Help for building CRACK with Speedball

[i luvmusic 2]

Sorry my bad,It's the TIP 50 good i checked and it's isolated no short on the bolt or the heat sink i don't recall reading this type of testing on the manual i think it's good to do this before you install the component but i could be wrong.THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I do feel like mentioning here that the Speedball  has been shipping for about 4 years now, and only in the past few months have we seen instances of shoulder washers and thermal insulating pads being left off or just not installed correctly. 

What it really boils down to is taking the time to either post on the forum or call us to ask about the shoulder washers if you aren't sure, or just doing something like a Google image seach on "shoulder washer" to read up a bit more and increase your confidence.  We do also use shoulder washers in the basic Crack kit for a similar purpose, so some familiarity is gained in the initial build that can be carried over into building the Speeball. 

We aren't generally in the habit of justifying every step that we write in our manuals, as they are all quite important, and such conversations typically take place here instead.

-PB

 

[i luvmusic 2]

Just finish installing the Speedball and WOW love it........  ;D

 

[i luvmusic 2]

Here is mine,I would like to show you what i accomplished in the past few weeks since i received the CRACK and SPEEDBALL.THANK YOU all for your help and advised again thank You!It is time for me to enjoy this wonderful amplifier. ;D

 

[i luvmusic 2]

I put back the 23 stepped attenuator to solved the channel imbalanced in my Crack amp and i just found out that my comfortable listening volume level is between 5 and 6 Clicks.Does anyone have the same problem?Any suggestions?THANKS!

 

[Paul Birkeland]

What is the problem with listening at 5 or 6 clicks?

 

[i luvmusic 2]

On 5th clicks sound low if i go 6 clicks it sound loud to my liking.Any position below 5th it sound too low for me and past 6th is too loud.

 

[i luvmusic 2]

If i will reinstall the stock pot or the ALPS pot what can i do to solved the channel imbalanced?Thanks!

 

[Paul Birkeland]

See Crack FAQ #3

http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=4295.msg39600#msg39600

 

[Atraf]

I was planning on installing the the Alps Blue Velvet pot as a solution for the imbalanced in low volumes..
Are you saying only a stepped attenuator can fix that? (Besides the FAQ solution...)

 

[i luvmusic 2]

Thank You PB!

 

[i luvmusic 2]

Alps Blue velvet did not fixed The  channel imbalanced the Attenuator does but my comfortable listening level is not matching the 23 stepped attenuator's settings.
I found a 48 stepped attenuator but it's not cheap $179 @ PartscoX104.I will do The resistor mod instead.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I still think you could just listen at step 6 and call it a day.

 

[i luvmusic 2]

I could but honestly i prefer the sound of the STOCK POT or the ALPS BLUE.

 

[Atraf]

Would it be that bad playing with the volume of your music source?
Put it on 6 and decrease the volume from a 100% to 95% or something on your music source.

About the attenuators, I was really sure that everybody replace the stock pot because of the imbalanced issue now I see its only for sonic benefits..

 

[i luvmusic 2]

My crack is humming if no input signal or if i unplug the RCA Cables the hum starts once the pot is at 10 o'clock and it gets louder as it reach the max volume.If the signal is present the CRACK is dead silent even the pot is on max no hum.

Thanks!

 

[Grainger49]

The proper way to check hum is to short the inputs at the RCA jacks.  You can either use jumpers or shorting plugs.  The open RCA jacks can pick up noise.  Give that a try and report back.

 

[i luvmusic 2]

The proper way to check hum is to short the inputs at the RCA jacks.  You can either use jumpers or shorting plugs.  The open RCA jacks can pick up noise.  Give that a try and report back.

Hi Grainger49,
I used a test clips and shorted the input RCA jacks like you described and if they're shorted(Centre pin to outer sleeve)no noise/dead quiet and if i removed the test clips on the outer sleeve of the rca jack leaved the test clips clipped onto the centre pin of the rca jack i can hear the music playing even though these rca jacks are not plug in to my source and if i touch the test clips that is clipped onto the centre pin the noise it gets really loud.So i guess i'am picking up interference.

THANK YOU!


I just unplug the jumpers from the rca centre pin and the music disappeared but the noise gets louder.


Thanks again!

 

[Grainger49]

I think the noise is caused by something outside of the Crack.  Are there any other electrical devices near it?

 

[ALL212]

Could one of your tubes be going bad?