A year ago I purchased a bare PC card and assembly instructions from Frank to upgrade my 70i to an Ultimate 70. Now I have to say that I was always happy with my 70i. It was a great little amplifier, but I was seduced by the following statement, quoted from the AVA website:
"We think you will love the Ultimate 70 more than any other tube amp you have ever heard, price not an object. It is just simply lovely sounding. It takes every last bit of grain away from your records and CDs, but takes nothing else away at all. The highs just float. Transparency, detail, definition, range, and dynamics are wonderful. It's got a midrange to die for and bass extension and control you would not believe possible at this power and price. The sound stage is huge, the depth is pure reality, and the emotion of the music is all there, like you have never heard before."
I have been listening to my new amp for a week now and everything Frank says is true, my Aurum Cantus speakers have never sounded so good! I've been going thru my LP's and enjoying the music as never before!
Purchasing just the bare board seemed like a good idea at the time (I am very frugal) but I had a hell of a time purchasing the components as my local vendor did not stock them and many internet companies want you to purchase large quantities or would send me the wrong parts. In the end by some canibilizing my 70i PCB (no going back) and some component subsitution, i.e. Higher cap voltage rating in one case, axial caps instead of radial, big old brown carbon 2W resistors in a few places. Franks instructions are very clear and most of the work was done for me when it was upgraded from a stock Dyna 70 to a 70i. With Franks instruction I built up the board, wired it into the Dyna, installed the tubes and with some trepidation turned it on. No smoke! Set the bias and away we went, pure musical bliss.
I would with out hesitation recommend this upgrade to any one who has a Dyna 70 or 70i. On reflection I should have not been so cheap, and purchased the upgrade kit, it's not really that expensive and you don't get the aggravation of finding the components.
Ian Clark
AVA Ultimate 70
AVA Omega III (Pat-5)
SystemDek II, SME III, Grado Gold
Aurum Cantus, Leisure 2 LE
Original Leonardo CD player
Marantz 7600 SACD