[Ultrainferno]

Very nice!

 

[DefQon]

Very nice indeed whats the outer finish? Any lacquer or polished wax or so?

 

[lokesen]

HI. It's just glossy varnish with 400 grit sanding between the layers. After the last coat of varnish is completely hardened, it has been polished with furniture polish.

 

[MattTCG]

  HI. It's just glossy varnish with 400 grit sanding between the layers. After the last coat of varnish is completely hardened, it has been polished with furniture polish.

 
It's a very nice finish. Great job!!

 

[JamieMcC]

Capacitor Update time.
 
First off,
 
Russian Teflon K72P6, used to bypass the 2.2uf film cap which was itself used as a bypass on the last 220uf electrolytic in the Crack power supply.
 

 
K72P6 Impressions with just over 200hrs on the clock.
 
I have noticed a slight change in sonics to the top end, it is very subtle but smoother, with what I can only describe as an easiness in its smoothness. Less grain and better resolution but without any hint of the normally associated brightness that I have experience before with such resolution. Its not a wow instantly noticeable sonic signature instead it just blends in as part of the whole picture bringing a touch of refinement. It kind of needs to be listen for specifically in order to get a handle just what has changed. But does come across in the whole.
 
I would like to say I have no plans to remove the Teflon as I am really loving the sound coming from my Crack at the moment it is absolutely sublime with the T1's and its with some trepidation and no doubt a good dose of stupidity I am going to continue swapping capacitor types and positions in a vain attempt to get a grasp of some of the character the different capacitors types can impart.
 
Whether or not the changes might improve, on what I currently think could well be perfection for me is yet to be discovered.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
So my Crack cap rolling odyssey continues.
 
This time its the turn of a pair of Jantzen z- superior's, experimenting with them used as bypass caps for the JFX 100uf films and later in combinations with some pio film's (polypropylene film in oil, not paper) and some Hybrid mylar, paper and aluminium film in oil variants.
 
Back to the Jantzen who interestingly state their Z caps require no burn in.
 
From the Jantzen website
 
"Superior Cap Even the finest nuances can be heard.The sound never gets over-edged, really superb naturalness with a somewhat bright top-end. Jantzen Audio Superior Z-Caps are absolutely high-end components, delivering a natural, almost holographic sound stage. Even the finest nuances can be heard."
 
I am pleased to say this is very much inline with my own initial impressions the difference over the JFX alone is instantly quite noticeable. I am wondering if the "somewhat bright top-end" will settle down at all. And while its not " over-edged" it is walking a fine line with T1's and the accentuation of sibilance on some tracks I find just a tad to much for my personal taste. So I hope this might calm down with a little time on the clock.
 
Everything else is just dandy I particularly like the effect the Jantzen has with the bass it seams more expansive and deeper. There is some really nice ambiance coming through on live recordings
 
Following on it does suit the HD650's rather well also.
 

 

[bigfatpaulie]

  Capacitor Update time.
 
First off,
 
Russian Teflon K72P6, used to bypass the 2.2uf film cap which was itself used as a bypass on the last 220uf electrolytic in the Crack power supply.
 
 
 
K72P6 Impressions with just over 200hrs on the clock.
 
I have noticed a slight change in sonics to the top end, it is very subtle but smoother, with what I can only describe as an easiness in its smoothness. Less grain and better resolution but without any hint of the normally associated brightness that I have experience before with such resolution. Its not a wow instantly noticeable sonic signature instead it just blends in as part of the whole picture bringing a touch of refinement. It kind of needs to be listen for specifically in order to get a handle just what has changed. But does come across in the whole.
 
I would like to say I have no plans to remove the Teflon as I am really loving the sound coming from my Crack at the moment it is absolutely sublime with the T1's and its with some trepidation and no doubt a good dose of stupidity I am going to continue swapping capacitor types and positions in a vain attempt to get a grasp of some of the character the different capacitors types can impart.
 
Whether or not the changes might improve, on what I currently think could well be perfection for me is yet to be discovered.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
So my Crack cap rolling odyssey continues.
 
This time its the turn of a pair of Jantzen z- superior's, experimenting with them used as bypass caps for the JFX 100uf films and later in combinations with some pio film's (polypropylene film in oil, not paper) and some Hybrid mylar, paper and aluminium film in oil variants.
 
Back to the Jantzen who interestingly state their Z caps require no burn in.
 
From the Jantzen website
 
"Superior Cap Even the finest nuances can be heard.The sound never gets over-edged, really superb naturalness with a somewhat bright top-end. Jantzen Audio Superior Z-Caps are absolutely high-end components, delivering a natural, almost holographic sound stage. Even the finest nuances can be heard."
 
I am pleased to say this is very much inline with my own impressions the difference over the JFX alone is instantly quite noticeable. I am wondering if the "somewhat bright top-end" will settle down at all. And while its not " over-edged" it is walking a fine line with T1's and the accentuation of sibilance on some tracks I find just a tad to much for my personal taste. So I hope this might calm down with a little time on the clock.
 
Everything else is just dandy I particularly like the effect the Jantzen has with the bass it seams more expansive and deeper. There is some really nice ambiance coming through on live recordings
 
Following on it does suit the HD650's rather well also.
 

 
 
Holy cow, Jamie!  Nicely done!
 
You're becoming our resident cap aficionado!

 

[JamieMcC]

  Holy cow, Jamie!  Nicely done!
 
You're becoming our resident cap aficionado!

 
Aficionado, now that made me chuckle Paul. It is more like standing on the shoulders of the giants over at the Bottlehead forum. But I am learning a whole bunch whilst having a heap of fun.
The postman kindly dropped off some care packages for me today. Which definitely put a smile on my face

the big box was from Russia just 7 days delivery to the UK and its just so very encouraging to see so much care taken in packaging and makes for great fun unwrapping also.
 

 
Well wrapped and quick delivery, deserving of a plug if that's allowed.  Thanks ebay seller nixiestore  http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/nixiestore
 

 

[spacequeen7]

I don't want to go through all 250+ pages ..what's consider the easiest -best re-cap on this unit that improves sound quality and where i can get socket replacement for 6SN7 ?
Thank you

 

[skeptic]

Any decent pair of 100uf 250v+ film caps should do. Just be attentive to size if you don't want to have to put your crack on risers. Mundorf mkp, axons, solens, obbligattos, and clarity caps all seem to be relatively popular choices. (I went from axons to obbligattos and prefer the latter.)

Although not particularly cheap, Parts Connexion is one reasonable option among vendors who sling both boutique caps and tube sockets.

 

[ben_r_]

I bought Axons and Obbligattos from Parts Connexion myself. You dont need to spend anymore than that.

 

[Loquah]

  I don't want to go through all 250+ pages ..what's consider the easiest -best re-cap on this unit that improves sound quality and where i can get socket replacement for 6SN7 ?
Thank you

 
You might be best checking over on the Bottlehead Forums (which are currently down due to an upgrade) because this thread is relatively young in cap talk I believe - the people doing it hear have amazing knowledge, but I think there is a greater volume of information over on the Bottlehead Forums.

 

[JamieMcC]

Any decent pair of 100uf 250v+ film caps should do. Just be attentive to size if you don't want to have to put your crack on risers.

 
+1 any of the mainstream audiophile film caps should bring a noticeable improvement in sonics over the stock electrolytic capacitors.
I have been very happy with the price performance ratio of JFX premium films.
 
Headfi  has the orgy of capacitor thread only 28 pages and has some helpful info.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/284863/orgy-of-capacitors-the-cap-thread/405#post_10283906
 
The Capacitor Porn thread on the bottlehead forum is also full of info (when back online).

 

[grrraymond]

Well, despite my 'complete satisfaction', I saw a cheap Mullard ECC82 on eBay and it arrived yesterday, my first upgrade from stock Crack and I was surprised that tube rolling has an effect, even at that price (tenner or so). I definitely prefer it to the stock tube, just a little tighter in the bass but also the top end has opened up, separation is better with drum sounds. Something like Contact off the recent Daft Punk album sounds like your head is taking off, makes me sit up straight. Thank God I've only seen the 5998s available in pairs, that should put me off for another six months or so.

 

[Loquah]

Well, despite my 'complete satisfaction', I saw a cheap Mullard ECC82 on eBay and it arrived yesterday, my first upgrade from stock Crack and I was surprised that tube rolling has an effect, even at that price (tenner or so). I definitely prefer it to the stock tube, just a little tighter in the bass but also the top end has opened up, separation is better with drum sounds. Something like Contact off the recent Daft Punk album sounds like your head is taking off, makes me sit up straight. Thank God I've only seen the 5998s available in pairs, that should put me off for another six months or so.

 
I love the Mullard ECC82s. They and the RCA Cleartops are the best bargains in all of tubedom I think.

 

[JamieMcC]

Well, despite my 'complete satisfaction', I saw a cheap Mullard ECC82 on eBay and it arrived yesterday, my first upgrade from stock Crack and I was surprised that tube rolling has an effect, even at that price (tenner or so). I definitely prefer it to the stock tube, just a little tighter in the bass but also the top end has opened up, separation is better with drum sounds. Something like Contact off the recent Daft Punk album sounds like your head is taking off, makes me sit up straight. Thank God I've only seen the 5998s available in pairs, that should put me off for another six months or so.

 
I find the Mullard 6080 is also a nice sounding tube and pairs well with the RCA Cleartop mentioned.