Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
OK, I really thought hell would freeze over before I would get back into tube gear. You see, as a kid 40 years ago I had all sorts of tube stuff from garage sales. Stereos, TV’s, desktop radios, etc. And I never thought I would go back because I’ve just love solid state for the last several years.
But the opportunity came up at an estate sale and I picked up this little 17 watts per channel Dynaco. Purchased four matched EL84 output tubes on Amazon and a rogue good used 7199 preamp tube on eBay and it is singing really well tonight.
These came as kits or pre-manufactured. This was a factory build unit from what I can tell. And it’s all original, including some original Dynaco tubes.
Of all things, I have a Heathkit tube tester on hand and was able to test the initial tubes and some were really really bad, like 35% out of 100% good. And in general you need to have at least 50% for it to work acceptably, this barely worked upon plug-in.
Right now all tubes are very strong and so is the unit. Some people modify these and there’s all sorts of kits available with upgrades, but I’d rather keep it original. It has solid electrolytic caps except for the ones in the power supply, which probably should be changed. There’s a very very faint 60 cycle hum in the background.
17 W goes far. I have them powering my JBL L88’s, the closest period correct speakers from the late 1960s.
Have a good rest of August while it’s here!
OK, I really thought hell would freeze over before I would get back into tube gear. You see, as a kid 40 years ago I had all sorts of tube stuff from garage sales. Stereos, TV’s, desktop radios, etc. And I never thought I would go back because I’ve just love solid state for the last several years.
But the opportunity came up at an estate sale and I picked up this little 17 watts per channel Dynaco. Purchased four matched EL84 output tubes on Amazon and a rogue good used 7199 preamp tube on eBay and it is singing really well tonight.
These came as kits or pre-manufactured. This was a factory build unit from what I can tell. And it’s all original, including some original Dynaco tubes.
Of all things, I have a Heathkit tube tester on hand and was able to test the initial tubes and some were really really bad, like 35% out of 100% good. And in general you need to have at least 50% for it to work acceptably, this barely worked upon plug-in.
Right now all tubes are very strong and so is the unit. Some people modify these and there’s all sorts of kits available with upgrades, but I’d rather keep it original. It has solid electrolytic caps except for the ones in the power supply, which probably should be changed. There’s a very very faint 60 cycle hum in the background.
17 W goes far. I have them powering my JBL L88’s, the closest period correct speakers from the late 1960s.
Have a good rest of August while it’s here!
