[cddc]

Sure, coupling caps attached using zip ties to the mointing tabs. The cree are soldered on to a breadboard hanging below the power transformer. A friend of mine did this as I can’t do something like this without burning something.

So the cree just rests upon the crossing wires between the 2 terminal strips, and the 2 big caps are just bound to the terminal strips without any mounting?

Genius!

Perfect for minimalists like me and @GreenNeedle

 

[cddc]

Sure, coupling caps attached using zip ties to the mointing tabs. The cree are soldered on to a breadboard hanging below the power transformer. A friend of mine did this as I can’t do something like this without burning something.

BTW, where did you buy these metal supporting rods for the choke and what's the length? Thanks!

 

[cddc]

I liked it after installing the KZK caps, bass went deeper and more clear with a wee bit nice reverb. After putting the choke and cree in, it makes it sound cleaner, the bit of bass reverb went away, tightening everything up, hence the solid state feeling. My chain is Macbook > Eitr > Modi MB > Crack > HD650 and Audirvana.



I have not tried other film caps in this Crack, compared to the stock lytics, big improvement in bass depth and clarity. Well, there is still the stepped attenuator, nicer jacks too. I don't think you can fit any more caps in there..

Sounds like another Speedball upgrade to me...improves technicalities while reducing some tubeyness...LOL

Might need some time to get used to the new sound...

 

[GreenNeedle]

BTW, where did you buy these metal supporting rods for the choke and what's the length? Thanks!

I bought some of those from Mouser when I bought the choke. inch long ones.

How are those big caps mounted? Zip tied to where?

 

[cddc]

Thanks, great to know Mouser also supplies accessories...thought they only supply electrical components

I think @cebuboy first used 2 large Zip ties to bind the 2 big caps together, then he attached them to the 2 terminal strips using 2 smaller Zip ties (check the photo below).

 

[cebuboy]

I bought some of those from Mouser when I bought the choke. inch long ones.

How are those big caps mounted? Zip tied to where?

zip tied together and zip tied to the mounting tabs.

BTW, where did you buy these metal supporting rods for the choke and what's the length? Thanks!

They are from an online retailer shopee, mouser also carries them, I think those are 25mm long

 

[carlman14]

I have a special update on my franken-crack today. Covid and quarantine has me really bored, and this is what came of it: I ended up rewiring my crack to support 6J5/6C5 tubes! 2 Belton octal sockets were added just behind the volume pot and headphone jack. It looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

I had to remove the Audyn film cap in favor of another rectangular Panasonic film cap to make everything fit.

The 12AU7 socket is completely disconnected. I have an idea to make it so I can switch between using the 6J5 sockets or the 12AU7 socket... but that's for another day.

 

[cddc]

Wow....you are a super Cracker!

How did you make the 2 socket holes on the top plate, with some special Dremel tools?

 

[raindownthunda]

I have a special update on my franken-crack today. Covid and quarantine has me really bored, and this is what came of it: I ended up rewiring my crack to support 6J5/6C5 tubes! 2 Belton octal sockets were added just behind the volume pot and headphone jack. It looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

I had to remove the Audyn film cap in favor of another rectangular Panasonic film cap to make everything fit.

The 12AU7 socket is completely disconnected. I have an idea to make it so I can switch between using the 6J5 sockets or the 12AU7 socket... but that's for another day.

Awesome work!! I love the layout decision, aesthetically it looks great. Getting closer and closer to a mini-GOTL style amp I'm curious on what the process was to re-wiring the circuit use these sockets instead of the 12au7? Is it fairly straightforward? Was the most difficult part cutting the new holes? The switch would be KILLER!!

 

[carlman14]

How did you make the 2 socket holes on the top plate, with some special Dremel tools?

I used a hole saw. I bought one from McMaster-carr that attaches to a drill. They're only about $15.

Awesome work!! I love the layout decision, aesthetically it looks great. Getting closer and closer to a mini-GOTL style amp I'm curious on what the process was to re-wiring the circuit use these sockets instead of the 12au7? Is it fairly straightforward? Was the most difficult part cutting the new holes? The switch would be KILLER!!

Thanks! The process was pretty simple. Every wire from the 12AU7 is a direct rewire to a pin on one of the 6J5 sockets. You can look at the pin outs on both tubes to see which wire goes where. There's also a handy guide someone posted on the bottlehead forum (post #18): https://forum.bottlehead.com/index.php?topic=11409.15

 

[carlman14]

Favorite combo so far is the RCA metal 6J5's with ZMF headphones. Sounds wonderful.

 

[jivex5k]

I have a special update on my franken-crack today. Covid and quarantine has me really bored, and this is what came of it: I ended up rewiring my crack to support 6J5/6C5 tubes! 2 Belton octal sockets were added just behind the volume pot and headphone jack. It looks pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

I had to remove the Audyn film cap in favor of another rectangular Panasonic film cap to make everything fit.

The 12AU7 socket is completely disconnected. I have an idea to make it so I can switch between using the 6J5 sockets or the 12AU7 socket... but that's for another day.

That's impressive! Is the circuit board with the USB-C some sort of audio interface for a pc?

 

[carlman14]

That's impressive! Is the circuit board with the USB-C some sort of audio interface for a pc?

That is a Khadas tone board! It's an internal dac, making my crack an all-in-one unit. There's also a switch on the back of it to switch between using an external dac with the RCA cables, or using the internal dac using the USB-C. You can check out my post (# 10,048 in this thread) where I show off some better pics of the installation of the board.

 

[DenverW]

@carlman14 You really should get something better than those entry level headphones in your pic

Honestly, I logged on to post a pic of the stain job that I didnt horribly botch, and find myself humbled by what an amazing job you did. Everything from the tone board to the new sockets just looks fantastic. I tip my hat to you, sir.

Here is the new stain I put on the custom wood base that allows the KZK caps to fit:

 

[carlman14]

Honestly, I logged on to post a pic of the stain job that I didnt horribly botch, and find myself humbled by what an amazing job you did. Everything from the tone board to the new sockets just looks fantastic. I tip my had to you, sir.

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words. The base on yours is looking really nice. I'm also jealous of that GEC 6AS7G you've got there...