Upgrade/mod options - your opinion?

fredrickj · 3199

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Offline fredrickj

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on: April 08, 2014, 02:11:01 PM
Without changing tubes what upgrades/mod's could actually improve sound.  Don't get me wrong, my Crack is working wonderfully but I can afford to up the quality of a few parts and I wonder what parts are recommended.   I only see two parts that might effect the sound in subtle way, one that looks obvious to me might be the capacitor attached to the cathode of the 6080 (100uf 160V).  If so, what cap value would you add in parallel or replace it with?  The other is the volume pot.  However I don't see the pot as really having much influence on the sound.   

Thanks


w0lfd0g

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Reply #1 on: April 08, 2014, 02:31:08 PM
Quote from: fredrickj on April 08, 2014, 02:11:01 PM
However I don't see the pot as really having much influence on the sound.   


Is this through experience or supposition?


Offline Doc B.

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Reply #2 on: April 08, 2014, 02:37:51 PM
The pot has quite an audible influence on the sound. That is why we developed the BeeQuiet/Submissive control.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.

Offline fredrickj

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Reply #3 on: April 08, 2014, 02:45:14 PM
How does one get their hand on the Bequiet/submissive control?  I don't see it looking on your products or parts pages.


Offline fredrickj

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Reply #4 on: April 08, 2014, 02:50:48 PM
Sorry, I found it....


Offline Grainger49

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Reply #5 on: April 08, 2014, 02:51:12 PM
I came up with this list a year back.  It is my opinion of sonic improvements from most to least:

C4S
Upgraded Iron
NOS tubes
Film output caps
Improved power supply, upgrade the final cap and a choke replacing the second resistor, maybe even both resistors
Upgraded volume control "device"
Improved signal path wire
Cree diodes replacing the UF4007 diodes
Improved RCA Jacks
Improved headphone Jack/Speaker terminals
« Last Edit: April 08, 2014, 11:36:30 PM by Grainger49 »


w0lfd0g

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Reply #6 on: April 08, 2014, 02:57:58 PM
Any recommendations for chokes, Grainger?  Where could I source them?  What influence do they have on sound?

Very handy list btw.


Offline fredrickj

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Reply #7 on: April 08, 2014, 02:59:36 PM
"Is this through experience or supposition?"

Experience.  I've built several tube pre-amps.  I've never used garbage pots but I've never heard a verifiable audible difference between some alps pots I've used and stepped volume pots using resistors.  There are of course many reasons why I might have found this result but without going into endless discussion on the matter, that has been my experience.  It's not definitive but it is all I got.


Offline mcandmar

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Reply #8 on: April 08, 2014, 02:59:50 PM
Quote from: Grainger49 on April 08, 2014, 02:51:12 PM

C4S
Upgraded Iron
NOS tubes
Film output caps
Improved power supply, upgrade the final cap and a choke replacing the second resistor, maybe even both resistors
Upgraded volume control "device"
Improved signal path wire
Cree diodes replacing the UF4007 diodes
Improved RCA Jacks
Improved headphone Jack/Speaker terminals

Damn you Grainger, its all your fault ;D

M.McCandless

Offline fredrickj

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Reply #9 on: April 08, 2014, 03:03:24 PM
thanks Grainger49.

That list makes sense.  What is C4S though? 


Offline fredrickj

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Reply #10 on: April 08, 2014, 03:16:52 PM
Ok...found the C4S.  N/A to Crack...


Offline galyons

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Reply #11 on: April 08, 2014, 03:26:06 PM
Quote from: fredrickj on April 08, 2014, 03:16:52 PM
Ok...found the C4S.  N/A to Crack...

Speedball = C4S for Crack.  There really is a wealth of information and experience on this site.  I would heartily recommend spending some quiet time reading through some of the threads.  Also the BH product description pages are very informative.

Cheers,
Geary

VPI TNT IV/JMW 3D 12+Benz LP-S>  Eros + Auralic Aries + ANK Dac 4.1 >Eros TH+ Otari MX5050 IIIB2 > BeePre >Paramount 300B 7N7 > EV Sentry IV-A

Thorens TD124/Ortofon RMG-212/SPU >Seduction > Smash^Up> Paramour 45 MQ >K12's

Offline JamieMcC

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Reply #12 on: April 08, 2014, 09:45:37 PM
I was surprised at the difference the Valab stepper made. Have some thoughts on the install and changes (subjective) here.

http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,5284.0.html


Shoot for the moon if you miss you will still be amongst the stars!

Offline JamieMcC

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Reply #13 on: April 08, 2014, 09:52:53 PM
Quote from: Grainger49 on April 08, 2014, 02:51:12 PM
I came up with this list a year back.  It is my opinion of sonic improvements from most to least:

C4S
Upgraded Iron
NOS tubes
Film output caps
Improved power supply, upgrade the final cap and a choke replacing the second resistor, maybe even both resistors
Upgraded volume control "device"
Improved signal path wire
Cree diodes replacing the UF4007 diodes
Improved RCA Jacks
Improved headphone Jack/Speaker terminals

Looks like I have some more work to do though the Improved power supply, upgrade the final cap and a choke replacing the second resistor, is currently in progress ;D

Shoot for the moon if you miss you will still be amongst the stars!

Offline Grainger49

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Reply #14 on: April 08, 2014, 11:36:08 PM
Remember this is just one guy's opinion.  But on Bottlehead the upgrade like Speedball where you add the C4S is one of the biggest improvements you can make.

Upgrade iron doesn't apply except for putting a Triad C-7X in the power supply.

http://ie.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Triad-Magnetics/C-7X/?qs=/PiZ59IM4y3T0O8Zu9aP3g==


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