[heathen]

Sorry Guy 13, I cant be of any help in finding that on the website now. I just looked and unless I too am overlooking it, it just isnt there anymore.

When I bought mine, I bought a already built one, off a guy who was selling it.

[Guy 13]

Sorry Guy 13, I cant be of any help in finding that on the website now. I just looked and unless I too am overlooking it, it just isnt there anymore.

When I bought mine, I bought a already built one, off a guy who was selling it.

Hi heathen and all Audio Circle members.
Thanks anyway.
Up to now, I did not have time, but soon I will write directly to Bottlehead
and get an answer directly from the horse's mouth.

Guy 13
 

[Guy 13]

Hi FireGuy and all Audio Circle members.
For a very long time was look at both the Bottlehead Crack
and the Schiit Valhalla.

Why did I choose the Crack? (Even if I could still change my mind.

Both are tubes units.
Crack win !
Valhalla has 4 tubes vs 2 for the Crack.
Valhalla has PCB Vs point to point for the Crack.
Valhalla generate lots of heat. (According to some owners.)

Valhalla win !
Vahalla is smaller and better looking vs
Crack big and not very sexy.
Valhalla has 5 years warranty vs Crack one year.
Valhalla is ready to play vs Crack that need me to have a steady hand
and some reading (Read magnifying) glasses with the soldering iron.

Sometimes I am still wondering if I would not be better off with the Vahalla 

If I had the money, U would buy the two units and them choose and use the lesser good sounding amp for my Ipod listening.

Decision, decision, decision ? ? ?

Guy 13

Hi all Audio Circle members.
I've been thinking a lot (Even none stop) about which headphone amplifier
I should acquire to drive my HD-650 (And HD-570 as well)
It all boils down to those points:

Schitt Valhalla
Pro: The look, already assembled.
Con: Four tubes, heat and PCB.

Bottlehead Crack
Pro: Two tubes and point to point wiring.
Con: Kit, not too nice looking and big.

I think that both are a good match to the HD-650 sound wise.
Is the difference in price (Crack being cheaper) worth the trouble of soldering
with my shaky hands and my not too good eye sight ? ? ?
I am still trying to decide, but my decision must be taken before the end of this year,
 
before I ran out of money.

Guy 13

[galyons]

Guy,
Bottlehead no longer offers an assembly service directly.  Shawn, who did most of the assembly now offers the service.   http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,4783.0.html
Cost for the Crack is $250. 

Buy the Crack.  Build the Crack.  You won't need warranty service.  I have one, as well as Paramour 2A3's,  Paramour 45's,  3 Foreplay preamps, Quickie battery powered preamp, Seduction phono, Seduction tape. 
I built/rebuilt all of the units except the Seduction tape amp.  It was assembled by Shawn as a demo unit.  I bought it at a great closeout price from Doc.  Shawn's work is very nicely done.

I can can still get support for all of my BH units. They have sent me, free of charge, small parts that have failed.  The last time they offered parts on amps that went out of production in 2000.  Didn't need as I had in the parts bin. All of my stuff has been modded/upgraded by....me!

The BH circuit designs are very good and many times on the leading edge.

Enough proselytizing.....

Cheers,
Geary

[Guy 13]

Guy,
Bottlehead no longer offers an assembly service directly.  Shawn, who did most of the assembly now offers the service.   http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,4783.0.html
Cost for the Crack is $250. 

Buy the Crack.  Build the Crack.  You won't need warranty service.  I have one, as well as Paramour 2A3's,  Paramour 45's,  3 Foreplay preamps, Quickie battery powered preamp, Seduction phono, Seduction tape. 
I built/rebuilt all of the units except the Seduction tape amp.  It was assembled by Shawn as a demo unit.  I bought it at a great closeout price from Doc.  Shawn's work is very nicely done.

I can can still get support for all of my BH units. They have sent me, free of charge, small parts that have failed.  The last time they offered parts on amps that went out of production in 2000.  Didn't need as I had in the parts bin. All of my stuff has been modded/upgraded by....me!

The BH circuit designs are very good and many times on the leading edge.

Enough proselytizing.....

Cheers,
Geary

Hi Geary and all Audio Circle members.
The Crack price is 279 USD, plus 250 USD for assembly by Shawn
Total: 529 USD, that's 180 USD more than the Vahalla.
I might sound like a cheap skate, but for reason(s) that I will share with you
toward the end of this year, I am very limited on my budget.
Regardless of my choice between the Crack and the Valhalla,
I am looking for something that will last me until I kick the bucket.
If the price of the assembled Crack was about the same as the Vahalla
I would go with the Crack.
Saving 250 USD on an assembled unit, is that worth the trouble of soldering?
To solder or not to solder, that's the question ???

Guy 13
 

[dhax001]

Hello Guy13,

I am driving my HD650 with Valhalla and I am very happy with the result.
I was considering Bottlehead Crack at one time, but I don't trust myself to build something delicate like soldering, I am sure I will end up injured myself, so the choice was clear to me, it is Valhalla.

Yes, Valhalla is hot literally, after an hour or so, the volume knob is hot to the touch, but I don't really care on this, as long as they drive my HD650 wonderfully, provide smooth, warm, provide deep bass, and sparkle, not bright on the treble, as if they are destined to be together.
It has 5 years of warranty, and made in US of A.

In case you're wondering my headphone system:
Emotiva CD player --> EasternElectric MiniMax DAC --> Valhalla amp --> Sennheiser HD650.











I hope this help you decide, and don't forget, enjoy your new HD650 to the fullest, I know I do !


Cheers !
 

[Guy 13]

Hi dhax001 and all Audio Circle members.
I'm always curious when it comes to strange nick names
and yours is no exception to that.
Therefore, may I know what your nick name means?

Two tubes vs four tubes or slim look vs fatty look,
that's not really what will make me decide which unit
to become the proud owner of for the next 20 years. (Minimum).
I've always been afraid of units with PCB when it comes to repairs.
I think that point to point wiring will be repairable for the next 50 years.
My second concern is heat.
Heat on a long run kills everything.

Well I don't know anymore, I think I will flip a coin and let the luck decide.
Of course I am kidding.
Decision, decision, decision ?

Guy 13

[dhax001]

Hi Guy13,

Nothing special about my user name, just my first name (Diah) and last name (HAnggoro) plus X and 001.
What about yours?

Back to head amp selection, if I had steady hands, I might try bottlehead crack. Since I don't, the choice is clear. Beside, I don't want to spend and extra $249 for paying someone to build it for me. This headphone is my secondary system if my wife and kid are sleeping and I want to listen for some tunes. Otherwise I always listen through my main speaker system.

Good luck with your decision, and don't take too long, that HD650 deserves a good amp match to show what it can do !

Cheers,
dhax001

[Guy 13]

Hi Guy13,

Nothing special about my user name, just my first name (Diah) and last name (HAnggoro) plus X and 001.
What about yours?

Back to head amp selection, if I had steady hands, I might try bottlehead crack. Since I don't, the choice is clear. Beside, I don't want to spend and extra $249 for paying someone to build it for me. This headphone is my secondary system if my wife and kid are sleeping and I want to listen for some tunes. Otherwise I always listen through my main speaker system.

Good luck with your decision, and don't take too long, that HD650 deserves a good amp match to show what it can do !

Cheers,
dhax001

Hi dhax001 and all Audio Circle members.
Thanks for the explanation of your nick name.
My nick name it’s very simple, of course,
when you know the meaning.
It's my given name Guy
plus my birth date, which was on a Friday 13 in 1948.

I am almost sure that I will go with the Bottlehead Crack,
mainly because of the point to point wiring,
for me that one of the most important point.
I will have to buy a soldering station,
because right now I only have a 30 years old reliable Weller 100/140 watts soldering gun who's heavy and very slow to warm up.
Minds you I did several soldering projects
and repairs with it, no problem.
But, this time, it is a bit different.
I am waiting for some money that should come in at the end of this month.
By the way, what’s your amplifier and headphones combo?

Guy 13