Crack;Bottlehead OTL

[NightFlight]

I clearly skipped over that.
I'll keep an eye on it, thanks for the link. I just meant that the wait time seems long for a product that doesn't come assembled. The fact that it isn't assembled is totally fine with me, and I understand that part of the attraction, I just wonder what causes the log wait times.

 
It's because they live on the west coast.  

 

[mordicai]

If you have ever experienced Seattle traffic, you would understand why it takes them 6 weeks to get the parts.

 

[bigfatpaulie]

 
If you have ever experienced Seattle traffic, you would understand why it takes them 6 weeks to get the parts.

 
Lol.
 
+1

 

[hdtv00]

Watch some of this guys videos lol.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5HL3gJ0DifbloeFXoUaSrw

 

[ohcrapgorillas]

Is there a good resource for what the best tubes are for the Crack besides wading through this thread and the one on the Bottlehead forums? I just finished building mine not too long ago (have the speedball but it's not installed yet). So far I've seen that a lot of people like the RCA clear tops (also some don't), and the Tung-Sol 5998 seems to be popular as well. Thoughts?
 
Edit: after looking up the price of a Tung-Sol 5998, I should probably be asking what the best bang-for-your-buck tube is instead. My preferred sound is clear and natural and realistic. Being used with HD650 and HD600.

 

[FunyunBreath]

  Is there a good resource for what the best tubes are for the Crack besides wading through this thread and the one on the Bottlehead forums? I just finished building mine not too long ago (have the speedball but it's not installed yet). So far I've seen that a lot of people like the RCA clear tops (also some don't), and the Tung-Sol 5998 seems to be popular as well. Thoughts?
 
Edit: after looking up the price of a Tung-Sol 5998, I should probably be asking what the best bang-for-your-buck tube is instead. My preferred sound is clear and natural and realistic. Being used with HD650 and HD600.

 
I've been doing quite a bit of tube rolling this week and personally I'd say the best bang for the buck power tube I've got is a Sylvania JAN 6080WB. It holds its own against my Tung Sol 7236 and 5998, and costs like $10. It has slightly emphasized bass, which could be a good thing for you if you're into electronic.
 

 
On another note, I've been having a blast tube rolling with dual Cracks. I setup an A/B switch on both headphone outputs so I can switch between amps instantly and hear the differences in my 650's. It's pretty interesting how minor some of the differences between tubes really are when you don't have the 5 min lag in between rolling the next tube.
 

 

[olegausany]

Is there a good resource for what the best tubes are for the Crack besides wading through this thread and the one on the Bottlehead forums? I just finished building mine not too long ago (have the speedball but it's not installed yet). So far I've seen that a lot of people like the RCA clear tops (also some don't), and the Tung-Sol 5998 seems to be popular as well. Thoughts?
 
Edit: after looking up the price of a Tung-Sol 5998, I should probably be asking what the best bang-for-your-buck tube is instead. My preferred sound is clear and natural and realistic. Being used with HD650 and HD600.

You will never regret buying 5998

 

[ZachPtheDude]

I am using a Thomson CSF 6080WA with an RCA clear top 12AU7. Just finished building my crack, installed a choke and replaced the coupling caps with 100uf Solen film caps. I have a load of different NOS small value caps so I think after a solid 3 to 4 weeks with the crack as it is now I'll try bypassing different capacitors.

 

[hdtv00]

My newest adventure ..
Well excited as usual I'll bring some life into this thread haha. Just won auction for a Western Electric 421A that does have it's writing clear enough to tell it's legit. Described as
"This may be the ugliest Western Electric tube I have ever had.  The base is dirty and most of the writing is gone - I have not cleaned it for fear of removing what writing is there.  This is a 421A Dual Triode in excellent working condition.  I cannot read the date code.  It is a black plate version.
My Hickok tester decided to completely stop working recently,  so I tested this on a B&K that give your percentage of mutual conductance spec.  Both triodes on this one test identical at 120% of spec when tested as a 6AS7.  No gas, no shorts.
I will guarantee this tube to be good,  but will leave it to the new owner to clean it up.  This is a good way to get an excellent sounding tube a a very good price."
Got it for $197.50 shipped. That's at least decent yeah? Any thoughts or worries anyone.
 

 

 

 

 

 

[skeptic]

  Is there a good resource for what the best tubes are for the Crack besides wading through this thread and the one on the Bottlehead forums? I just finished building mine not too long ago (have the speedball but it's not installed yet). So far I've seen that a lot of people like the RCA clear tops (also some don't), and the Tung-Sol 5998 seems to be popular as well. Thoughts?
 
Edit: after looking up the price of a Tung-Sol 5998, I should probably be asking what the best bang-for-your-buck tube is instead. My preferred sound is clear and natural and realistic. Being used with HD650 and HD600.

 
I'd start with a vintage Tung Sol 12au7's and any decent JAN (joint army navy) 6080.  Should be around $10 a pop on ebay.

 

[PETEREK]

Just picked up a Cambridge DacMagic, my desktop setup is coming together nicely.

 

[hdtv00]

Yea that's actually my one big ? I have only an Aune T1 is that really good enough to feed a crack....I wonder. But man I'm telling ya this is THE best thing yet I've heard. But also that isn't saying much , it's the only real amp I've heard. I HOPE to get to chi town for the meet but still not certain.

 

[PETEREK]

  Yea that's actually my one big ? I have only an Aune T1 is that really good enough to feed a crack....I wonder. But man I'm telling ya this is THE best thing yet I've heard. But also that isn't saying much , it's the only real amp I've heard. I HOPE to get to chi town for the meet but still not certain.

I had the T1 and agree that it's definitely one of the best, if not the best desktop Amp+DAC in it's price range. I used mine with the 7308 tube and it was very neutral and smooth.

 

[hdtv00]

Yea totally that makes me wonder what is a better tube DAC to pass onto a crack. Because truely I never went this far thought out. I went one step at time and the T1 and Crack linked up nicely no care to quality but they just fit. Now I'm wondering if there better. But I posted in another thread I for real at this point with my fav headphone Senn 560 Ovation II probably wouldn't trade it for the world, no joke. I believe it outdoes the 600, 650 and 700. Owned. Although I will say the 650 is very very nice with this setup. maybe =. It's just that good.  Tubes, phones there is a time and a place for each. It varies but I'll tell ya 20 yrs later I'm in a really really good place.

 

[krikor]

 
I've been doing quite a bit of tube rolling this week and personally I'd say the best bang for the buck power tube I've got is a Sylvania JAN 6080WB. It holds its own against my Tung Sol 7236 and 5998, and costs like $10. It has slightly emphasized bass, which could be a good thing for you if you're into electronic.

I'm curious... do you happen to what's the difference between the 6080WC and 6080WB? Sonically or otherwise. My Crack came with the Sylvania JAN 6080WC. Thanks!