Crack System Configuration. What components?

[John EH]

Has this been done?  What is your source and headphones and is it synergistic?  What didn't work so well?

I was about ready to mud stomp my Sennheiser HD650's because they didn't sound as good as my Sony MDR-V6.  That is until I put a Fiio E17 DAC in the system.  Now my Sennheisers sound like what all the fuss is about.

So after rolling lots of tubes and components this is what I think sounds great.

Crack w/Speedball
Sennheiser HD650
Raspberry Pi as source with Squeezeplug as OS
Fiio E17 DAC/Amp


This system in now pure synergy.  What didn't work before seriously were my headphones.  They were too dark even with various other DAC's

Still waiting patiently for that Bottlehead DAC.  I feel it'll be fine tuned to their own gear.

 

[ashneel]

You mean the HD650 was too dark? Also what tubes are you using now?

 

[John EH]

For me it was too dark until the Fiio E17 DAC. 

I have a Chatham 5998 and various 12AU7's, currently and orange label RCA Clear Top which may be the brightest 12AU7 in my stash.

 

[ashneel]

I'm using the ODAC along with the speedballed crack+HD650.
Tung Sol 5998 and Mullard ecc82 as input tube..sounds great to me

 

[ffivaz]

Source : Halide DAC HD
Amp : Crack + SB
Headphone : Senn HD650

I tried some 6AS7G tubes (RCA , Svetlana, etc.) and allways came back to some straight RCA 6080. For two reasons : I've had problems finding a dead quiet 6AS7G and I prefer the (faster IMHO) 6080 sound. Everybody will tell me I have to try a 5998, but I never had the guts to put 85$ on the table without being sure the tube will be quiet.

I tried the highly regarded Telefunken 12AU7 and the new new stock JJ 12AU7 and always came back to the tube I received from BH : a RCA (Conn) 12AU7WA.

So count me as a RCA fan.

 

[JamieMcC]

Source : Halide DAC HD
Amp : Crack + SB
Headphone : Senn HD650

I tried some 6AS7G tubes (RCA , Svetlana, etc.) and allways came back to some straight RCA 6080. For two reasons : I've had problems finding a dead quiet 6AS7G and I prefer the (faster IMHO) 6080 sound. Everybody will tell me I have to try a 5998, but I never had the guts to put 85$ on the table without being sure the tube will be quiet.

I tried the highly regarded Telefunken 12AU7 and the new new stock JJ 12AU7 and always came back to the tube I received from BH : a RCA (Conn) 12AU7WA.

So count me as a RCA fan.

The Mullard 6080 is my favourite of the 6080 type I would not like to blind test it with 5998. For around $15-$40 it costs a lot less than the 5998

 

[Loon]

If you want a fast and detailed sound with good bass, try the Tung Sol 7236.  Hard to find, but more affordable than the 5998 at times.

 

[ashneel]

If you want a fast and detailed sound with good bass, try the Tung Sol 7236.  Hard to find, but more affordable than the 5998 at times.

Or the Bendix 6080WB, but again still a pain to find

 

[Nathan]

My Crack has NOS tubes -Tung Sol 5998 and Mullard 12au7. Headphones are HD600's using Cardas cabling. I have 3 sources. FM is a Magnum Dynalab MD105 (single ended output ). Phono is a Linn LP12 (Ekos, lingo, arkiv B) into a pass xp15 (xlr output converted to single ended); cd is a Simaudio 260d (analog output). All outputs go to a switch box of my own design (and build) which goes to the Crack. All audio cabling except cd output is home made mostly using Klotz (German) wire.

Transparent, open and noise free.