[smodtactical]

Built Crack OTL and love the sound (no upgrades or speedball).. moreso than my Elekit tu8600S, audio gd he9 and even my ARC ref 5se + pass x350.8. I want to continue to explore this warm euphonic mid forward 3d holographic sound. I am going to get in another Crack OTL already made with speedball (just because of the longer wait from BH) and going to play with that and mod it.

But I am also interested on a more custom project that takes this sound further (I am not really chasing detail more just tone, euphonics and staging). Is there a specific circuit design you guys would recommend I start from and slowly start to build ? I have no specific budget but I guess ideally not more than $3k in parts cost (willing to go higher if need be). Looking for an amp that can compete with the big boys as well like DNA stratus/stellaris, Apex Teton etc.

Thanks!

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Since you like the OTL sound some of these might be worth checking out: https://headwizememorial.wordpress.com/library/diy-projects/#Vacuum

The Bottlehead S.E.X., at least the original version I have, is fairly warm sounding and there is plenty of room for mods. Some parts I've found to sound "warmish" are Jupiter caps, Kiwame resistors (or carbon comp), Cardas wire, and Vampire copper body RCAs. Also look for coin-base tubes as they vibrate a little more. I wouldn't change out the potentiometer as that will increase clarity. You could potentially add a tube buffer stage before the amp as well. See here for tube buffers: https://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/tubu.html

 

[smodtactical]

Since you like the OTL sound some of these might be worth checking out: https://headwizememorial.wordpress.com/library/diy-projects/#Vacuum

The Bottlehead S.E.X., at least the original version I have, is fairly warm sounding and there is plenty of room for mods. Some parts I've found to sound "warmish" are Jupiter caps, Kiwame resistors (or carbon comp), Cardas wire, and Vampire copper body RCAs. Also look for coin-base tubes as they vibrate a little more. I wouldn't change out the potentiometer as that will increase clarity. You could potentially add a tube buffer stage before the amp as well. See here for tube buffers: https://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/tubu.html

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

I saw you were looking into the Wheatfield OTL ... it's been nearly 20 years since I listened to one, but I recall it being on the warmish side. You have good intuition