Bottlehead buying advice

[denti alligator]

I would really like to purchase the S.E.X. amp to use with my CD/SACD player and digital FLAC files on my Sennheiser HD600s.

Eventually I'd like to add the Seduction to power my Rega P1, and a pair of speakers, too (obviously, these would be powered by the S.E.X... but you know what I mean).

Problem is: funds are limited right now, and I'm not sure I want to wait to listen to my vinyl.  So my questions are:

1) how would the combination of the Crack and the Quickie compare to the combo of the S.E.X. and Seduction for vinyl? (other than the fact that I wouldn't be able to add speakers)

2) Would these (Crack/Quickie) work well with my Sennheisers and Rega?

3) how easy would it be to sell these once I've decided to upgrade to the S.E.X. and Seduction?

4) what would it take to convert the Quickie to a headphone amp? and how would this compare to using it with the Crack?

[Paul Joppa]

The Quickie is NOT a phono preamp; our only phono preamps are the Seduction and the Eros.

Ever since the phono preamp split off from the control center "preamp" the terminology has been confusing. In today's hifi world, most things that are called "preamps" are basically source switching and volume controls, with at most a small gain, plus the ability to drive cables well. The phono preamp has substantial gain (40dB typically, at 1kHz) and an equalization circuit to produce flat response from phono cartridges. The equalization curve is specified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), so such preamps are also called "RIAA preamps". Before the advent of CD players, a typical preamp included both functions. These days, it's unfortunate that the functions are separated but both are still called "preamps".

Your best bet while funds are low is to get a cheap solid-state phono preamp for temporary use with the SEX amp. There are several around, for $15 to $50 typically - even Radio Shack has one. Some of them are battery powered, which has some potential advantages such as lower hum. You can upgrade to a tubed phono preamp later, but at least be listening to vinyl in the meantime.

[denti alligator]

Thanks.
If I got a cheaper phono preamp to hold me over, such as the Bugle over at Hagerman, could I use it with the Crack, too, or would I want to get a Quickie as a stage?

[JC]

I believe you'll find that the Crack will work with a standard line-level source, such as the output of a phono preamp.  The Crack even has a level control.  However, it accepts just one line-level source at a time.  In other words, one set of inputs.

In practical terms, this means that you would need to physically swap multiple sources, if you wished to use more than one source with the Crack.  Radio Shack usually carries a little stand alone "input selector" to switch multiple sources to a single output (as I'm sure others do), if that is an issue.

EDIT: I should probably point out that the above also applies to the SEX amp.

[denti alligator]

And how would the Quickie serve me by comparison (with a 'phones modification)? Just not as vibrant or clear of sound?

Such a Radio Shack switcher, I'm assuming, wouldn't interfere with quality, am I right?

[JC]

Well, use of an external selector is not a lot different than having that facility built in to something.  There will be an extra set of interconnecting cables involved, of course, and opinions may vary widely on the "best" switches and connectors.  Unfortunately, in this hobby, interconnects, switches, and connectors can very easily exceed the cost of many amplifiers!

I cannot speak much to the modified Quickie, since I don't own one, except to say that it was initially designed as a preamp only, whereas both the SEX and Crack were designed with headphones in mind.  With the SEX, of course, there is considerably more power and the added ability to drive efficient speakers.

[denti alligator]

Thanks, I think I'll probably go with the Crack and a Bugle to hold me over until I can afford the SEX and a Seduction.

Using the Quickie between the Bugle and the Crack wouldn't make that dramatic of a difference, would it?

Any recommendations for a switch? A quick search here brought up nothing.

[JC]

Using a Quickie between a phono preamp and the Crack would supply two things that I can see:  Additional Voltage gain, and the ability to select one other source.

The additional Voltage gain would really only be an advantage if you needed it.  Otherwise, it just adds a stage, which cannot help but to add its own characteristics to the sound.  Whether or not those characteristics are desirable in their own right is really something that only the listener can decide for himself.

Selector switches are not something that I have really ever developed a preference for one way or another.  If I only had a couple of sources to consider, I would probably be inclined to just swap cables until I found some reason to do otherwise.   I'm not necessarily advocating that, just telling you my behavior.  If I got really ambitious, I would probably add an extra pair of inputs jacks and a DPDT switch to the Crack, but more likely I would just go grab something at Radio Shack or another chain store.

HiFi heresy, I know, but I'm more inclined to think of switching in terms of convenience and reliability than in terms of sound.