Bottlehead Crack: An Appreciation Thread

yeah… I don’t use it as much as it deserves. but when I do, it’s absolutely fantastic! if i sell it, i’ll probably end up regretting it too :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

2 Likes

So elementze and I are already messaging, but I appreciate the extra reassurance! lol …but yeah, the build looks awesome. :smiley:

4 Likes

I know I’m a little late to the party but I picked up a Bendix 6080WB for my crack+speedball and it had an immediate change to the sound (had a generic RCA 6AS7G prior with Sylvania 5814A)

Chain: PC > Alpha USB Series 2 > Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 SE > Crack+Speedball > VC/HD6xx/HD800S

Bass is much tighter and has a ton of body now. Before the edges would bleed into other notes or instruments, but with this swap they are all decisive. Mids and top end are both excellent and seemed to be cleaned up a bit but biggest impact to be would be low end to my ears

The crack is my oldest piece of gear but never fails to amaze me. Will be looking into new input tubes and possibly other upgrades to the components but I think I could live with speedball + new tubes for a long time :slight_smile:

8 Likes

Crack can get twice as good with the correct tubes, might seem a bit hyperbolic but also may as well be true.

Grats on your bendix

1 Like

Had some time recently and built a crack the last couple days. Turned out well and plan on adding the speedball but wanted to see how it sounded stock (well, I added an audio note pot).
@Hazi59 thanks for the tube recommendations from like 5 years ago lol. Picked up the Mullard CV2984 Tube and Matsushita 12AU7. Just running stock tubes at the moment.



14 Likes

One of the cleanest builds I’ve seen. Beautiful.

1 Like

Thanks! Nowhere near as good as the Etsy guy and some others I’ve seen but I’ll take the compliment haha.

2 Likes

You got a nice even dark stain. Very hard on the wood they provide, it tends to blotch.

1 Like

Thanks. I honestly wasn’t too happy with it but I understand this wood is very soft. I used plenty of conditioner prior to, to prevent the splotches but its nearly impossible everywhere on it. I may cut some better wood down the road and change it up. We’ll see.

4 Likes

I agree with @M.J, that turned out really nice, it looks professional to me! :+1:

I f I ever get one I should have you build it for me… :wink:

4 Likes

So I really like the amperex bugle boy 12au7 in the AIC10 but thought maybe it would work well with the Mullard CV2984 (6080) in the BHC, and it did. Just a solid improvement all around. I think the thing that improved the most was the stage and layering. Comes off much more holographic (using 650). Just a really natural and pretty sound. Probably not as much air as the Matsushita 12AU7 but that’s ok. Not a bad trade off. Matsushita 12AU7 Isn’t a slouch at all and I bet with the other 6080 I have coming it’ll work really well too, but this bugle boy :pinched_fingers:. Makes me wanna buy more and stock up haha.
image

I put the Matsushita 12AU7 in the AIC10 and it works really well in it too. So win win. Need to try some of the other 12AU7s that I picked up for the BHC in the AIC10 as well. And after rolling these in the AIC10 it makes me feel the G73R is overrated. That shit is hyped too much. Unless I got a fake and I haven’t experienced the legit sound.

5 Likes

I think your G73r is not in an optimal condition or fake as you said, because when I roll this in it literally elevates my Aic10 more than any other NOS tube I tried including the Amperex Bugle Boy. So I save it for special listening sessions only and use the others for daily use to save its life lol.

Does it make it more analytical? I’ve heard from some who say it’s a bit aggressive vs something like a bugle boy.

Not analytical, I was worried about that too but was surprised, its extended and clean but not dry with good body, wakes up dynamics and punch real good. Its so silent and sensitive it makes me notice details easier. Stages clear too like less hazey. I like how it has enough treble but its refined and never harsh.

50s Mullard is overly thick with Aic for me and less dynamic.

60s Gold Lion is kinda an enhanced bugle boy where it combined g7 and mullard while maintaining the dynamics and warmth. Still not as dynamic and clear as the G7 but really good all rounder if you want one tube to do it all with balance, problem is its too expensive and so rare.

1 Like

Ok maybe I’ll check it out again if I know it’s legit and a decent price.

I wasn’t a fan of the Mullard I have. Just seems meh.

The Matsushita is solid tho.

2 Likes

I’ll try this one :+1:t2:

1 Like

This is interesting information about the Matsushita. I never tried one because I assumed that it would sound like a Mullard, since it was made with Mullard tooling, and I already knew that the Mullard sound wasn’t what I’m looking for.

But now @Rhodey’s comments make me want to try one.

I also looked the Matsushita up in TubeMaze, which I find is a pretty good source for tube reviews. They also talk about how surprised they are that it doesn’t sound like a Mullard.

3 Likes

Thank Hazi, he has all the good finds :grin:

1 Like