I have some other other tubes to do some rolling with, but at the. The more incidental during our tests compilation has inspired us to a small but elegant set, that sounds great, is reduced to the bare essentials and s. Oct 27, 2015 valhalla 2 was one of the ones i was considering the same as the lyr 2. So, if you want a more analytical sound, then definitely go with the lyr 2 without question. For the most part at the moment sans some lyr tube rolling. Valhalla 2 was one of the ones i was considering the same as the lyr 2. Why i am interested in measurements of the bottlehead crack and any other tube amp is to see if it is possible to figure out what specific distortion gives them. The lyr 2 does have a little more detail, and it can be used to power the most needy headphones, including audeze, but it also sounds more solid state, a little more on the dry and lean side. First roll for me has been the amperex 7308 uncep, made in usa. The crack maintains its warm sound regardless of tweaks and tube rolling.
Entry level tube amps for beginers audio linus tech tips. I have a few questions who have sampled the crack and comparable solid state amps to the magni. But i found something about the valhalla 2 to be a bit dry sounding regardless of tubes, which wore on me. The sound of the lyr can change drastically based on tube choice. My previous and still current rig is hd600s with bottlehead crack. My personal preference is for slightly euphonic amps lyr 3, valhalla 2, bottlehead crack for pure.
Singleended tube amps are typically already very marginal audio performers. So ive been looking forward to stepping my game up, and after a month of research, i found that the 650s are exactly what i want. I pretty much agree about the 6080 tube, ive tried a few different brands and not much to talk about. I need guidance in selecting a tube headphone preamp for use with my isp1. So, if you want a more analytical sound, then definitely go with the lyr 2. This hybrid combo makes a whopping six watts per side. I used to have a bottlehead crack and really liked it. Jan 05, 2017 two amps that will have more of a tube sound than the valhalla would be the bottlehead crack or woo wa3. Best headphone amp for the sennheiser hd 600 and 650 video. Bottlehead crackatwoa otl tube headphone amplifier build. I wanted the planer but now feel it needs a better matching amp, more explosivedynamic amp. Budget tube amps tube hybrids general headphone discussion. May 10, 2019 the only other legitimate measurements i have seen of the crack used an audio precision sys2722 from a bottlehead forum member and showed the distortion essentially halved when using a 5998 vs the stock 6080 power tube.
Solid state, so you can also check that out for some good information though it probably does need an update. The included tubes are of decent quality and can be expected to provide years of great sound. I will be interested in tube rolling and i believe these three amps are all pure tube amps, and not hybrids, if i am wrong. From there we get to the schiit valhalla 2, another puretube otl design, but one. I dont really want to roll any tubes, the stock sound perfect. I talked to the tube guys on the lyr 3 thread on headfi about whether the p20 is what to expect or would the lyr 3 be a whole new sound.
Best headphone amp for the sennheiser hd 600 and 650. Valhalla 2 with hd650 where to from here super best. Its no big surprise that some cut n paste would net schiits third product. Yaqin mcs stereo tube amplifier setup, tube change. Thats studly peaktopeak swing of 40 volts into 32 by design it caters to hardofhearing hifiman orthodynamics and other designs hungry for power. Jan 03, 2015 the bottlehead crack, of course, although the crack is a diy otl tube amp. Crackatwoa is a premium version of the direct coupled crack circuit with the c4s active loads of the speedball incorporated, and also shunt voltage regulation in the form of two 6aq5 tubes along with a bigger power transformer. Amps cavalli audioliquid platinum bottlehead crack with speedball schiitjotunheim. In what ways is it better than those, exactly, and in detail. On the one hand some love endless tweaking, trying.
Bottlehead crackatwoa otl tube headphone amplifier build page. Valves for rolling in tube amps way too many to list music genre preferences. I canned my audiogd amp for a lyr trying to get some impact, and now im down to tube rolling trying to find some freaking bass response. Yes on the 8 audeze open which i drive with the schiit asgard 2. Both would give you the ability to tube roll, so you could tailor the sound to suit if it wasnt entirely to your liking out of the box. Currently leaning towards something form garage 1217, either the ember or the sunrise, since i have heard the tubes for the amp are very. Woo wa6 with 1967 mullard gz32 rectifier tube for sale. I recently finished a bottlehead crack otl tube amp and i love it. Schitt valhalla vs bottlehead crack 0 members and 1 guest are viewing this topic. Im very curious what you think those amps do well asis, what you think they could do better, and how the amps differ better or worse in pretty much any way you could think to compare them.
Jul 23, 20 taking this to the extreme you have the project ember and its sister models. I have always thought that i preferred bright sound, by recently ive wanted to try the warm sound of a tube amp. Clearly, the tubes of the crack did a great job of delivering detail and oomph. My personal preference is for slightly euphonic amps lyr 3, valhalla 2, bottlehead crack for pure enjoyment and more neutral amps jds atom, magni 3 for music recording and gaming. Build quality of the schiit amps are quite flawless, and while they dont ooze the same highend finishing touches i see on burson or woo audio amps, i. Very lively, dynamic, and more tubey and liquid to my ears. Just gently push down until they seat evenly and you should be good. Upgrading the bottlehead crack headphone amplifier. Can you offer specifics on how the elise compares to the lyr 2 and valhalla 2, along with any other tube amps youve owned or heard. The basic circuit is the same but also includes ccs loads and high voltage shunt. Headphone lovers, what do you love, what do you have, head.
A 12au7 input tube serving as a voltage amplifier, directly coupled to a 6080 power tube as a cathode follower output. Dec 04, 2018 bottleheads basic headphone amplifier kit, the crack, is probably the most well known, and best regarded, kitbaseddiy headphone amplifier there is. The bottlehead crack is a lovely little pure tube amp and it pairs particularly well with the sennhesier hd600, hd650 and hd800. But, as hybrids, their overall sound is less affected by rolling since the tube makes up less of the overall signature than would be the case with a puretube amp. Tube amps have a tendency of just failing after awhile, but as far as pure synergy and warmth with the hd650, the bottlehead crack is probably the best overall pairing. What ive read, the bottlehead crack is a very good match for the high impedance senns. The amp sounds a bit warmer now, with a bigger soundstage, plenty of bass, and maybe a hair less vivid treble. The audeze lcdx, fazor, and a fresh listen to the current. The valhalla is the midline, otl output transformerless vacuum tube model, while the lyr is the hybrid, currently flagship model amp, boasting a solid bragging rights of 6w maximum output. I wont really venture into any upgrades i also cantt see how you can inprove the crack. For example, i think the krbg sounds great in the iha1, but it rolls the treble off way too much on the l3 for. Bottlehead stereomour with vcap, mundorf, alps sex 2. The bottlehead crack is a lovely little puretube amp and it pairs particularly well with. It does take a while for you to get use to the new found tone, and really appreciate the lyr 2.
The bottlehead turns the 600s my case the 580s into magic. Discover the best headphones and amps from the audiophile enthusiast community and get them for the lowest prices on drop. There are people who will build it for you at an extra cost. However im struggling with the selection of a tube amp to drive them before i order them. Every tube amp ive tried that isnt a hybrid has been the same with the q. As some one whose spent a lot of time tube rolling and moddingtinkering i was. Bottlehead actually offers a premium version of the crack called the crackatwo. May 10, 2019 i am fascinated with the whole objectivist vs subjectivist debate and my personal opinion is that there is a use for both neutral and slightly euphonic amps. Its coming down to the valhalla 2 and garage 1217 project ember, im leaning towards the ember since its smaller, is a hybrid that can pare with a lot of different headphones, comes with a 5 year warranty the same as the schiit amp and was designed for the. I have been eyeing the bottlehead crack for a very long time. Kenrad vt231 6sn7gt black glass and clear glass, both with staggered plates 2. The basic circuit is the same but also includes ccs loads and high voltage shunt regulation of the power supply.
My experience lately is directing me to better recordings. I think its important to note that while the valhalla does not allow tuberolling, and therefore has a fixed sound, the lyr not only allows it, but it is encouraged. Schiit freya preamp tube rolling quads listening test duration. However, it does sacrifice in stage size, primarily in width, and air.
In this build, i found the treble could range from more laid back to more snappy depending on tubes. Even without rolling tubes, they are enjoyable amps. The existing headphone is decent enough but i am loooking for that 5tube sound. National union 6sn7gt grey glass military us navy 1940s i will report back, after everything is burned in and i have had some more time with each tube.
Schitt themselves offer multiple tube options to this effect. The uk unfortunately a little off the pace in this rapidly growing market place especially wrt tubes. I started tube rolling my t with siemens 5814s which. Garage 1217 project ember 2 or sunrise 3 schiit lyr 2 darkvoice 336se woo audio wa6 a bit over budget but if really worth it might consider bottlehead s. Here you will find vacuum tube based amplifier, preamplifier and headphone amplifier kits, speaker kits, finished high end tube audio products, reel to reel tape machine upgrades, parts, and one of the finest support communities on the web. That means theyre far from being transparent under the best of circumstances. Where tube changes in a tubehybrid design tend to be very subtle, with a true tube amplifier they can significantly alter the overall character of the amplifier for better, or worse. The raytheon 5814s are cleandetailed in my bottlehead preamp and from what ive. Fwiw, tube rolling can indeed make a difference in your crack. Hifiman ef5 and schiit audio lyr and both support tube rolling. Other makes models to look out for are the like of project ember and bottlehead crack.
But after a rolling the gold lions and hundred hours listening i am more than happy. The bottlehead crack, of course, although the crack is a diy otl tube amp. The lyr 2 is a sstube hybrid so i cant wait to see what a full otl will sound like with my cans. If you mean the socket, that is more a function of the particular sockets used, but most will allow you to move the tube a fair bit. Discussion in audio hardware started by john storey, nov 22, 2017. However, in stock form the bass is a little on the. If its the tube base there is some tube base cement you can get or some high temp silicone can work as well. Of note might be the hidden costs of addl tubes andor tube rolling that would inevitably occur when puchasing the vali 2. Or you can find a used one so you dont have to build it yourself. The ember is probably closest to the lyr in philosophy but allows more rolling for less powerbut are serious amplifiers for good money and at a different quality level to the bravo audio ocean little bear amps. The sound of pure tube amps, like the pendant, are affected to a much greater degree by the tubes they are using than tubehybrid designs.
The lyr 2 is a ss tube hybrid so i cant wait to see what a full otl will sound like with my cans. Jan 12, 2017 schiit freya preamp tube rolling quads listening test duration. There is plenty to read online about this classic headphone tube amp. Discover the best headphones and amps from the audiophile enthusiast community and get them for. The bottlehead crack is a lovely little puretube amp and it pairs particularly well with the sennhesier hd600, hd650 and hd800. May 30, 2018 but, as hybrids, their overall sound is less affected by rolling since the tube makes up less of the overall signature than would be the case with a pure tube amp. One explanation is the gain on the tubes, which is not always consistent from. It sounds great with most low to medium impedance headphones but if you want to pair with hd 650s i would recommend the woo wa3 instead.
By designed and built in california this is what we mean. Im a big fan of tube rolling, and i have several different varients with and without adapters. With the supratek syrah preamp, ive been switching off between the rca redbase 5692 and kenrad vt231. There are three pairs of rca input jacks and a volume and balance control. The more incidental during our tests compilation has inspired us to a small but elegant set, that sounds great, is. Ive had the chance to try out another power tube a russian 6hc 6as7. I currently have a schiit magni 2, but i am looking for another fun upgrade i am satisfied with my headphones by the way hd 650s. Too much tube rolling and too many bargain rectifiers. I then started reading about the lyr 3 another hybrid amp and i started to get very interested. One of them has a crack down one side of the base, but not under it. I have their schiit stack and it is a great combo for the money.