berzerkeleyan
New member
Here it is, a long time coming. I received my Mainline Amp kit in early March. I went full bore as soon as it arrived, spending three nights getting everything assembled. At first it worked, though not perfectly. The sound was...okay. After all the reviews, I was expecting a significant jump from the Crack I built last year. But I wasn't feeling the magic. To make matters worse, the amp developed a short a few days after the initial build, eventually losing sound altogether. Cr@p. I began my troubleshooting, but could not get the necessary voltages as per the manual. And then work took over and the Mainline remained on my kitchen table, with tools strewn everywhere, for about two months. Back to my trusty Crack I went, eating my meals at my desk or by the sink...
In a cleaning fit this past weekend, I finally decided to put my tools away. But that meant rededicating myself to fixing my Mainline. I took my time, and resoldered and tested anything that looked suspicious until I got the necessary voltages. At last, it was time to once again put this box through its paces.
Like the first time, I immediately began doubting all the reviews I read about this amp. From my HD 800s, it sounded as if music was coming through a cocktail straw. My reference playlist was lacking the dynamic range, soundstage, and overall musicality I was was getting from the Crack. I stayed up until 4a listening, trying to enjoy what I was listening to, eventually getting a couple of hours sleep before heading to work, tired and pretty disappointed.
When I got home Monday evening, I realized that I had inadvertently left the amp on the entire day. Surprised at how cool it felt compared to the Crack left on a similar amount of time, I sat down for another listening session. Well, I now fully understand what the term "burn in" means. Holy moly did things sound different the second time around! It's as if the circuit needed current circulating around it to allow it to "cure" somehow. I'm not an electrical engineer, so I have no idea if there's any validity to what I just wrote. But the difference in sound was very real. Believe me.
It would be a waste to repeat what so many others have so painstakingly (and more eloquently than I ever could) written about this amp. But I can verify that everything I read is true. It is ultra black at rest, and as clean, balanced, measured, and "real" as anything I've ever heard (truth be told, I haven't heard many other high end amps). This was money and time well spent.
I'm a relatively newbie to DIY projects. Between the initial build, and subsequent troubleshooting and resoldering, I estimate I spent about 24 hours in total completing the amp. It was definitely more work than the Crack. I'm also not as manly as some others on this forum -- I have no woodworking skills to speak of. I just gave the wood a couple of coats of Danish Oil Finish. It was simple to do, and the result is great. Plus it keeps the amp looking close to stock, the way I suspect Doc likes it.
My apartment is finally clean, the music is flowing, and I'm back to eating at the kitchen table. All is good. Thanks for reading.
In a cleaning fit this past weekend, I finally decided to put my tools away. But that meant rededicating myself to fixing my Mainline. I took my time, and resoldered and tested anything that looked suspicious until I got the necessary voltages. At last, it was time to once again put this box through its paces.
Like the first time, I immediately began doubting all the reviews I read about this amp. From my HD 800s, it sounded as if music was coming through a cocktail straw. My reference playlist was lacking the dynamic range, soundstage, and overall musicality I was was getting from the Crack. I stayed up until 4a listening, trying to enjoy what I was listening to, eventually getting a couple of hours sleep before heading to work, tired and pretty disappointed.
When I got home Monday evening, I realized that I had inadvertently left the amp on the entire day. Surprised at how cool it felt compared to the Crack left on a similar amount of time, I sat down for another listening session. Well, I now fully understand what the term "burn in" means. Holy moly did things sound different the second time around! It's as if the circuit needed current circulating around it to allow it to "cure" somehow. I'm not an electrical engineer, so I have no idea if there's any validity to what I just wrote. But the difference in sound was very real. Believe me.
It would be a waste to repeat what so many others have so painstakingly (and more eloquently than I ever could) written about this amp. But I can verify that everything I read is true. It is ultra black at rest, and as clean, balanced, measured, and "real" as anything I've ever heard (truth be told, I haven't heard many other high end amps). This was money and time well spent.
I'm a relatively newbie to DIY projects. Between the initial build, and subsequent troubleshooting and resoldering, I estimate I spent about 24 hours in total completing the amp. It was definitely more work than the Crack. I'm also not as manly as some others on this forum -- I have no woodworking skills to speak of. I just gave the wood a couple of coats of Danish Oil Finish. It was simple to do, and the result is great. Plus it keeps the amp looking close to stock, the way I suspect Doc likes it.
My apartment is finally clean, the music is flowing, and I'm back to eating at the kitchen table. All is good. Thanks for reading.
