Hello folks.
Here's a pic of my newly built Crack. I'll come straight out with it and say that for various reasons no part of this build was completed by yours truly!
I had the top plate and bell housing powder-coated by a shop I've used before for other non-audio related things. The cabinet was inspired by the work of another member of this parish (Mikey), and shaped, constructed and finished by another local workshop, and the amp put together by my Dad who is a retired electronics engineer.
I'm absolutely delighted with it - despite not having the satisfaction of building it myself. It sounds much better than I had imagined, and better than any headphone amp I've before - all of which have been hybrids - and all of which have failed to tame my all-digital library. This one, on the other hand, makes everything sound lush, smooth and velvety and really gets me the sound-signature I was looking for. I really amazed by the quality of the sound.
It's completely stock at the moment, but my Dad has constructed the Speedball which we'll fit in a month or so. I've read that the Speedball reduces the noise-floor. Well, we can't figure out how the background could be any quieter - this one is already silent. Will I lose the 'tubiness' of this amp with the Speedball? I'm having second-thoughts about fitting it.
Here's a pic of my newly built Crack. I'll come straight out with it and say that for various reasons no part of this build was completed by yours truly!
I had the top plate and bell housing powder-coated by a shop I've used before for other non-audio related things. The cabinet was inspired by the work of another member of this parish (Mikey), and shaped, constructed and finished by another local workshop, and the amp put together by my Dad who is a retired electronics engineer.
I'm absolutely delighted with it - despite not having the satisfaction of building it myself. It sounds much better than I had imagined, and better than any headphone amp I've before - all of which have been hybrids - and all of which have failed to tame my all-digital library. This one, on the other hand, makes everything sound lush, smooth and velvety and really gets me the sound-signature I was looking for. I really amazed by the quality of the sound.
It's completely stock at the moment, but my Dad has constructed the Speedball which we'll fit in a month or so. I've read that the Speedball reduces the noise-floor. Well, we can't figure out how the background could be any quieter - this one is already silent. Will I lose the 'tubiness' of this amp with the Speedball? I'm having second-thoughts about fitting it.
