Headphones

[ironbut]

B&H Photo has pretty good prices on some headphones such as Beyers. Usually free shipping too.
I bought my 990's a few years back when they either had an online typo or just a great sale (it was never really determined,.. but there wasn't an "On Sale" banner). IIRC they sold about 50 for $179.

Another headphone that's pretty popular are the Denon D2000. Those might be just the ticket for Techno and also for a nice pair of closed cans. They have a lot of good bass. There's some pretty nice mods for both the D2000 and it's big brother the D5000.

Oops, just remembered that the Denons are low impedance so it needs to be tried on the Crack first. Sorry 'bout that.

[levlhed]

After reading a little bit more I made a decision on the DT990's @ B&H Photo http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/614495-REG/Beyerdynamic_483966_DT_990_Premium_Open_Back.html  I was looking at a lightly used pair on head-fi for $250 until I read some other info on how much they were there.  Obviously the cat that is selling them didn't realize the current new price!
Once I realized it'd be pretty easy to sell them for a minimal loss if I just didn't like them, I decided I didn't have much to lose.  I'm really not too concerned about not liking them with Crack though.  More concerned that I'll be able to pull off assembling the kit without frying something!

[eeyore]

Looking forward to getting the Crack and getting it all set up. I am using HD650 now, just wondering if anyone has tried the HD800, and in particular, with the Crack? Trying to justify the upgrade...

[Paul Birkeland]

The HD-800 is what I'm using now with the prototype Speedball Crack.  This amp is certainly up to the task of showing off the differences between the HD-800 and HD-600/650.

Doc can certainly speak to this effect also.

[Doc B.]

HD-800s ROCK. I think it's maybe just the way the drivers are set farther from your ears, but they have a really heightened sense of space vs. the 600s. Really, really nice.

[eeyore]

Well, I'd better start saving for it soon!

[tdogzthmn]

Good the know that the Crack is able to deliver with the higher end headphones.  I got to hear several HD800s at a headfi meet and overall I was not blown away.  I think the Beyerdynamic T1 was more to my liking.

[levlhed]

received the Beyer 990's from B&H today.  My first serious headphones!
I pulled them out here at work and plugged them into my computer speakers' headphone jack...then had to turn the volume all-the-way-to-11 to hear anything...
Dying to hear them properly amped now!

[tdogzthmn]

The output impedance on the amp is 120 ohms so I am wondering is this amp would pair well with the DT 48 E which has a nominal source impedance of 120 ohms although the nominal impedance is rated at 200 ohms.  I am just looking to see which headphones have specs best suited to work with the crack.

[Just_Joe]

Crack OTL headphone amp.
Designed to optimize performance of high end, high impedance headphones.
Wonderful!
Sennheiser HD595 with 50 ohm rating not considered a good match.
Durn it.
So what!?!
Crack makes the 595 sound great.
Works surprisingly well with low impedance cans.
Still plan to stimulate the German headphone market.
Total number of Bottlehead powered tubes in system; 13
Oh, no!

-Joe Sengl

[Paul Birkeland]

Hello Joe,
You can also fudge the low impedance factor by using a bigger coupling cap at the output.  The stock cap will give you a -3db point at around 20hz, going to 300uf will drop that dramatically!


EDIT: these numbers are with 50 ohm cans.

[Just_Joe]

Thanks Paul.
That's good news and what I expected but just got the amp running and it's making splendid work even before the solder had a chance to cool. Sweet amp!

-Joe Sengl

[tdogzthmn]

I would be curious to know what headphones some of the senior members of the forum are using.

[Dyna Saur]

Completed my Crack today, and it sounds great!   I "modded" it by setting up the input stage for 6CG7, rather than the stock 12AU7, just a matter of wiring to filament pins 4 and 5  and leaving 9 open.   
I have a couple of RCA cleartop 6CG7s that were just beggin' to get used ;-)

No problems, no "hitches" everything came up working perfectly.  No audible hum or buzz at all, it is so quiet, that at first, I thought something was wrong.   

Painted the chassis plate and tranny top bell metalflake bronze, which I've used on some other amp projects, and it looks pretty good. I'll have to finish the wood base with a "complememtary" color.

It sounds fantastic with the Sennheiser HD600s.   

/ed B in NC

[Dr. Toobz]

Completed my Crack today, and it sounds great!   I "modded" it by setting up the input stage for 6CG7, rather than the stock 12AU7, just a matter of wiring to filament pins 4 and 5  and leaving 9 open.   
I have a couple of RCA cleartop 6CG7s that were just beggin' to get used ;-)

No problems, no "hitches" everything came up working perfectly.  No audible hum or buzz at all, it is so quiet, that at first, I thought something was wrong.   

Painted the chassis plate and tranny top bell metalflake bronze, which I've used on some other amp projects, and it looks pretty good. I'll have to finish the wood base with a "complememtary" color.

It sounds fantastic with the Sennheiser HD600s.   

/ed B in NC

Isn't a 6CG7 basically equivalent to a 6SN7? Would there be any benefit of using it over the computer-grade 5963 shipped with my Crack?