Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: loadexfa on December 23, 2023, 10:31:05 PM

Title: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: loadexfa on December 23, 2023, 10:31:05 PM
I recently finished building a Crack (my first build) and everything works great! I upgraded the output caps to ASC 60uF 500Vdc LTI 4-5 Series Metalized Polypropylene.
The ASCs have great clarity and resolution but also have too much glare. I know burn-in should help but would still like to explore other options to be sure. Does anyone have any recommendations for output caps that are more smooth? Ideally I'd want full bodied, lush, and smooth. I know there are trade offs and I can live with losing some of the clarity and resolution that I'm enjoying with the ASCs.

I've already done some tube rolling which has helped but there is still some persistent glare.

Thank you!
Title: Re: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: Natural Sound on December 24, 2023, 06:58:05 AM
I tried some "upgrade" caps in my Crack amp but ultimately went back to the stock electrolytic capacitors. What kind of headphones are you using?
Title: Re: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: loadexfa on December 24, 2023, 11:08:48 AM
ZMF Atticus and Auteur Classic as well as Sennheiser HD 6XX and HD 800. Most of my testing yesterday was with the Atticus and 6XX.
Title: Re: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: Paul Birkeland on December 24, 2023, 11:39:50 AM
Glare could also be a result of cold solder joints or deviations from the intended layout causing unintended consequences.
Title: Re: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: loadexfa on December 24, 2023, 12:43:29 PM
Gotcha, I’ll switch to stock caps and if I still hear glare I’ll take pics. Thanks everyone!
Title: Re: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: Deluk on December 24, 2023, 10:59:39 PM
How much listening did you do to the standard build before you started making changes to the excellent original design? That is always recommended.
Title: Re: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: ALL212 on December 25, 2023, 10:09:35 AM
Check your build first but Mundorf always seemed to warm thinks up for me.
Title: Re: Seeking recommendations for cap upgrade to solve harshness
Post by: loadexfa on December 26, 2023, 06:58:43 PM
How much listening did you do to the standard build before you started making changes to the excellent original design? That is always recommended.
I admit, not much.

Check your build first but Mundorf always seemed to warm thinks up for me.
Thanks for the recommendation.

With stock caps the glare is gone. Perhaps I'll leave it alone for a bit, the stock Crack does sound good.