[chuckwheat]

Does anyone recommend that the crack be built with the speedball immediately? I ordered them both.

 

[grausch]

Does anyone recommend that the crack be built with the speedball immediately? I ordered them both.

No. Build the stock Crack first. If you run into any issues, the first troubleshooting step is to remove the Speedball.
 
Only thing I would recommend is putting the standoffs in place. Inserting the standoffs after having built the Crack can be tricky. I prefer to do this in advance.
 
Edit: It makes routing the wires around the 9-pin socket much easier. With my first build it was almost impossible to get the standoffs in place.

 

[heliosphann]

Just got a HD800 to use with my Crack w/speedball. Anyone have any input tube recommendations that excell with this pairing? I'm running a Graphite Bendix 6080WB for the power.

 

[Maxhawk]

Just got a HD800 to use with my Crack w/speedball. Anyone have any input tube recommendations that excell with this pairing? I'm running a Graphite Bendix 6080WB for the power.

With my HD800 my favorite input tube is the 5687 paired with a slotted graphite 6080WB. Unfortunately the 5687 has a different pin out and bias requirements so it's not plug and play.
 
For a 12AU7 drop-in replacement, my favorite was the CBS-Hytron 5814.

 

[heliosphann]

With my HD800 my favorite input tube is the 5687 paired with a slotted graphite 6080WB. Unfortunately the 5687 has a different pin out and bias requirements so it's not plug and play.

For a 12AU7 drop-in replacement, my favorite was the CBS-Hytron 5814.

Funny you say that, I was actually using a CBS-Hytron 5814 rebrand!

 

[JamieMcC]

Build the Crack stock first not only is it easier to trouble shoot but you also get to hear the difference the Speedball makes when added.
 
When you come to fit the Speedball your only going to have remove four resistors. All four are real easy and take no time at all to install in the first place these are the two 22.1k plate load resistors and the two big 3k cement cathode resistors that are soldered together and sit below vents in Cracks top plate.
 
If you plan ahead to allow for easy snipping of their leads its only six snips with your side cutters and your ready to install the Speedball...
 
 
 
 
 

 

[Jimmy24]

Does anyone recommend that the crack be built with the speedball immediately? I ordered them both.

You might like the sound without Speedball. I think I remember liking it better w/o Speedball. It could be my ears fooling me but I think I heard better bass and clarity. Definitely would build it first w/o it like Jamie said.

 

[Jimmy24]

Just got a HD800 to use with my Crack w/speedball. Anyone have any input tube recommendations that excell with this pairing? I'm running a Graphite Bendix 6080WB for the power.

 
If you can afford it, I'd try the Siemens 5814a. I use to have the CBS Hytron 5814a but the Siemens takes it one step above.

 

[Aeolus Kratos]

Just to let you guys know, there will be a 16% discount for nearly ALL products in Bottlehead in one day only - 29th Feb. I doubt there won't be a better time to get the fantastic budget Crack amp or the marvelous Mainline amp.
 
http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=8903.0
 
Happy shopping!

 

[Jason Orlando]

Looking at purchasing this kit and looking for second opinions.
 
I purchased HD700 and O2+ODAC.  I found that when plugged into the O2 the HD700 has some problems that id not seen described in much detail elsewhere on the web.  I did purchase them in large part for the comfort, but i still expect good sound quality.
 
When plugged into the O2, they are clear, but lack bass ( around 30hz and under).  I thought the issue was the headphones -- but had a friend over with a schiit asgard, 2 (he also brought hd650 for comparison) and found that the hd700 actually have pretty good bass on that unit, and ALSO when plugged into my receiver (pioneer vsx-1124k)
 
So now i'm a bit relieved, but looking for a replacement for my O2.  I was initially interested in the valhalla2 but now i'm looking at several amps.
 
According to this review: http://www.headfonia.com/ls-take-on-the-sennheiser-hd700/ the bottlehead crack pairs really well with the HD700.  However this seems to conflict with the manufacturers description of this amp as being suitable for 300ohm and above.  
 
I'm looking to roll off the highs a bit, get more warmth, and extended bass on my existing hd700 headphones.  Is this the amp for me?

 

[Tom-s]

Crack has an output impedance of 120 Ohms. This makes it a good match with headphones rated above 120 Ohms.
 
http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=546.0
 
IME lower impedance headphones with low power consumption sound ok with crack.
 
Edit: The crack is an amplifier that could work with just about every taste. There's a whole list of mod's available that help create your preferred sound.
After that it's a matter of seasoning via rolling capacitors and tubes.

 

[audiojun]

The HD700 150 ohm is pushing it on the dampening factor between amp and headphones. Maybe a schiit valhalla instead, it has the lower output impedance so it matches with the HD 700 better.
 
disclaimer: I never listened to the HD 700 with the Crack.

 

[Tom-s]

If this would be a problem, then there's some mod's to help this. Search the BH forum.
- Change the 6080 for a lower impedance model (impedance could drop to only 70 ohms, 5998).
- Up the capacitance of the output caps

 

[chuckwheat]

Oh, what might this be, I wonder...

Well, I know what I'm doing tonight

 

[i luvmusic 2]

SEX?