Spec'ing the Ultimate "Hard Ball" Crack

[Surge]

After enjoying the build, and the end result, tremendously... I am tempted to try to build a no holes barred ultimate Crack. What would that look like in terms of components? I have read about 10 pages of the forum and gathered some thoughts:

The limits are to use the same chassis/footprint

- DACT stepped attenuator
- silver oil caps
- silver wiring

What else?

[Alonzo]

Sorry, common sense rant below;  fill free to upgrade to your hearts content but...
You will find yourself getting very close in price to a Crackatwoa , after wire/caps/attenuator/choke/etc, why don't you just get that and upgrade the output caps?  Anything else above stock in that you should just go for a stock Mainline.  I've been down this street, now my kids each have modded Cracks and I running with the big dogs on a fully outfitted Mainline.

[Tom-s]

To quote from a recent post on a well known headphone enthousiast forum:

Budget upgrades (the most worthwhile) for Crack:
 
0. Speedball
1. FAQ #3 + Valab stepped attenuator + E80CC switch mod (40$) (more volume control, details details and optimization for tube rolling)
2. Schottky rectifiers to PS (20$) (silent background)
3. Choke in PS (20-30$) (even more silent background)
4. Output capacitor upgrade (Russian PIO's sub 50$, Mundorf film 120$, add weight and deepens the sound)
5. Bypass capacitors (FT-3 0.1uf  in output and maybe some for PS, 10-20$, add sparkle)
(6. (Film cap PS 50$+) maybe not worth it.)
(7. Wiring upgrades (if i could rebuild i'd start with these))

So for 150$ you could get a very nice Crack. The tubes are the same as you would upgrade in C-A-2 Tungsram E80CC (+20$), Tung Sol 5998 120$.

[Doc B.]

Alonzo has hit the nail on the head.

[Surge]

Makes total sense re: just upgrading to another BH product. Would gladly, but my main issue is size: the Crack just fits on my nightstand. The Mainline and C-A-T are double the width, correct?

[Tom-s]

For me Crack is all about the journey so upgrading to another product before it's over would defy that point.
Starting with Crack and upgrading it step by step teaches you how certain components influence the sound.
It shows you what makes sense and what upgrades don't.
From a financial point of view it's most economical to don't upgrade it at all or to start with a Mainline and be done with it  .

The small footprint does really make Crack great. It fits even the smallest desks. I move once every two months on average and it easily fits in one small box (with tubes, DAC, headphones and cables).
In small bedrooms i've also had it sitting on a nightstand (you know, mini hotel size nightstands or on a chair if needed).

Mainline top plate is 12" by 12" or something. Crack is 10" by 6".

[JamieMcC]

My tried and tested recipe would be following on the list above
 
0. Speedball
1. FAQ #3 + Valab stepped attenuator + E80CC switch mod (40$)
2. Schottky rectifiers to PS (20$)
3. Choke in PS (20-30$) (even more silent background)
4. Output capacitor upgrade Russian PIO's sub 6x30uf mgbo 3per-side total ($15)
5. Russian Teflon Bypass capacitors for above  10-20$
6. Film cap PS (Motor run) $15

I would say do it as its a hell of a lot of fun and a bit of a eye opener the mods can easily be done as and when speading the costs over a period of time. 

[ALL212]

I'll chime in also...I've got two of them here somewhere and a third out in the world.

Staying with the Crack and learning what the upgrades can do is a good way to go.  Space is a premium but it makes you think through the process.  My other thought was always that I could afford (barely) to blow up a Crack.  My budget doesn't include a blowed up Crackatwo.

If you are in the learning process go Crack.  If you are looking for that better sound - Crackatwo or ultimately the Mainline.

Certainly start stock, throw in the speedball and go nuts after that.

[Surge]

I would add a fuse upgrade to the list. Low cost and it will improve the sound. Has anyone tried it?
I am referring to one of those cytogenetically treated ceramic bodied fuses.

[Tom-s]

Haven't done it.. But i've noted that the local voltage and (the absence of) grounding do play a role in the perception of sound (stage) when using the Crack.

[Surge]

The provided fuse is a 1A 250V fast blow, is that correct?

[Paul Birkeland]

Just to clarify, all the parts substitutions are tweaks, not really upgrades.  The only exceptions would be the Speedball, which does improve distortion figures, as well as a different attenuator with better low level tracking between channels.

The Crack-a-two-a is an improvement to the Crack because of a vastly superior power supply topology that is regulated, and the availability to install our stepped attenuator.

You could spend $1000 on special parts for your Crack and not get to the level of performance offered by the Crack-a-two-a or Mainline. 

[Paul Joppa]

I would add a fuse upgrade to the list. Low cost and it will improve the sound. Has anyone tried it?
I am referring to one of those cytogenetically treated ceramic bodied fuses.

Spellcheck strikes again!

I'm pretty sure you meant cryogenic, not cytogenetic. I checked, it is a real word - something about evolution of cell genetics.

No offense meant, I just thought it was funny  :^)

[Surge]

Paul, thanks but I actually did mean cytogenetic. These are relatively new biogenetically engineered fuses! They grow and adapt to the current and blow based on biometric factors.
 

[Tom-s]

They grow and adapt to the current and blow based on biometric factors.

Hmm, that's exactly what a fuse shouldn't do?!