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Author Topic: Bottlehead Crack  (Read 3743 times)

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Thad E Ginathom

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2015, 08:23:19 AM »
Quote from: kothganesh on September 04, 2015, 05:31:55 AM
Thad E Ginathom (on this forum) has the amp for now and if I remember right, he did post hearing a more satisfactory SQ from his HD 600 and the Gungnir.

Yep. It is with me on trial right now (again, thanks for the loan). Whilst the Gungnir, on approval, sadly (I was full of enthusiasm) didn't work out a good match for my ears (but that's another story entirely), I've enjoyed the full and rich sound of the Crack through my HD600s.

I would say that it softened, took the edge off, the Gungnir. Thus, if a listener wants that edge, then it would not be the right combination.
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Riotvan

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2015, 09:20:07 AM »
Sure is a fun project the crack, mine has speedball, 41step attenuator, film oil output caps, shielded cable hooked up straight to the volume and upgraded tubes.

Also if the output caps are too big you can mount them on top like this:
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Thujone

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2015, 12:00:56 PM »
A buddy built the Crack/Speedball and I've had some extensive listening time on the HD580/600. I agree with CT in that the amp is very punchy and forward with these headphones. The Valhalla 1 is less forward, more spacey/better instrument separation, and more syrupy sounding. In the end, I preferred the Valhalla 1 over the Crack/Speedball. A few months ago I upgraded to the Valhalla 2 and it's basically a Valhalla 1 without any syrup. That said, all three amps are comparable to each other for these headphones. Space and resolution: Valhalla. Intimacy and engaging dynamics: Crack/Speedball.

Last week I bought a 6SN7 adapter for Ember from Garage1217, the same adapter works on the Crack for the input tube. The crack looks pretty great with a 6SN7 input tube  :D
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lm4der

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2015, 02:58:13 PM »
Quote from: Riotvan on September 04, 2015, 09:20:07 AM
Also if the output caps are too big you can mount them on top like this

Ok, are those caps for real? 
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Riotvan

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2015, 03:06:46 PM »
Quote from: lmader on September 04, 2015, 02:58:13 PM
Ok, are those caps for real? 
Yep haha i wanted film oil caps and i could only get them for a reasonable price in a higher voltage. So they had to be huge, they're Obligato's btw.
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Hands

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #15 on: September 04, 2015, 03:41:06 PM »
I picked one up recently myself, this listing: http://www.head-fi.org/t/759373/barely-used-modded-bottlehead-crack-with-speedball-shipping-included-pictures-included

Have not yet had a ton of time to listen or even compare to the Val2 or MPX3, nor have I tried tube rolling on the BH Crack. Would be interested to see what other mods or changes I might be able to make to it, but initial impressions are good. I might have to pick up a 6SN7 adapter for myself.
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OJneg

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #16 on: September 04, 2015, 03:46:43 PM »
I told you a while ago Hans, this thing is your sound for sure. Just don't use the wrong driver tube  :-DD :vomit:
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mikoss

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #17 on: September 04, 2015, 03:49:25 PM »
Oh man, those caps Riotvan... bad memories of cleaning up exploded ones from VFD's at work. That is a Crack with some serious balls, lol.

Wish I had some pictures of the ones that blew at a Shell site a long time ago... they were in some 5kV drives and took out part of the wall behind them  :-0
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Marvey

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #18 on: September 04, 2015, 03:52:56 PM »
Quote (selected)
HD580/600/650/800 ... very punchy

120ohm output impedance and Sennheiser headphone impedance curves. Hmm, still need to experiment with high Z adapter with Rag.
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Riotvan

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Re: Bottlehead Crack
« Reply #19 on: September 04, 2015, 04:04:24 PM »
Quote from: mikoss on September 04, 2015, 03:49:25 PM
Oh man, those caps Riotvan... bad memories of cleaning up exploded ones from VFD's at work. That is a Crack with some serious balls, lol.

Wish I had some pictures of the ones that blew at a Shell site a long time ago... they were in some 5kV drives and took out part of the wall behind them  :-0

Hahaha, these are rated for 400V and the guy i bought them from said it should be fine. I think the stock ones are like 150V or something not sure. I'll just make sure the wall isn't load bearing :-DD
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