What's next?

[Nathan]

Here's what I've done with my Crack

Speedball
NOS tubes- Tung Sol and Mullard, 5998 and CV4003
Cardas RCA jacks
PEC volume pot
Padded down volume control (metal film resistors)
Bypass audio caps (Russian Teflon)
Bypass 3rd power supply cap (Mundorf film)
Choke in power supply
Uprated  1st and 2nd power supply caps
Switchcraft headphone jack and metal film shunting resistors

PS- quite happy with how my crack sounds- maybe leave well enough alone

 

[Paul Birkeland]

A SEX amp.

-PB

 

[Nathan]

Intriguing

 

[ALL212]

+1 on a SEX amp.

What cans are you listening to?

 

[Nathan]

HD 600's w/Cardas cable

 

[ALL212]

Or make the big leap and go Mainline!

SEX + headphones....DAMN!!  And it's a fun build with lot's of upgrade opportunities.  It's a tight build though, not much room once your done for major mods.

Also sets you up for low impedance headphones should you elect to go that route.  My 50 ohm cans will not run on the Crack but SEX handles them perfectly.

 

[Rocketman248]

+2 on the S.E.X.  It's a great amp, and a good companion to the Crack.  And you're set if you decide to start moving into the speaker world.

Be warned, it is a slippery slope.

 

[JamieMcC]

Have you thought about trying new cans? T1's make for a very good pairing with a both a hotrodded Crack and the Sex if you build again. The two amps have differing presentations so can compliment each other.  You can also have a lot of fun modding the Sex.
I will add Mainline and HD800 is just gorgeous and a experience worth saving for down the line.

 

[YUL400]

Here's what I've done with my Crack

Speedball
NOS tubes- Tung Sol and Mullard, 5998 and CV4003
Cardas RCA jacks
PEC volume pot
Padded down volume control (metal film resistors)
Bypass audio caps (Russian Teflon)
Bypass 3rd power supply cap (Mundorf film)
Choke in power supply
Uprated  1st and 2nd power supply caps
Switchcraft headphone jack and metal film shunting resistors

PS- quite happy with how my crack sounds- maybe leave well enough alone

Try a better fuse Hi Fi Tuning Supreme or Create Audio Deluxe

 

[Nathan]

I don't understand how a fuse not in the signal path and so early in the power chain that later gets smoothed, buffered and rectified can be improved by a simple fuse

But I am open to an explanation

 

[Aeolus Kratos]

I don't understand how a fuse not in the signal path and so early in the power chain that later gets smoothed, buffered and rectified can be improved by a simple fuse

But I am open to an explanation

Audio is a mysterious thing. Sometimes you just can't explain how it works, it simply sounds different  ;D

BTW, I've also used an upgrade Hi-fi Tuning fuse in my Crack, but I can hardly tell the difference 

 

[YUL400]

I don't understand how a fuse not in the signal path and so early in the power chain that later gets smoothed, buffered and rectified can be improved by a simple fuse

But I am open to an explanation

Music are vibrations. From the invisible to visible,  from the unknown to the known world, etc. it's vibrations. Fuses are weak links in the ''power chain''. It made quite a difference for me to upgrade from .10 cents fuse to better one. Better transients and lower noise floor from my Crack amp. So experiment !

 

[Paul Birkeland]

It made quite a difference for me to upgrade from .10 cents fuse to better one. Better transients and lower noise floor from my Crack amp.

I would love to see measurements of a different fuse contributing to a lower noise floor. 

-PB

 

[Nathan]

I would love to see measurements of a different fuse contributing to a lower noise floor. 

-PB

I doubt you'll see any such measurements

 

[mcandmar]

You could only get away with posting that on the Bottlehead forum, such nice people that we are. Say that on other "audio" forums and you will go down in a burning ring of fire!  ....and it will burn burn burn..