Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: Downhome Upstate on September 07, 2013, 02:20:17 PM
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Just finished assembling my Crack this morning. Had my first long listening session with Beyer DT880/600's and Senn HD600's. No surprises there - two very different presentations and both great combinations.
I used Dayton 100 uf mkp output caps in the build. As I was rifling through a parts cabinet, I came across a pair of Sprague Vitamin Q 1 uf caps. Hmmm. What do you think about those for bypasses?
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Only one way to find out!!
Try test leads first, that way you can try them w/o taking anything apart.
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The first Crack that I was commissioned (ca. 2003) to build had 0.1uF film and foil bypass caps on the metalized poly caps at the output.
I do not recall anything earth shattering about doing this, but the customer thought it was pretty cool!
-PB
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The first Crack that I was commissioned (ca. 2003) to build had 0.1uF film and foil bypass caps on the metalized poly caps at the output.
I do not recall anything earth shattering about doing this, but the customer thought it was pretty cool!
-PB
Damn fine design and implementation, Paul. Thank you!
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yep - try it --- Thats the only way to know...
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Mike,
They are saying, you have the caps, if you don't have jumpers go to Radio Shack and buy some and try it.
Nothing will convince you till you hear it.
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Yup. Got it.
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I may be hallucinating, but I believe I hear fuller and richer tone to Charlie Haden's bass and Keith Jarrett's piano on the CD of "Jasmine" with the Vitamin Q caps jumpered-in.
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That seems about right... I would expect that sort of sound from that cap.
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Next up - Siemens MKV 4.7 uf metalized poly in oil . . .
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Nah, forget that. With the DT880/600, this is just perfect.
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Yep,... Expensive caps are such for a reason... I have not found a "giant killer" out there that sounds as good as the boutique stuff. Thats my opinion. I have yet to spend the major big bucks, only because I'm too GD "practical". Although, I will say, Granger has surprised me, and inspired me to go the distance! If a hard core analytic like that can be swayed, maybe I will be too!
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Eric,
FWIW, I meant that this amp--before a Speedball upgrade--sounds amazing to me thru the DT880/600s with only modest and inexpensive cap upgrades: the Dayton Audio 100 uf metalized polypropylene (cheap from Parts Express) and NOS Sprague Vitamin Q 1 uf PIO as bypass (available on ebay for not a lot of money). The tube damper on the 12AU7 helped, too.
It's so toe-tappin', head bobbin' good that I'm in no hurry to mess with anything else.
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. . . I hear fuller and richer tone . . . .
I often see PIO caps called "Tone" caps. It is a smoother richer sound to me.
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It's so toe-tappin', head bobbin' good that I'm in no hurry to mess with anything else.
I love that experience! Total peace. Bliss. All is good. I'm digin it!