Crack around the world !
- Thread starter Guy 13
- Start date
Guy 13
New member
Hi all.
Two questions for the price of one.
First question:
Soon, I will be the proud owner of a Crack headphone amplifier
and it will be mated with my Sennheiser HD-650.
I was wondering if anyone had made the comparison between
the HD-650 and the HD-800?
Is the sound stage that much wider as many owner claims?
Second and last question:
Can my Crack headphone amplifier drive adequately a pair of
Audeze LCD3
Two questions for the price of one.
First question:
Soon, I will be the proud owner of a Crack headphone amplifier
and it will be mated with my Sennheiser HD-650.
I was wondering if anyone had made the comparison between
the HD-650 and the HD-800?
Is the sound stage that much wider as many owner claims?
Second and last question:
Can my Crack headphone amplifier drive adequately a pair of
Audeze LCD3
Guy 13 said:
The HD-800 is in another league, but they are damn expensive! There are lots of comparisons online between the HD-650/600 and HD-800.
The LCD3 is a much better match for the SEX and Mainline amplifiers. The Crack will not do well driving these.
Guy 13
New member
Hi CB.Caucasian Blackplate said:
I know that the HD-800 are in another league sound quality wise and price wise.
When I will have my Crack, I will go to the store wher I bought my HD-650 and ask the salesman if I can try the HD-880 with my Crack, just to see or should I say: To hear the difference.
I will not even be tempted to buy the HD-800, because my headphones budget is blown.
The same goes for the Audeze LCD3 and the appropriate amplifier, I was just curious, in case I win the jack pot at the lottery.
Who knows what can happen tomorrow.
Guy 13
Grainger49
New member
Practice soldering?
And from some other posts buy a good meter.
I know your Crack is assembled. But with the distance it has traveled something might have broken loose.
And from some other posts buy a good meter.
I know your Crack is assembled. But with the distance it has traveled something might have broken loose.
Guy 13
New member
Hi Grainer49Grainger49 said:
May I ask if the 49 in your name stand for the year you were born?
Because if that's so, you are one year younger than me.
If that's no it, well if you fell like it, tell me.
I practice soldering all the time,
so many electric and electronic items that need to be repaired and fixed
in my house, that I did not loose my soldering touch.
If it's only for a few welds, no problem, but putting together a Crack,
that another story.
Meters, I think I have three. One good digital one and two analog ones.
Well, let's hope that the Crack will arrived Crackless... ;D
One last thing.
With my Crack I will also get at the same time,
one RCA 6AS7G and one 12AU7 RCA clear top.
I bought them from TC Tubes, that's a good place to get good (After sales) service.
Guy 13
that plus the stock tubes should guive me a little taste of tube rolling.
Grainger49
New member
Yes, I start on Medicare this year. Any advice?
Guy 13
New member
Hi Grainer49.Grainger49 said:
I was born in 1948, therefore I am older than you by one year: Big deal ! ;D
I can't help you with any advice(s).
I am from Montreal, Quebec, Canada where we have one of the best health system in the world.
It cost very little compared to Obamacare and it covers 99,999% of the cost.
Now, I've been living in Vietnam where there's no government health care system, however, there are several private plan that you can buy, but I find them too expensive for my more or less retired status.
So, every times I go to the doctor it cost me 50 USD and one blood test it's also 50 USD.
Hopefully I will be back soon in my home country Canada and under our super good health care plan and it won't cost me a penny, since I've paid all my working life.
Now, no advice other than: You should have some kind of coverage.
My wife's uncle that lives ib Chicago had two surgeries and even if he has coverage, each time it cost him 20,000 USD and the insurer paid 80,000 USD, with that in mind, you Americans need some kind of coverage otherwise you will go bankrupt.
That's not much, but that only what I can say.
I wish you an healthy retirement.
Guy 13
Grainger49
New member
I'm currently covered under my wife's insurance. In October I get Medicare and it will be much cheaper. However, it needs something supplemental.
Luckily I'm pretty healthy for my age.
Luckily I'm pretty healthy for my age.
Guy 13
New member
Hi Kris.Kris said:
Any suggestions where to buy the stuff to do it myself
or where I can buy a plug and play cable for my HD-650.
I know that it's impossible to quantify the increase in sound quality,
but from I read the cable upgrande run in the range of 150 USD
would that equal to 25% better sound.
I know, I know, iot does not work like that.
But if I spend 150 USD which is about 1/3 of the price of the headphones
I think I should get 30% better sound.
I know, I know, it does not work like that.
If I invest hard earned $ $ $ I want to hear improvement
and not just suble.
Well, any suggestions?
Guy 13
Kris
Member
Guy 13 said:
Custom built cables can go insanely expensive and partially that was the reason why I built my own one.
I did that based on this: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?146855-DIY-Sennheiser-HD650-cable-build.
Make sure to read thru the topic and not just first post since there are changes to the original design of the cable.
Hope this helps.
Kris
Guy 13
New member
Hi Kris.Kris said:
Thanks for the link.
That's a lot of reading, but I read it to the end.
Nice job you did.
Lots of pictures that document your project.
Like they: A picture is worth a thousand words.
(I am in the professional photographic business,
therefore I know.)
As usual, I know I am not realistic, but for a DIY project,
I was more thinking about 25 USD total cost for the parts.
Yes, I know, I am not realistic.
Well, I will try my HD-650 and Crack combo as is, ]the decide if it's worth investing.
I realize that as I get older (Now 66) I am less demanding every time I look to buy something.
Guy 13
Guy 13
New member
Hi Kris.Kris said:Guy 13 said:
Just to be clear. The link I've attached before is not to my post. It's been written by someone with nick name ALL212's. I just built my cable based on his post (or I stoled his idea if you want to put it this way).
Well, it's not the first time I made a fool of myself
and not the last one either.
Thanks anyway.
Guy 13
Guy 13
New member
Hi all.
My wife’s aunt from Chicago brought me my Bottlehead Crack this last Friday and it did not take me long before it was connected and producing some heat and wonderful music.
More music than heat…
Both my Crack and my HD-650 have almost no millage on them,
therefore my comments are preliminary ones.
The Crack and the HD-650 are both what reviewers and owners wrote about them, which is:
A perfect match.
My only comments and it’s not a negative one, is that I find the HD-650 to be a little dark and by using the word dark,
I hope it’s the right word and it’s in no way a negative comment, that’s what makes their sound not being aggressive and I like that.
I did some tube rolling from the Raytheon 6080, the RCA 6080 and the 7AS7G RCA with several 12AU7 ranging from Sylvania/Thomas, RCA clear top, Tung Sol and GE.
To my ears (At this early stage of my listening) there are very slight differences in sound.
For now, they all sound good to me.
I’ve played Chet Atkins guitar, Krall voice, Chesky Binaural and much, much more.
From bass to highs, they are all very good, but like I mentioned above a little dark. If someone can find a better word to describe the sound, please share with me the right word that describes the sound of that combo.
One more thing, I will have to find a way to cool down the amplifier, because the top plate is quite hot, however, the main transformer is just a little warm, which is good to me.
In super hot Vietnam, you have to control the heat of all the electrical units so that they don’t melt down like Chernobyl and/or self destruct.
When doing some listening, I must air conditioned my listening room down to 30C otherwise it will easily go up to 34C that’s about 95F and listening to music to relax at 95F is not relaxation at all, plus while listening to music I have to worry about my equipment not catching on fire.
More to come in about a week
or in 50 hours, which ever comes first.
In the mean time, here are a few pictures of my set up.
Guy 13
My wife’s aunt from Chicago brought me my Bottlehead Crack this last Friday and it did not take me long before it was connected and producing some heat and wonderful music.
More music than heat…
Both my Crack and my HD-650 have almost no millage on them,
therefore my comments are preliminary ones.
The Crack and the HD-650 are both what reviewers and owners wrote about them, which is:
A perfect match.
My only comments and it’s not a negative one, is that I find the HD-650 to be a little dark and by using the word dark,
I hope it’s the right word and it’s in no way a negative comment, that’s what makes their sound not being aggressive and I like that.
I did some tube rolling from the Raytheon 6080, the RCA 6080 and the 7AS7G RCA with several 12AU7 ranging from Sylvania/Thomas, RCA clear top, Tung Sol and GE.
To my ears (At this early stage of my listening) there are very slight differences in sound.
For now, they all sound good to me.
I’ve played Chet Atkins guitar, Krall voice, Chesky Binaural and much, much more.
From bass to highs, they are all very good, but like I mentioned above a little dark. If someone can find a better word to describe the sound, please share with me the right word that describes the sound of that combo.
One more thing, I will have to find a way to cool down the amplifier, because the top plate is quite hot, however, the main transformer is just a little warm, which is good to me.
In super hot Vietnam, you have to control the heat of all the electrical units so that they don’t melt down like Chernobyl and/or self destruct.
When doing some listening, I must air conditioned my listening room down to 30C otherwise it will easily go up to 34C that’s about 95F and listening to music to relax at 95F is not relaxation at all, plus while listening to music I have to worry about my equipment not catching on fire.
More to come in about a week
or in 50 hours, which ever comes first.
In the mean time, here are a few pictures of my set up.
Guy 13
Attachments
Grainger49
New member
Guy,
I'll have to get that Chet Atkins CD. He is a master! And a very nice listening rig too!
I have the same problem with "audiophile" jargon as you do. But I think dark will mean fewer highs than should be there. Maybe "Warm?" But that also says there is a lack of balance. Who knows? We need a dictionary here.
There is a FAQ Thread thread here, that is a link. It addresses the head of the top plate and transformers. The plate has those two large resistors near it.
I have suggested to some folks to get a 9V Wall Wart (transformer/DC supply) and a 12V fan. You cut an opening on the back of the Crack and blow into it with the fan. You don't use the full 12V because it will run slower and quieter on 9V. Be certain the feet are attached so the air has somewhere to escape. It will be fine to leave the fan on all the time.
BTW, what does Phono/LED mean?
I'll have to get that Chet Atkins CD. He is a master! And a very nice listening rig too!
I have the same problem with "audiophile" jargon as you do. But I think dark will mean fewer highs than should be there. Maybe "Warm?" But that also says there is a lack of balance. Who knows? We need a dictionary here.
There is a FAQ Thread thread here, that is a link. It addresses the head of the top plate and transformers. The plate has those two large resistors near it.
I have suggested to some folks to get a 9V Wall Wart (transformer/DC supply) and a 12V fan. You cut an opening on the back of the Crack and blow into it with the fan. You don't use the full 12V because it will run slower and quieter on 9V. Be certain the feet are attached so the air has somewhere to escape. It will be fine to leave the fan on all the time.
BTW, what does Phono/LED mean?
Guy 13
New member
Grainger49 said:
Hi Grainger49.
I have noticed that the older Chet Atkins CD recording sound thin, as a matter of fact,
I found that even on the same recording,
the sound quality vary from one track to the other.
However, the majority of the recording sounds good.
I have some small wafer fans that are 220V
and that I can run on 120V. it will run slower, therefore quieter.
I did it many times before to cool down NiMh AA batteries while charging
without any problems.
Phono/LED means ? ? ?
I am at a lost to tell you what the combination of the two words mean.
Phono I know and LED I know, but the two together, search me, no idea ? ? ?
Sorry if I am as useless as a pair of tits on a leghorn.
Guy 13
