Why bother with a Quickie?

[Loquah]

Unlike my thread title might suggest, I'm not questioning the quality of the Quickie, but asking what benefits it brings in certain setups.

I have a Matrix X-Sabre DAC which has no pre-amp stage, just a 2.2V RCA out and a 6.8V XLR out. I am using the Crack and S.E.X. amps both built stock and therefore with their own volume pots. Would the Quickie add anything positive if used between the DAC and HP amps or am I just complicating the signal path?

I mostly plan to use the Quickie for a pair of active speakers, but wanted to check if it has other benefits for my use as above.

[Loquah]

After further testing, the soundstage for my headphone setup is not as good with the Quickie in the chain. My setup options are as follows:

Option 1

X-Sabre DAC (2.2V single ended RCA out) --> BH S.E.X. --> Beyer T1 headphones

Option 2

X-Sabre DAC (as above) --> BH Quickie --> BH S.E.X. --> Beyer T1 headphones

I'm using high quality interconnects for all connections, but the top end detail and sense of space is better without the Quickie. Is it just unnecessary in this type of setup? If so I can dedicate it to my active speakers, but I'd like to understand why people rave about the Quickie and think it may be due to how I'm using it that I'm not getting the magic.

[corndog71]

Do you have the volume control all the way up on your Sex amp when using the Quickie as preamp? 

[Loquah]

No. Should I?

[Paul Birkeland]

No. Should I?

Yes, turn it up all the way.  If you can hear the noise floor, back the control down just below the threshold where you can no longer hear it.

[Loquah]

Thanks PB. I turned the S.E.X. up to full and the system now sounds incredible, but I can't tell if it's better than the DAC - S.E.X. combo without the Quickie.

I think the Quickie makes the sound a little more holographic, but perhaps at the expense of some stage size and instrument separation.  I think if I'm honest I'm expecting the sound to be worse just because of the extra link the in the signal path so there could be a degree of expectation bias clouding my judgement.

To help me balance my own expectations, what would you expect the Quickie to bring to a system consisting of just DAC and S.E.X.?

[Grainger49]

   .  .  .   I think the Quickie makes the sound a little more holographic, but perhaps at the expense of some stage size and instrument separation.  .  .  .   

I have often fought with the specificity of image versus soundstage depth.  Often an improvement in one meant a step back in the other.

Some of it is tweaking things in just so you like it.

[corndog71]

The stock build of Bottlehead gear is already a step up over typical mass market gear.  But they are also priced to sell and come with some compromises in parts quality.  There is always room for improvement and there are a ton of options out there for squeezing the very best performance out of them.  It's up to you. 

Also don't let the low price of the Quickie fool you.  It is a seriously good preamp for the money.

[Grainger49]

Rob,

They supply good parts.  Well selected parts, but not designer parts.  That is why we love tweaking so much.  Bottlehead would be wasting their money to supply caps that are $30 each when half those out there want a different $30 cap.

[corndog71]

Rob,

They supply good parts.  Well selected parts, but not designer parts.  That is why we love tweaking so much.  Bottlehead would be wasting their money to supply caps that are $30 each when half those out there want a different $30 cap.

Right.  That's what I was trying to say.  Perhaps it didn't come off the way I intended.   

[J. Mauro]

I am with you guys on this. I cannot believe how good the parts are and how fantastic this sounds for only $135 including PJCCS. I don't see how they can make money at all on these but I can see how this type of kit will encourage people to continue into the higher end kits. I, for one, am thoroughly hooked on Bottlehead, both the company and the community.


Jeremy Mauro

[corndog71]

I, for one, am thoroughly hooked on Bottlehead, both the company and the community.

Jeremy Mauro

Yep, I've been stuck here for almost a decade.