My Crack Build

That is funny. I just built my Crack over Christmas and did it all in black. I sprayed the top plat a gloss hammered black and the base is sprayed a satin black.

I built it completely stock, which is a first for me with a Bottlehead kit. I did get the Speedball, but want to experiance the stock kit first. I must say that the Crack sounds great with my Sennheiser HD-650. I need to compare it with my upgraded S.E.X. amp with MQ nickle striped iron, attenuator, russian Teflon coupling caps, and Obbligato film oil caps.

I must say that from a sound perspective I do not feel there is a need to upgrade the amp, but I can never leave well enough alone and will look at doing something soon. Maybe add a bypass cap to the last film cap in the power supply or add the Triad choke.
 
ok guys, first question..
on page 19 it says that for more quiet operation  connect the wire to 14U instead of 22L... what should i do?
Do I need to connect it to 14U together with the cap and the wire needs to go there?

Secpnd one,
I was lucky enough to distroy one LED. can I use a LED from the Speedball kit till I'll get a new one?
 
Connect the wire to 14U, and yes, you can use the LED from Speedball.
 
FWIW, I used 14L instead with absolutely no problems. 14U gets pretty cramped with everything that connects there.
 
Hi There,

Resistance check: DONE
Voltage check: DONE

Crack is working! I'll get home today for a first sound session.

Thank you Bottlehead! I'll upload some more pictures later.
 
Lior,

Congratulations on the successful build!  Yes, go enjoy -- but if you think it's good now, just wait... :-)

-- Jim

 
Holy smokes !!!  what a beautiful job you did with braiding the input wiring..  Bravo!  ...mine did not quite turn out like that.
 
Just ended up a long music session (if it was my call I was still listening), this amp surely sings!
The most notice character is the great separation I never heard before!

uploaded few more pictures.
 
Yess, great separation with mine to. nice job. BTW, your jack is the second I've seen w/ the gasket. Mine did not come with one...its the nickle version though. I wonder why that would matter though?

Cheers
 
jrihs said:
BTW, your jack is the second I've seen w/ the gasket. Mine did not come with one...its the nickle version though. I wonder why that would matter though?
Click to expand...

You'll have to buy the gasket separately, it's not a part of the HP Jack.
And it's only aesthetic, no other advantage or so.

LA
 
Hi All,
Just finished the speedball upgrade! that's sound even better! Photos updated! voltage test is ok.
Had to use a small "bridge" to connect the speedball large plate to the other tube A pin, the suggested pin was too crowded with cables under...

I hear hum noise if no source is connected and I turn the volume all the way up, is that normal? or I should be dead silent same like when a source is connected?

Also, while doing the SB upgrade I've accidentally touch the film cap, very shallow and light touch (see the pictures), do you think it's ok or I just destroyed the cap?


Thanks for everything,
LA
 
The proper way to test hum is with the inputs shorted rather than open.  Leaving them open allows noise in and causes some hum.  Of course turning the volume all the way up is an unrealistically high volume level.  What matters is the normal listening level.

That said I wouldn't be surprised if you turned it all the way up with shorted inputs and didn't get any hum.  That assumes a top notch build.  My Seduction has always had a very low level hum.  But most folks don't know it is there sitting at the listening position and at listening volumes.
 
Yeah, Crack is really quiet.  With open inputs, I dont know.  But wide open with a digital source connected, not playing, amazingly quiet.  No hum with mine at all.  I assume it would be the same with shorting plugs on the inputs. 
 
Well, that's the same that thing I'm getting: shorted or with source connected I get dead silent even with volume knob all the way up.

What about the cap? what do you think? I'll try to get a better photo when I'll get home...
 
Hi all,
I've been enjoying my crack for a few week already. but what's next? (I'm addicted)
While waiting for the BH DAC (hoping it'll be in a manageable price point)...
What will adding a power supply cap bypass and a choke will add?
How do I wire them?

Meanwhile, I've waited for the base to fully dry out and now i'll do the last sanding and painting.

Thanks,
LA
 
lior.amsalem said:
Hi all,
I've been enjoying my crack for a few week already. but what's next? (I'm addicted)
While waiting for the BH DAC (hoping it'll be in a manageable price point)...
What will adding a power supply cap bypass and a choke will add?
How do I wire them?

Meanwhile, I've waited for the base to fully dry out and now i'll do the last sanding and painting.

Thanks,
LA
Click to expand...

What's next how about upgrades:

http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,776.0.html
 
Yeah, went thru it already.
What's left for me is PSU upgrades if needed with Speedball installed and maybe score a 5998 tube in a good price somewhere.
Anyone have a not so crazy priced source for the 5998 tube?

Anyway, regarding the choke again, will it make any different when Speedball installed already?
I've order few Mullard 12au7 tubes to experience with and a  TS 12bh7 as well.
I'll report back :)

LA
 
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