Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: coastal1 on June 02, 2015, 04:04:13 AM
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I bought a used BH Crack + Speedball and during shipping the solder joint of the red wire to the RCA center pin broke loose. Seems like an easy fix but I don't have a solder kit (or experience soldering) and don't know anyone nearby that has one. Are my options (1) Buy a solder kit and fix it myself, or (2) Have it professionally fixed, or is there another way to make a solid connection?
Thanks
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Congratulations on Your acquisition and welcome to the forum.
Your options 1 and 2 are both the two best choices:)
If You want to do the soldering Yourself You might get hooked on this hobby.
I recommend watching the PACE training videos on YOUTUBE and practice on something first.
You will find the repair relatively easy but it never hurts to learn a bit first.
Have fun!
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Thanks for the quick reply and advice. I realize that soldering equipment isn't too expensive, just concerned about the time it may take to learn and practice te technique as I'm itching to get this up and running ;D, especially when it's just one wire connection that's off. I do have interest in learning the hobby at some point, just impatient right now.
Is crimping out of the question?
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Start a new thread in the General folder asking if there is a Bottlehead near you who can do it for you. Serve him a couple of beers after he is finished and listen to some music.
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I'd be happy to. Don't suppose Southeast Norway is close, though:)
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That is even less likely than he is in East Tennessee.
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Well, I wouldn't bet against You on that, Grainger:)
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As somewhat unfortunate update, I had a good electrician at my house last week for a house issue. He's very experienced and does a lot of soldering thats far more difficult than what I needed help with. I told him about the Crack and (thought) I carefully explained what needed to be done -- told him it should look just like the white connection that's properly connected to the center pin, even showed him the applicable pages of the manual. He said it would be an easy fix and offered to do it for no extra charge (other than the unrelated house work).
Turns out he basically crimped the wire around RCA jack and soldered it to that rather than into the center pin. He admitted it didn't look pretty, but said it will work.
It does seem to work, in fact it sounds great (though I never heard the Crack in previous form so don't have that comparison), but I'm well aware this isn't how it's supposed to be connected. A couple of questions:
(1) What specific problems could this incorrect connection cause? There's no channel imbalance, no distortion, etc. I have no intentions of selling it so not worried about the cosmetics.
(2) I do have to turn to volume up more than I would've expected to fully drive my HD650s-- with 0 volume at 7 O'Clock, I turn it up to ~ 3 O'Clock to get them as loud as I'd possibly want them, again no distortion or any sound issues. Using Jriver (PC vol at 100%) and IfI Micro as DAC, TS 5998 and Telefunk 12a7. Is this normal and if not could it be from the rca connection? Im happy to try different tubes to see if the volume is tube related, but wondering if I should get this fixed properly before really using it
(3) If I do need to have it fixed properly, does this significantly complicate a proper fix? Ill be using someone experienced w/ HP amps and hopefully the Crack if I need to get it fixed right.
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Take and post some pics please:)
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Take and post some pics please:)
Will do, not at home right now.
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Just a reminder. This forum is meant to be a community. The forum rules require that we use our real, full names. Providing your location is not required but most helpful and courteous. There are many, MANY Bottlehead's spread across this globe. Most are more than willing to help out.
This is from the forum rules: ( http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=3.0 (http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=3.0) )
First, we require registration for the privilege of posting. Also, regardless of your chosen moniker everyone must sign their posts with their real name and any audio industry affiliation they may have. When we have to take responsibility for our actions we tend to show more respect for each other and keep things more civilized.
It's easy to set up your member preferences so that your signature is automatically added to each post as you see at the bottom of this one. Go to the Quick Links menu pull down in the upper left of this page and select Profile, then Modify Profile/Forum Profile Information. Scroll to the bottom of that page and you will find Signature. You can put your name in there (and your affiliation if you are in the audio business) and it will be added automatically to all your posts. Some members add an equipment list. That list is not required, just your real name is required.
As was suggested earlier in the thread, please....Let us know where you are!
Cheers,
Geary
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^ Sorry about that, I'm in Raleigh, NC, but traveling a lot these days for work
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From your description, it sounds like the signal wire was soldered to ground at the input - which would result in no signal at all on that channel. So maybe I'm mis-interpreting your description - which is probably why others are also asking for a picture.
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Here's some pics
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From your description, it sounds like the signal wire was soldered to ground at the input - which would result in no signal at all on that channel. So maybe I'm mis-interpreting your description - which is probably why others are also asking for a picture.
Please see pics posted. I don't know much about this stuff, but would've guessed the problems would be very obvious,e.g., no sound at all out that channel, severe distortion,channel imbalance. Not having any of those issues. The only sq issue that raises some concern is that it seems like I have to turn the volume up higher than expected (3 o clock) to fully drive my HD650, but I wouldnt think that's related to this wiring
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Basically, the center pin "soldering terminal" is a "cup terminal".
He could have heated the cup and inserted the cable into the hot solder, instead the cable is soldered to the outside of the cup. From the looks of it, it might be mechanically stable, and whats important, the little white ring which isolates center from ground does not seem to be compromised. In other words this looks to me like it should work.
I think 3 o clock setting should be way too loud with the speedball in place. Maybe the volume is padded down. Take some pics around the volume pot. Underneath of course.
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It's not pretty, but it would seem you have a connection. Does not sound as if there is a channel imbalance, so the volume concern is not related to the RCA. Were it me, I would get a couple of new RCA jacks and have them soldered properly. My concern is the integrity of the jack, especially the insulation surrounding the center pin. That much heat was likely not a good thing for long term reliability.
Cheers,
Geary
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Dale stepped attentuator. I bought this used.
Basically, the center pin "soldering terminal" is a "cup terminal".
He could have heated the cup and inserted the cable into the hot solder, instead the cable is soldered to the outside of the cup. From the looks of it, it might be mechanically stable, and whats important, the little white ring which isolates center from ground does not seem to be compromised. In other words this looks to me like it should work.
I think 3 o clock setting should be way too loud with the speedball in place. Maybe the volume is padded down. Take some pics around the volume pot. Underneath of course.
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He is of the "Make a good mechanical connection first" then solder train of thought. Just slipping the wire into the cup makes no mechanical connection.
You are fine. His answer works well.
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That actually sounds about right with the Dale attenuator. I use them on my Crack and my S.E.X., and they both have to be turned up fairly high.
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Great! Thanks to everyone for all of the tremendous help answering my questions and easing my concerns. It sounds great so excited to dive into it and if any sound issues arise I'll address them at that time.