On the BH forum's i've seen the experienced builders vote against this option.
BH once had a foreplay with dual volume control. Using a separate volume control on each channel could be a PITA for adjustment..
On the BH forum's i've seen the experienced builders vote against this option.
BH once had a foreplay with dual volume control. Using a separate volume control on each channel could be a PITA for adjustment..
The Koss ESP-950 has dual adjustment. It's not horrible, but it would be much better to have a balance and a volume, or even better, no need for balance and just a volume (you know, like the Crack has
On the BH forum's i've seen the experienced builders vote against this option.
BH once had a foreplay with dual volume control. Using a separate volume control on each channel could be a PITA for adjustment..
I may test single as well as dual. I have the option on a couple amps I like real well and they have never given me any issues as far as adjustment. I am not exactly a novice builder by any stretch of the imagination. Dual VU meters will give me a good visual representation as well. There are several pieces of music I can think of where I would like to bring up one channel slightly in respect to the other so I prefer having that ability. Each to their own. I am not a fan of balance controls, I will go dual controls, one for each channel. A copper plate with copper knobs might be a bit much so I may go with something with more of a contrast such as this on one amp I build. Antique bakelite will match the sockets I am using.
If you do not mind me asking, you have four screw heads around that front tube socket. On a lot of the Cracks I see two empty holes. Are the four screws (bolts) used for the tube socket or other upgrades?
Thank you for asking that. Been wondering that myself! My Crack is stock & I have two empty holes. I see others with 4 screw heads & wondered why mine had 2 open haha. NOW I get it! My Speedball upgrade is sitting here waiting to be installed but I haven't felt the need yet. It's that good.
Thank you for asking that. Been wondering that myself! My Crack is stock & I have two empty holes. I see others with 4 screw heads & wondered why mine had 2 open haha. NOW I get it! My Speedball upgrade is sitting here waiting to be installed but I haven't felt the need yet. It's that good.
That is good to know about the sound without the upgrade. I will be putting those four holes in my top plate, holes for tube sockets and transformer but that should be about it I hope.
Anyone know of much difference between the 1.0 crack and the 1.1? I may be buying a couple of these and want to have an idea about versions.
That is good to know about the sound without the upgrade. I will be putting those four holes in my top plate, holes for tube sockets and transformer but that should be about it I hope.
Anyone know of much difference between the 1.0 crack and the 1.1? I may be buying a couple of these and want to have an idea about versions.
I highly recommend you build yours stock first. Listen, enjoy & SB it later. BH actually recommends this approach too. This way if you need to trouble shoot anything upon initial start up you won't have to remove the SB & go to stock to do the troubleshooting. A LOT less hassle. Plus you get to get used to the stock sound & really hear what the SB upgrade does to the Crack. It's a BEAUTIFUL amp in my opinion, both looks & definitely sound!! I'll never sell my Crack! -insert crude joke here-lol
Thank you for asking that. Been wondering that myself! My Crack is stock & I have two empty holes. I see others with 4 screw heads & wondered why mine had 2 open haha. NOW I get it! My Speedball upgrade is sitting here waiting to be installed but I haven't felt the need yet. It's that good.
That is good to know about the sound without the upgrade. I will be putting those four holes in my top plate, holes for tube sockets and transformer but that should be about it I hope.
Anyone know of much difference between the 1.0 crack and the 1.1? I may be buying a couple of these and want to have an idea about versions.
Oh good well I have a 1.1 on the way and if I buy a 1.0 from someone in the states I should be safe. I could have looked that up myself but I had a feeling it was a pretty easy question for you folks. Now that I was planning to build two of the Cracks my son may want a higher end headphone amp from Bottlehead so I may be building something else as well. My time is less valuable and I am faster so it makes sense to me.
Do you recall roughly what mods were needed? How much of a PITA is it to install the stock pot, and then upgrade the pot when I upgrade the speedball mod?
Going to build my new one straight stock and after checks go straight to the SB so I'll be able to a/b them after I'm done. I bought the SB to put in the old one but then Bottlehead had the sale so I'm glad I waited. Still waiting on LED's to fix the old one. I hope to get it once I get back from vacation to CanJam SoCal so I should be inspired to get it done pretty quick.
Do you recall roughly what mods were needed? How much of a PITA is it to install the stock pot, and then upgrade the pot when I upgrade the speedball mod?
The depends. I took the opportunity to replace the twisted three wires that come from the RCA connectors to the POT with two shielded wires. The issue with a replacement pot is the length of the wires from the RCA connectors to the POT. The big-ass pots might require slightly longer wire. Very easy to make a wire shorter; much harder to make is longer! The good news is you can purchase shielded 24AWG wire from markertek.com by the foot for under $1 a foot, so replacing the wire, if you have to, will only cost a few bucks.
As for the mods to the plate, they were easy with a round file or a drill. I just had to enlarge a hole a little. If you don't have a file or file set, this will be your opportunity to get one! You don't need to spend a ton; harbor freight probably has a set for a few bucks.
Going to build my new one straight stock and after checks go straight to the SB so I'll be able to a/b them after I'm done. I bought the SB to put in the old one but then Bottlehead had the sale so I'm glad I waited. Still waiting on LED's to fix the old one. I hope to get it once I get back from vacation to CanJam SoCal so I should be inspired to get it done pretty quick.
Once I see a kit I can probably help with LED's, I have an assortment left over from test equipment builds. If my son decides to move up to a Mainline or such I should have plenty of copper and such left over after I build a Crack. I normally buy things in two's anyway and I doubt some of the items will fit the other build.
Going to build my new one straight stock and after checks go straight to the SB so I'll be able to a/b them after I'm done. I bought the SB to put in the old one but then Bottlehead had the sale so I'm glad I waited. Still waiting on LED's to fix the old one. I hope to get it once I get back from vacation to CanJam SoCal so I should be inspired to get it done pretty quick.
Once I see a kit I can probably help with LED's, I have an assortment left over from test equipment builds. If my son decides to move up to a Mainline or such I should have plenty of copper and such left over after I build a Crack. I normally buy things in two's anyway and I doubt some of the items will fit the other build.
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