newbie question

[pandaboy50]

So I just ordered the Crack, I was wondering. How do I input audio from a source device to the Crack amp? I feel that I have no idea what is going on so please be easy on me. Sorry about the noob question.

[Doc B.]

Crack has a pair of RCA jacks for the input. Just use a cable from your Ipod, sound card, CD player or whatever. For Ipod you would use a stereo 1/8" plug to dual RCA.

[adamct]

Hooooboy!    That's got to take some sort of prize for newbie question of the year. 

But don't worry about it, we don't judge (mostly) and there are lots of people willing to help. The short answer is that you get a cable that runs from your source and terminates in so-called RCA connectors that you plug into the inputs on the Crack.

In the picture below, the RCA inputs are in the top-left corner of the Crack (the two gold bits sticking out of the top plate).

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bottlehead.com%2Fsc_images%2Fproducts%2F442_large_image.jpg&hash=9a8f9f48974ebdeb900483c80c2fbe7bf0cfbecb)

Depending on your source, you may need a 1/8" mini-phone to RCA cable (e.g., for use with some computer sound cards or a portable audio player), a 1/4" phone jack to RCA cable (e.g., for use with a television), an Apple 30-pin connector to RCA cable (for use with an iPod/iPad/iPhone) or an RCA to RCA cable (for use with some computer sound cards, most external DACs (digital-to-audio converters), CD players, etc.

For a picture of an RCA cable, see below:

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluejeanscable.com%2Fstore%2Faudio%2Faudcombo.jpg&hash=9a1363c214aac820d3498b3f9e8eec97e0681395)

Best regards,
Adam

[adamct]

Oops, Doc beat me to the punch. To reconcile our two statements regarding ipod/iphone use:

1. You can use a 1/8" to dual RCA cable and plug the 1/8" end into the headphone plug on your ipod/iphone. This is the easiest and cheaped route. But it means you are going through the headphone amplification stage in the ipod/iphone, which some people think degrades sound quality.

2. A 30-pin to dual RCA cable bypasses the headphone amplification stage and gives you a straight "line out", which is why these cables are often referred to as ipod "LODs" (short for line-out docks - but note that most LODs are 30-pin to 1/8" mini-phone plug, not 30-pin to dual RCA, so make sure you get the right cable). The downside is that these cables are harder to find and more expensive. And the sound improvement may be marginal.

Best regards,
Adam

[adamct]

Here is an example of a cheap 30-pin to RCA cable.

[pandaboy50]

Thanks! I feel really stupid now. I guess my confusion is at what point do I need a DAC or a preamp? Do I need a DAC or Preamp to work with this amp?

[2wo]

Well first off, what is your source device? In other words what is your music stored on?...John

[pandaboy50]

My macbook

[adamct]

If it has a 1/8" line out jack, you can use that. But you will get much better quality by using an external DAC. Two easy, and economical, recommendations for USB use are the JDS Labs ODAC and the Schiit Modi.

You attach the DAC to your MacBook via USB, and then the DAC to your Crack via RCA to RCA cables (or, depending on which version of the ODAC you get, a 1/8" to dual RCA cable).

[Aeolus Kratos]

For a picture of an RCA cable, see below:

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluejeanscable.com%2Fstore%2Faudio%2Faudcombo.jpg&hash=9a1363c214aac820d3498b3f9e8eec97e0681395)

Hi Adam,

I think this RCA cable is the BJC LC-1 right? Are you using it too?   

[Grainger49]

Ok, you are just figuring it out.  The MacBook most likely has the earphone jack.  It is amplified so the earphone plug (MacBook end) to Right and Left RCA plugs (Crack end) is the cable you need.  You can get these at places like Radio Shack and Big Buys.

If you decide to buy a better sounding DAC (Digital To Analog Converter) than you have in the MacBook then you will probably feed it from a USB connection on the MacBook.

Is this making sense?

[mpeg2]

I built a Crack and connected the headphone jack from my MacBook to it - sounded pretty nice. I then picked up a Behriger USB DAC. Huge improvement in sound (cost about $30). For a little while, I tried a Schiit Modi, even better than the Behringer, but it went home to my main system.

I'd strongly suggest using a USB DAC to get the best out of the Crack - its so much better than the headphone output of the Mac.

One thing to be aware of, the MacBook will automatically detect the USB DAC when you plug it in (no need to install drivers), but you have to tell it to use it. Go into audio settings and select USB audio output (or something similar).

Enjoy

Rich

[adamct]

For a picture of an RCA cable, see below:

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluejeanscable.com%2Fstore%2Faudio%2Faudcombo.jpg&hash=9a1363c214aac820d3498b3f9e8eec97e0681395)

Hi Adam,

I think this RCA cable is the BJC LC-1 right? Are you using it too?   

Yep. I pretty much swear by Blue Jeans Cable. Excellent value for money, and I feel confident I'm not being sold snake oil.

[lior.amsalem]

+1 on getting a DAC.

I'm using HRT music streamer II+ (upgraded from the music streamer II, love the extra resolution)

I do think that the music streamer II is money well spent.

plus, if you're on OS X make sure to try out bitperfect from the application store. it acts as a plugin to itunes and takes over the sound processing.