Buying my first amp

[staykov]

Guys,
After watching one of InnerFidelity's videos on youtube, I decided to get an amp for my Audeze LCD-3 headphones.
I am very new to the 'audiophile' thing (although I don't really like that word). Recently started listening to some Quincy Jones and decided I wanted to invest in an improved audio experience.

I'm a little bit intimidated by the Bottlehead Crack, because I've never had any experience with electronics assembly before. I was planning on getting it + the Speedball upgrade and assembling it on my own, but frankly I have no idea if I will be even able to do anything. Does one need experience in soldering and stuff like that? Do you need to be an electronics specialist in order to complete the amp? Thanks in advance.

P.S.
I currently use the AKAI EIE Pro USB audio device. After the installation of an amp such as the bottlehead crack, do you keep your usb audio device or connect the amp straight to the PC. I have a PC with a lot of fans so I don't want to use the internal audio card.

[Paul Birkeland]

Hello there,

You don't need any electronics expertise to put together a Crack.

The toughest part will be completing your first solder joints, but if you look at what things look like in the manual and do your best to imitate, then you won't end up with any troubles.  (When repairing kits that get sent in for the flat rate repair, I see many cases of way too much solder, so watch for that)

The one thing worth mentioning is that the listening experience of Audeze headphones are low sensitivity and low impedance, and the Crack will not drive them all that well.  The SEX amp, on the other hand, will work marvelously with them.

If you're insistent on a Crack, then you can pick up a used pair of HD-580's pretty reasonably, then see if you like the high impedance headphone and OTL amp combo. 

-PB

[staykov]

Are you referring to this one? http://bottlehead.com/?product=single-ended-experimenters-kit-2-1-for-headphones-sensitive-speakers
Should I get any of the suggested upgrades? I really have no idea what role they play.

[Paul Birkeland]

Are you referring to this one? http://bottlehead.com/?product=single-ended-experimenters-kit-2-1-for-headphones-sensitive-speakers

Yes, that will provide all the power that the Audeze headphones can handle.

Should I get any of the suggested upgrades? I really have no idea what role they play.

The upgrades are fun and will improve the sound, but you'll get more appreciation for what they do if you build the amp stock first, get accustomed to its sound, then install the upgrades.

-PB

[staykov]

Thanks so much.
Last noob question (I hope),

Do I still need the USB audio interface after I install the amp? I don't suppose the AI has an amp or that the bottlehead amp has an audio interface? How do you connect when using both an amp and an external audio interface? Thanks.

[Paul Birkeland]

Hmm,

If you want to run a Crack or SEX from a computer, you will either need to use an 1/8" to RCA cable to use the computer's internal DAC, or buy an external USB DAC. 

There are a ton of inexpensive USB DAC's floating around.

-PB

[staykov]

Which one would you recommend? It doesn't necessarily need to be cheap. I wouldn't want it to bottleneck the amp or the headphones.

[Paul Birkeland]

If you want to keep the LCD2's, I would go with the SEX amp.

-PB

[staykov]

I meant which external usb dac do you recommend.

[Paul Birkeland]

Here's a good thread to get into on that subject:

http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,6020.0.html