Loquah
Headphoneus Supremus
Please leave this thread now...
Ugh, all this talk about Bottlehead Gear makes it harder to wait for my first 'crack' at the s.e.x.! Already ordered the triad chokes, mundorf supreme caps to replace the stock solen and orange drops, some extra resistors to see if all the fuss about audible sound differences between koa speers and dale and etc. Resistor manufacturer is anything more than noise.
As always, will be building it stock, with one exception; an upgraded attenuator. Debating between a khozmos, goldpoint, DACT, or sticking with the classic Alps blue velvet to start.
Question on which upgrades to do first; would installing the C4S board before changing capacitors better allow me to hear the subtle differences between capacitors? Or would I be better off building stock, then upgrading capacitors, add the chokes, and then wire up the c4s?
Looking for whichever path would best allow me to hear the subtle, individual differences brought about by different components.
I'm with you 100%. I think fitting the 4 supremes in there first, and figuring how to mount them, if they need extra mounting at all, is only possible without the CCCS installed in place.
+1. I've also seen some big-ass caps used for the final filtering stage of the power supply. Maybe have a look at some of the more extreme mods in the Bottlehead forum gallery? Might help with avoiding space issues or de-soldering later. BTW, I love my Crack with the 650's, but the S.E.X is just so flexible and has a nicer soundstage with a little more air to my ears. Being able to plug in just about any can on the market is a huge bonus. At very high-levels my HE-400's and LCD's trip up a little bit, so I don't think you'd drive HE-6's with it, but everything short of those will play very nicely.
Hope it lands on your doorstep soon!
I should be receiving my Alpha Dogs today, can't wait to try them with the SEX.
Oh, I've been looking! My birthday is this July actually and one of my dad's best friends, like an uncle to me, does woodwork and he has a beautiful piecs of walnut he's planning on making into a case for my SEX, just finished with a linseed oil. Planning to build it deeper and half an inch wider in all directions to provide extra space for any zany ideas.
Though for now I'm happy with replacing two of the resistors with chokes, 100r resistor heater supply mod, upgraded film caps, c4s. Maybe replace all the electrolytics with new audio note "blackgate inspired" line of electrolytics and spend close to the cost of a kit on the power suppy roflmao
Walnut with linseed oil will be beautiful (would recommend boiled linseed oil for drying and observe safe disposal practices of any rags used to prevent self-combustion). I assume you'll use some type of internal rails to make the inner dimensions wider.
Boiled is assumedhehe, always safe! If we can't dispose of combustible rags lets stay away from point to point wired tube amp currents
As far as the inner dimensions we had a few ideas in mind. It's hard to describe, but the most functional and good looking sketch had the case look like a rooftop. Wider at the bottom and as it slopes up it gets less wide. Gives me room for different mounting ideas, feels less cramped, better ventilation, etc.