[JazzVinyl]

Here's some adapter madness for the BHC for y'all. Looks ridiculous, but the tube rolling is fun.

First: 12AU7 -> 6SN7 -> dual 6J5 -> Cunningham 6C5g tubes
Second: 12AU7 -> 6SN7 -> dual 6J5 -> 6C4 -> Tung-Sol 6C4 tubes

Does look fun! Are you turning the heater voltage down from 12 to 6 volts, to run these tubes?

 

[carlman14]

Does look fun! Are you turning the heater voltage down from 12 to 6 volts, to run these tubes?

The crack is already 6v. It runs the 12AU7 in 6v mode (12AU7 can be run with 12v or 6v depending on how the heaters are connected). So no voltage adjustment needed!

 

[chrisdrop]

Here's some adapter madness for the BHC for y'all. Looks ridiculous, but the tube rolling is fun.

First: 12AU7 -> 6SN7 -> dual 6J5 -> Cunningham 6C5g tubes
Second: 12AU7 -> 6SN7 -> dual 6J5 -> 6C4 -> Tung-Sol 6C4 tubes

Tower of (adapter) Babel. I love the 6J5/6C5 family of tubes. How do you like the 6C4s? I never thought the more modern/mini-tubes were as good, but I've not tried too hard...

 

[carlman14]

Tower of (adapter) Babel. I love the 6J5/6C5 family of tubes. How do you like the 6C4s? I never thought the more modern/mini-tubes were as good, but I've not tried too hard...

So far I quite like them! The Cunningham 6C5g's are a bit brighter, and the 6C4's seem to have a bit more punch in the bass. That's not a generalization though... I don't have any other pairs of either type of tube to compare them to. Just starting my single triode collection! I know Glenn is quite fond of 6C4 tubes. They do sound good.

 

[GreenNeedle]

Well I am trying the Tung Sol 6sN7(GT).. Initial thoughts are that it sounds so congested with HD580 so listening with the Sextetts instead. Soundstage is wider, separation hit and miss TBH. Lower and higher registers are much better then 12AU7. In the centre seems that the 12AU7 controls things better. 12 AU7 cannot compete in separation (overall) nor soundstage: +/- weigh favourably towards the 6sn7:

 

[GreenNeedle]

Well I am trying the Tung Sol 6sN7(GT).. Initial thoughts are that it sounds so congested with HD580 so listening with the Sextetts instead. Soundstage is wider, separation hit and miss TBH. Lower and higher registers are much better then 12AU7. In the centre seems that the 12AU7 controls things better. 12 AU7 cannot compete in separation (overall) nor soundstage: +/- weigh favourably towards the 6sn7:

I should add (as I should've before) this is listening from either PC FLAC or CD through the Topping D30. The d30 is really good "but" the Denon CD direct to the amp is a little mellower. It's one of those YMMVs, however I am sticking to the new kid on the block (Topping) at the mo.

 

[cddc]

Tower of (adapter) Babel. I love the 6J5/6C5 family of tubes. How do you like the 6C4s? I never thought the more modern/mini-tubes were as good, but I've not tried too hard...

As far as I know, 6C4 is half of 12AU7. I bought some 6C4 tubes but not yet bought its adapter, not sure if would go this route....

 

[PsilocybinCube]

Well I am trying the Tung Sol 6sN7(GT).. Initial thoughts are that it sounds so congested with HD580 so listening with the Sextetts instead. Soundstage is wider, separation hit and miss TBH. Lower and higher registers are much better then 12AU7. In the centre seems that the 12AU7 controls things better. 12 AU7 cannot compete in separation (overall) nor soundstage: +/- weigh favourably towards the 6sn7:

Not sure what tube that is but the 6sn7 sounds very different from tube to tube. The newish tung sol 6sn7 that can be found for around 25$ is ok, but there are much better options. I'd go to the 6sn7 addicts thread for good recommendations.

 

[cddc]

Well I am trying the Tung Sol 6sN7(GT).. Initial thoughts are that it sounds so congested with HD580 so listening with the Sextetts instead. Soundstage is wider, separation hit and miss TBH. Lower and higher registers are much better then 12AU7. In the centre seems that the 12AU7 controls things better. 12 AU7 cannot compete in separation (overall) nor soundstage: +/- weigh favourably towards the 6sn7:

It all depends. People's gears / music genres / sound preferences / ... all come into play when choosing tubes.

I know @DenverW and @BobMonkhouse here prefer 12AU7 to 6SN7 on their Cracks.

 

[bagwell359]

OOPS: consensus on the BH Crack site is the 6AS7G is very good in this app. But if you have alternate take, feel free.

Specific Question: What to run with an Amperex E80CC (tall)? Please only read/answer if you've run this tube.

I've got the stock 6080, and a Sovtek 6AS7G. I'm sure there is better out there for the Amperex, but I don't know that what works best with the the 12AU7 will work out the same with the E80CC. Comments.

 

[Shane D]

Are any Crack/Speedball users running the Senn HD660's on their units? I know it should be fine, but I was just wondering.

Also, any feedback on the Sundara's or Elex's?

I do have a tube amp now (Ear+ HDII by Mapletree Audio Design) and am thinking about picking up a BHC/Speedball. I currently have the HD600's and the DT880 (600 Ohm's). I am keeping an eye out for used T1.2's and Audio Technica R70X's.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[cddc]

Are any Crack/Speedball users running the Senn HD660's on their units? I know it should be fine, but I was just wondering.

Also, any feedback on the Sundara's or Elex's?

I do have a tube amp now (Ear+ HDII by Mapletree Audio Design) and am thinking about picking up a BHC/Speedball. I currently have the HD600's and the DT880 (600 Ohm's). I am keeping an eye out for used T1.2's and Audio Technica R70X's.

Thanks for any feedback.

HD600/HD660/DT880 will work great on Crack.

But Sundara or any other planar or low-impedance headphones are a no-go for Crack or other OTL amps. To work with these planar or low impedance headphones, you need a transformer coupled tube amp.

 

[Shane D]

HD600/HD660/DT880 will work great on Crack.

But Sundara or any other planar or low-impedance headphones are a no-go for Crack or other OTL amps. To work with these planar or low impedance headphones, you need a transformer coupled tube amp.

Thank you for the reply. I already have amps for the very efficient 'phones, I was just wondering about "mid-impedance" phones. I know planars can be problematic on tube amps.

So, NOTHING under 150 Ohm and beware of planar's.

 

[cddc]

Thank you for the reply. I already have amps for the very efficient 'phones, I was just wondering about "mid-impedance" phones. I know planars can be problematic on tube amps.

So, NOTHING under 150 Ohm and beware of planar's.

You are welcome.

"Mid-impedance" cans should be okay with Crack. I used to think mid- to low- impedance cans won't work well on Crack, but sometime later one Crack user reported that some low-impedance Grado cans work well on his Crack too, which really surprised me.

But for planars you definitely need some solid state amp that's capable of supplying high current swings.

 

[PsilocybinCube]

I tried some Hifiman HE560 headphones with my BHC and they sounded super smooth. Seriously, super smooth. No detail. Just smooth sound with zero fidelity. It wasn't fun. it was like listening to a stick of butter.