Tonight, installed some Mundorf Supreme EVO SilverGoldOil 2.2 micro farad 800VDC caps. Going into a Bottlehead Crack OTL with the speedball upgrade, HD600s. Spent $230 on the pair, but it has really brought out lots of details, lowered the noise floor, increased headroom. Bass is real tight...

Basically, yes. Mine has the JAN-CTL-6080 designation. 62-16. I'm assuming that's a date code? Year and week of year? 1962, 16th week?

I'm not sure what it is, but I've tried a Russian 6H13CC 8702 winged tube, and also an RCA 6AS7G tube, and they sound fairly bright. Don't get me wrong, they have more detail and separation than the stock Tung-Sol 6080 tube I received with the kit, but they are just too bright for me, even when...

How soon? :)  Looking forward to pics on the main site!

I think so too.  A co-worker of mine let me try (and eventually have) a 6H13C, 8702 printed directly below it, and it sounds great compared to a 6AS7G and 6080 that I've tried.  The clarity is still there, but provides a nice warmer tone and I think is very well balanced throughout the lows...

Not to sound like an advertisement, but Bottlehead states this front and center (well, right justified) on their main page of their website.  I hadn't soldered in my life, and have very little experience with DIY in general.  I completed the Crack amp in two evenings (roughly 10 hours total)...

I will start off by saying that the poll doesn't mention anything regarding quality of devices. Now that that's out of the way, I bought a dozen cheap Sennheiser ear buds that were on a huge discount a while back for my wife and I to use. This is in addition to my decent set of headphones...

It's been about 3-4 years now with the Crack amp since I had built it.  I noticed some infrequent and random crackling in the left channel over the past few months.  Switched out tubes and that didn't make a difference.  So I decided to take a paint brush and touch all of the connection points...

  The HD-600 and Bottlehead Crack amplifier has been my setup since I ever got into Hi-Fi audio.  I haven't really heard a need to change.  It's been said that the Crack amp is one of the best value:price ratios in the range you're looking at.  Then again, it's a kit that may take you a couple...

I think it's worth a visit to the Bottlehead Crack thread with 200+ pages.  Some good information, reviews, and feedback in there.   Tons of positive feedback for the Crack amplifier when used with HD-600s or HD-650s.

The Bottlehead Crack is simply an amplifier, unlike your Fiio E10, which is a combo.  In that case, I'm sure you are aware you will need a converter of some type, which means you will need a dedicated DAC or accomplish this with your source.   If you're getting serious into audio, and by...

If you don't mind a great value/price ratio and would be willing to try DIY with tubes, check out the Bottlehead Crack amplifier.  Many positive results with HD-600s and HD-650s.

Quote: I don't believe changing the headphones changes the resistance of the amp.  I'm not knowledgeable when it comes to this stuff, but I do believe that changing what the amp outputs to, doesn't affect the performance of the amp, but only the output device.

darrellpratt - Looking good.  Would like to see more shots from different angles!  Maybe one from under the hood too!  

Brent Jesse Recording Inc. might have some?   http://www.audiotubes.com/bjtubes.htm

Quote: Adam - While I can't say my Crack isn't "laced" with a PC, I 100% agree with your opinion.  Having a long headphone cable (stock) with the HD-600s is also a benefit, because while I'm running all my music from my PC (USB out to a KECES DAC) I am able to get away from the monitor...

Quote: Please stop spreading false information.  This pie chart doesn't have any data next to it, nor is it even sourced.  As far as I'm concerned, the above chart is usually representative of confidential information.  Not to mention that this pie chart was grabbed from a bias article...

Maybe it's just me, but I've tried a Tung-Sol 6080 (JAN-CTL-6080) that Bottlehead supplied with the Crack amp, and I've also tried a NOS RCA 6AS7G.   The RCA 6AS7G doesn't have the musicality that the 6080 does.... I know other listeners like 6AS7G tubes, but maybe I need to try a different...

I don't have much to contribute in the way of information to this thread... but thought it would be nice to clarify for everyone:   IceEdelweiss - Can you be more specific about what kind of defects you are referring to?  Such as "audible defects" and NOT "cosmetic defects"?   I think...

Quote: I also purchased the Crack alone, and upgraded it with Speedball about a year later.  It was a fun experience because I got accustomed to the Crack sound for 12 months, installed speedball, and then was able to realize the sound difference.  I would also suggest picking up an extra...

Quote: Also keep in mind that even [Crack] vs [Crack + Speedball] sounds different, for the better.  Speedball is definitely worth the extra cash.   Someone also asked earlier if they could just install Speedball in conjunction with building the Crack.  You can, but it is recommended...

Quote: A friend/co-worker suggested the potentiometer upgrade.  I don't know if I've heard an audible difference, but it looks cool and it's a little smoother back and forth... (That's me admittedly not understanding the full science of a potentiometer and quality).  The capacitors did...

Quote: BASIC knowledge of soldering, emphasized.  As in: I've never soldered anything before, went to Home Depot, bought a soldering iron and solder, watched a 5 minute YouTube video on how to solder, then built the Crack amp in two evenings by myself.   No need for practice really...

Sennheiser HD-600

I posted this earlier on BH Forums, but I'll post here for duplicity-sake!   UPDATE (6/23/12): Was getting anxious to get the capacitors off of the ground from the adhesive cable tie mounts not bonding well when the chassis gets hot.  Found some #10 bolts and nuts (1/2" length, but wanted...