Crack vs Woo WA3
- Thread starter Guy 13
- Start date
If you need and answer about Jack Woo's amps the only reasonable solution is to ask Jack Woo the question. Asking us to answer this is trolling, even if not intended as such. Out of respect for Jack Bottlehead Corporation will not speculate about his designs or specifications.
Guy 13
New member
Doc B. said:
Hi Doc.
Let me re-phrase my question.
Can you make/modify the Crack so it can drive headphones down to 35 Ohms
(Read 60 Ohms for the HD-570)?
The reason I ask, is because I own two pairs of Sennheiser (HD-650 + HD-570)
and I like both of them, because both of them have their strength.
The HD-570 are brighter and the HD-650 are darker.
I would like to use both of them on my Crack that sounds very good.
Guy 13
L
Loon
Guest
1. Add output transformer
2. Try a compatible tube with high mutual conductance in place of the 6080 (eg 7802). This should slightly reduce the output impedance.
3. Buy a SEX or Mainline and sell your Crack
Naïfurne
2. Try a compatible tube with high mutual conductance in place of the 6080 (eg 7802). This should slightly reduce the output impedance.
3. Buy a SEX or Mainline and sell your Crack
Naïfurne
Guy 13
New member
Hi.Loon said:
1. You are suggesting an output transformer,
how about giving me/us some directions as where to buy, make, model.
Since you are suggesting that option, maybe you have experience with that and can make my/our life easier, please keep in mind that not everybody is as resourceful as you are.
2. I have a few names of tube suppliers, but maybe you can give me/us a make that you prefer
and from whom you suggest we buy. That would make my/our life easier. Yes, no, maybe ? ? ?
3. Buy SEX or Mainline with what money, maybe you want to give me the money.
The Crack + assembly by w third party + HD-650 that blew my budget.
I am stuck with my Crack + HD-650 combo.
I am looking for a cheap solution and keep in mind that I am living on planet Vietnam and here it's not what you want, it's what they have and what they have is not what you really want. Vietnam is the country of compromise when it comes to electronics...
Any other suggestions ? ? ?
Guy 13
L
Loon
Guest
Hi there
1. I don't know enough yet how to add an output transformer to the circuit. Would like to find out.
2. The 7802 is quite a rare and expensive tube. I have an new, unused pair of Tung Sol 7802WB tubes that cost me $200.00 from an eBay seller. They were his last pair. I don't know where you could buy any others.
3. This is the option I would most strongly recommend if you want to drive headphones of a lower impedance. Sorry. The Crack just isn't designed for these.
Cheers
Nathan
1. I don't know enough yet how to add an output transformer to the circuit. Would like to find out.
2. The 7802 is quite a rare and expensive tube. I have an new, unused pair of Tung Sol 7802WB tubes that cost me $200.00 from an eBay seller. They were his last pair. I don't know where you could buy any others.
3. This is the option I would most strongly recommend if you want to drive headphones of a lower impedance. Sorry. The Crack just isn't designed for these.
Cheers
Nathan
Guy 13
New member
Loon said:
Hi Loon.
If I had the same income as you or as I had when I was 40 years old in Canada,
I would immediately buy something else.
That's what I did so many times in the past, but today...
It's a completely different story, therefore, thanks for the suggestions,
but I will keep my Crack + HD-650 unless someone wants to buy it the same price I paid,
but I am realistic and I know it will never happen.
I will use my Sennheiser HD-570 (60 Ohms) with my iPod and my Sony mini receiver.
Guy 13
L
Loon
Guest
Exactly. If it sounds good to you, that's all that matters. It's about sound in practice, not theory or some "ideal" matching.
L
Loon
Guest
All safe
You would certainly change the sound character of your Crack if you added output transformers and without a lot of trial and error you would end up with something worse. The Crack is an OTL amp which let's you hear the output of the tube without a transformer in the way. There are always trade offs and with an OTL amp you are trading the ability to match low impedance loads for the ability to listen without a transformer adding its color to the signal.
Try your low impedance phones with the Crack. The bass might not be the best you have heard from them but it won't hurt anything to try. You might well like the pairing and after all that's the only thing that matters.
Ken
Try your low impedance phones with the Crack. The bass might not be the best you have heard from them but it won't hurt anything to try. You might well like the pairing and after all that's the only thing that matters.
Ken
Guy 13
New member
kgoss said:
Hi Ken.
The reason why I choose a OTL headphone amplifier,
it's because I believe it's superior to output transformer amplifier.
As a matter of fact I choose between the Schiit Valhalla,
the WOO WA3 and the Crack, all of them OTL.
The Schiit Valhalla is a PVB circluit and runs very hot, the WOO as three tubes and look like a German tank and then the Crack was what I wanted.
Yesterday, I did about an hour of listening with my Sennheiser HD-570 (60 Ohms) headphones and here are my conclusions:
The bass is not tight, it lack impact, it's muddy, it's simply not natural like the HD-650.
The mids are relatively good, but at times, they are a little fuzzy,
now the highs are good, very good, much better than the HD-650,
but over all, the HD-650 is better, therfore I will be using more often my
HD-650 and keep my HD-570 for my iPod and my mini Sony receiver.
Guy 13
PassionForSound
New member
Hi Guy,
An assembled Crack will generally sell for more than the kit. If you built the Crack yourself you can probably recoup your original outlay and then some. I say this because I've now owned and thoroughly compared (over on Head-fi) the Crack, SEX and Mainline, and would highly recommend upgrading to the SEX in order to drive both your headphones to even better performance than the Crack.
The SEX sounds different to the Crack, but personally I find it more resolving and with a larger soundstage. It's a worthy upgrade in sound, but also versatility in driving any impedance headphone.
An assembled Crack will generally sell for more than the kit. If you built the Crack yourself you can probably recoup your original outlay and then some. I say this because I've now owned and thoroughly compared (over on Head-fi) the Crack, SEX and Mainline, and would highly recommend upgrading to the SEX in order to drive both your headphones to even better performance than the Crack.
The SEX sounds different to the Crack, but personally I find it more resolving and with a larger soundstage. It's a worthy upgrade in sound, but also versatility in driving any impedance headphone.
Guy 13
New member
Loquah (Passion for Sound) said:
Hi Loquah.
(Strange name,
but I am sure it means something
and there is a reason why it sounds unusual.)
My Crack was assembled by another Bottlehead forum member
for a very good price.
I did not pay for transport and custom tax.
However, I live on planet Vietnam, therfore, I cannot sell it here,
as the Vietnamese don't buy unknown brands,
that how the Vietnamese are.
If I sell it to someone in USA, it would cost too much on transport...
So, if I sell it, I would loose too much $ $ $.
Then I have to come up with some extra money that I don't have.
Therfore, I will keep it.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Guy 13
PassionForSound
New member
Ah. I understand. It's a shame you can't enjoy both your headphones with the Crack, but the HD650 + Crack combo is world class so at least there's that. Happy listening!
Yes, my username is unusual - it's pronounced lock-wah and it came from a friend playing with my real name (Lachlan).
Yes, my username is unusual - it's pronounced lock-wah and it came from a friend playing with my real name (Lachlan).
