers worthy of this amp.The piano and and sax and symbols are so rich in content and the speed of the amp overall is just phenominal.I almost feel like keeping this amp and giving him the 850 dollars and letting him go buy another one.The tube complement is three 12at7s which are used as a voltage amp and each of the other 2 is used as a combo phase splitter driver.Both sides of all 3 tubes are used very well.They run very cool and the circuit has gain thats unreal.The amp is an honest 40wpc plus and we were able to use differnt output tubes by just changing the bias range which is very lenient in this amp..We used 6l6gc and kt66s.and 6ca7 fat bottles as well as the el34 it comes with.Even kt88s work well in this amp.Ive listened to many amps in my lifetime and very few ever excite me as this one has,especially for the price..Its 650 dollars with all parts including nice chasis and handmade wood base.Assembled its more and you can tailor it anyway you wish.If the reviewers ever get a hold of this amp it will be curtains for many tube amps in the 2000 to 3500 dollar range and i say that with no reservation.I can go on and on about this amp but youll have to hear for yourselves.This amp is the creme de la creme in audio.I dont even have to use a preamp because i use the volume control on my denon 3520 and it is a sonic marvel.We hooked the real time analyzer up to the amp and generated the stereophile pink noise disk and it was perfectly flat from 18cps to 30khz.There was about a half db rise at 28khz which i probably could change with different tubes.Give this amp a whirl..You wont regret it.

Product Weakness: none as of yet
Product Strengths: Sonics.price,mainstream componets,Elegant.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	tubes4hifi st80
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	audio research sp10
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	micro seiki
Speakers:	martin logan monolith 2
Cables/Interconnects:	straight wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz at the pawn shop
Room Size (LxWxH):	30 x 15 x 7
Room Comments/Treatments:	acoustic ceiling
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	yes

Product Weakness:	none as of yet
Product Strengths:	Sonics.price,mainstream componets,Elegant.