Latest Thread Images

Crack;Bottlehead OTL
Sep 27, 2013 at 9:34 PM Post #2,761 of 12,347
Have the HD600/800 with the Crack and it certainly beats the Phoenix(balanced)and the WA6 which I had at the same time/before.
 
Sep 27, 2013 at 9:37 PM Post #2,762 of 12,347
Good point regarding the HD700s, Adam. I didn't realise they were 150ohm. I haven't heard them, but I would expect less-than-ideal performance pairing the HD700s with the Crack based on my experiences with other <300ohm headphones. To my ears there's just not enough damping of the bass with such a small gap between output impedance and headphone impedance and the sound gets loose and flabby with the the sub-300ohm cans I've tried.
 
Sep 27, 2013 at 10:07 PM Post #2,763 of 12,347
loquah said:
I have briefly tried the HD800 with the Crack and it sounds great (and that was pre-Speedball and pre-GEC brown base tube). From all reports, it's a great option for the price and up to about $1000. I know a fellow Head-Fier that owns and prefers the Woo Fireflies over the Crack (setup as described above), but to me it was more a personal taste thing and the Fireflies cost <$1000. I believe the additional performance brought by the Speedball and right choice of tubes would make it neck-and-neck or even go in the Crack's favour.
Click to expand...


I have tried the Fireflies several times with my HD800 (in my home and at a friend's house). I wasnt impressed. There was nothing wrong with it, but it just didnt do anything special - basically sounded like what any well designed, competent, uncolored solid state amp would sound like. In other words, like nothing.

IMO, with the Fireflies, you are paying a premium for form over function. With the Crack, while hardly neutral sounding, you are getting an amp with the ideal coloration for the high impedance Sennheisers. The fact that its so affordable is simply icing on the cake.
 
Sep 29, 2013 at 1:10 AM Post #2,764 of 12,347
I'm currently using Crack with Speedball which I bought freshly assembled from a member at for sale forum. I'm using KEN-RAD 6SN7/VT231 also labeled JAN-CKR  which I got from EBay where seller stating they manufactured 1944-1945 plus Chatham 5998 labeled 2399 which I got from a member as local NYC pickup and this combo drives HD700 really great but not better Than Lyr with 6N1P so I don't if getting are more expensive replacement of 6080 tube will give better performance. I also really interested to hear HD800 and T1 with both amps
 
Sep 29, 2013 at 3:05 AM Post #2,766 of 12,347
nic rhodes said:
  The issue is not with the tubes but the impedance of the 700. 700 is not a great performer on the Crack because of the too low impedance, 800 and T1 however are.
Click to expand...

 
I would honestly just skip the HD700s and buy the HD800s getting rid of the "should I buy a crack problem" 
tongue_smile.gif
  
 
Sep 29, 2013 at 4:01 AM Post #2,767 of 12,347
zashoomin said:
I would honestly just skip the HD700s and buy the HD800s getting rid of the "should I buy a crack problem" :tongue_smile:   
Click to expand...


I honestly agree. The HD700s are too expensive for what they are. The HD800s cost more, but are amazing. The fact that they pair incredibly well with a cheap amp helps mitigate the cost of the cans themselves.
 
Sep 29, 2013 at 4:19 AM Post #2,768 of 12,347
amcananey said:
I honestly agree. The HD700s are too expensive for what they are. The HD800s cost more, but are amazing. The fact that they pair incredibly well with a cheap amp helps mitigate the cost of the cans themselves.
Click to expand...

 
That's a really good point about the price pairing with the Crack. I'd never thought of that before.
 
Sep 30, 2013 at 7:14 AM Post #2,770 of 12,347
mithrandir38 said:
  Well, I ditched my Fidelio X1's for being more "veiled" than the infamous 650's (which I now own), and just ordered my Crack today.  It's gonna be a seriously rough month of waiting...
Click to expand...

 
I've called in some support to help you through this difficult time, mithrandir
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/683752/head-fi-gear-separation-support-thread/15#post_9847236
 
It's a great (and funny) support thread for all those waiting for or living without their gear
 
Sep 30, 2013 at 1:57 PM Post #2,772 of 12,347
 
kozmos said:
  Any usb Dac recommendations for my bottlehead crack?
I don't really wanna pay more than 300$ :)
 
Click to expand...

 
W/ my BH Crack, I prefer a DACs that's very transparent.. since the Crack/tube will add it's own gentle coloration to the sound.  Under $300?  If you don't need SPDIF/optical, I'd recommend the ODAC... Stoner Acoustics just came out with the successor to the immensely successful UD100, the UD110 (which has asynchronous USB and does 32-bit hi-res).  There's also the forthcoming Light Harmonic GEEK (which has a pre-order sale going now, I think).  They've got a very good reputation with their TOTL, cost-no-object "Da Vinci" DAC, so many are excited to see what they bring to the table in their very affordable GEEK DAC/amp.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

  • Total: 11 (members: 2, guests: 9)
    Back
    Top