Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => S.E.X. Kit => Topic started by: denti alligator on November 16, 2010, 03:05:50 PM
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Newbie here.
I'm planning to build myself the S.E.X.
What will the C4S upgrade do, exactly? and should I order it with the S.E.X. and install it from the beginning, rather than wait?
What are the advantages/disadvantages?
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Can't say for the technical response but I just recently added it to my sex amp and it increased the resolution a good amount. It's a pretty easy upgrade too. Only replaces 4 resistors out of the stock kit. I would highly recommend replacing the 4 coupling caps (0.1uf and 1uf) with Clarity Cap ESA series. My sex amp flat out smokes my Bryston integrated in resolution!
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There's a great explanation of the concept of the C4S circuit on the Seduction Upgrade page. ..."[it] dramatically increases the load impedance for greater Power Supply Ripple Rejection." So it further cleans the power for the tubes for nice clean DC. And I have to agree with Rob with all my heart about the Clarity Cap upgrades. Together it creates an awesome system that rivals units priced many times higher. But that's old news to people who've added anything Bottlehead to their rig :)
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Thanks. The Seduction is what I want to build after I'm done with the S.E.X.
Why doesn't Bottlehead offer sets that come with the upgrades for a slightly lower rate, leaving out the parts the upgrades replaces?
What are Clarity Caps and where do I get them?
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You'll have to ask them. The savings of leaving out duplicate parts adds is probably negligible as it's only a few resistors.
I got my capacitors at madisound.com. You could probably look around and find good deals at other stores as well online.
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In the case of the SEX, the C4S upgrade consists of two C4S circuit boards that replace two resistors. So, the "parts the upgrade replaces" don't amount to a great deal.
Still, if you have never heard the difference that the C4S makes, I would most certainly recommend that you build the unit as originally designed first, and live with it for awhile, before upgrading. That pretty much goes for any upgrading you decide to do. Until you establish a baseline performance, you cannot possibly know whether an "upgrade" is really an improvement, can you?
As far as "Clarity Caps" are concerned, I imagine your search engine will point you to sources.
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. . . if you have never heard the difference that the C4S makes, I would most certainly recommend that you build the unit as originally designed first, and live with it for awhile, before upgrading. . .
The cost of the 2 or 4 resistors and the fact you learn from upgrading as JC says is the exact reason that Bottlehead doesn't custom pack kits with the upgrades. Doc has posted on this in the past but probably not on this forum.
Think about it. There would be kits including 4 resistors and no upgrade and kits without those four resistors and including the upgrade. Packing becomes more of a headache than it already is. There are precious few packing errors these days. Don't mess with success.