Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => S.E.X. Kit => Topic started by: nick on May 10, 2022, 01:22:50 AM

Title: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: nick on May 10, 2022, 01:22:50 AM

Finally completed the S3X.

Rust oleum gold, wood stain and a polyurethane gloss finish.

I've only just learnt that poly off gasses for about a month so I'll have to move it out of my bedroom for a bit.

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: nick on May 10, 2022, 01:31:50 AM

It's had about 65 hours on it vanilla and another 15 with the C4S. Some might pick out that the LEDs aren't upside down on the C4S board but trust me, I'm a professional I quadruple checked polarity when building it and it didn't explode lights up and works.

Time to hunt down a volume pot upgrade and possibly some interstage and parafeed caps. Any suggestions?

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: Paul Birkeland on May 10, 2022, 04:06:53 AM

It definitely shows that you took your time on the build.

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: kgoss on May 10, 2022, 04:41:44 AM

Nice work, it looks great!
Enjoy!

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: Mucker on May 10, 2022, 05:52:48 AM

Really nice, great job! The only changes I've made to my S3X are:

1. Installed Audio Note pot from the beginning.
2. Installed a 4 pin XLR headphone jack.
3. Opposing diodes on IEC socket ground.

I am going to leave it as is because it sounds perfect.

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: Doc B. on May 10, 2022, 07:39:28 AM

Simple finishes, careful work, elegant result.

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: nick on May 10, 2022, 02:25:19 PM

Thanks guys, it was a great experience building the thing and I'm already looking forward to my next one whenever that may be. I was using this old SEPP tube amp till I made this kit and the S3X has definitely blown me away. It really makes my LCD-2s sing and with plenty of power to spare.

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: nick on May 10, 2022, 02:30:58 PM

Quote from: Mucker on May 10, 2022, 05:52:48 AM

Really nice, great job! The only changes I've made to my S3X are:

1. Installed Audio Note pot from the beginning.
2. Installed a 4 pin XLR headphone jack.
3. Opposing diodes on IEC socket ground.

I am going to leave it as is because it sounds perfect.

Did you have any issues mounting the Audio Note pot? Looking at the data sheet, it doesn't look like it has the alignment pin in it like the default one has that locks into the groove.

Title: Re: It's finally complete!... Or is it just the beginning?
Post by: Mucker on May 10, 2022, 03:12:36 PM

No issues but it takes a little work, easy stuff. I believe the plate hole needs to be enlarged (drilled out) slightly (can't remember). Then I used a washer on the bottom side and cut off 1/8 inch of pot shaft so my volume knob fit a perfect distance from the plate. The pot nut was just tightened down good and it has no chance of spinning unless the knob it aggressively turned which I never do.

The photos show the pot on my Crack but it's identical mounting to the one on my S3X.