Sunday Photos Show: The Bottlehead Crack & Hybrid Vacuum Tube Headphone amplifier

I made this photo shoot on Sunday morning when I listening the music through my headphones along with the Bottlehead Crack and newly upgrade hybrid vacuum tube op-amps headphone amplifier here and here.

I actually find that this hybrid vacuum tube op-amps amplifier sound so good that can match with the big brother, is the Bottlehead Crack. With the total built cost for this hybrid vacuum tube op-amps amplifier is only one quarter cost of the Bottlehead Crack, I think it can be considerably a budget audiophile headphone amplifier.

Under The Radar (Part 1) Beyerdynamic DT-100 Dynamic Studio Headphone

From early this year, I have talk a lot about the multibit R2R DAC. This type of DAC give so much improvement in my audio system. I pretty happy with that, but I felt that I never talk about the headphones anymore. I often listen from my home stereo system and my headphones journey is somehow stop at the Sennheiser HD600 as my reference.

So I guess I make this post just for fun.

I will search again the headphones that under the radar for most people. The headphones that still available today, or maybe already discontinued, but for sure they should available in the used market. The headphones under my radar are should be affordable under US$150 and I wonder with this small money spent, will I get the treasure for good sounding headphones?

So, in this first post of the under the radar headphones review is goes to Beyerdynamic DT-100.

PCM56 R2R Non Oversampling DAC Built

From early this year, I am start to playing a lot with the multibit DAC.

They are from Sony CDP TDA1541A here, Nakamichi DAC-101 dual TDA1541S1 here, Clarion DRX-9255EXL PCM1702 here and Clarion HX-D1 PCM1704 here.

What I said playing with them is actually more suitable words because none of them are built by myself. I only study and exploring those unit then make some upgrade especially on the power supply components, signal capacitors upgrade, and bypassing the unused internal circuit for more clearer yet natural sound quality. This upgrade make a lot improvement compare to the first time I listen from it and I can really enjoy what the designer from each manufacture deliver the sound they would like to perform in those units.

Those said units are categorized as a parts of hi-end audio system and I really now familiar with the sound signature from each of them. But to be honest, I am not satisfy yet with this condition. Because none of them is built by myself from ground up. I don't feel like my own signature are on those unit. So, after searching the availability option for any R2R DAC IC out there, I stuck to this late 80's vintage DAC IC. This is the PCM56P.

Built Your Own Bluetooth Speaker For Pool Party At Home

I am quite reluctant to build such a mediocre audio system, such as the Bluetooth speakers system like in this post. I prefer buying a finished product like the Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker that cost around US$20. I had it once very long time ago and it sound quite okay for a small speaker. At that time I did not use it quite often so I better sell it anyway.

Fast forward today, in my daily listening experience, I have good stereo audio system in my house and this system serve me very well. Listening the music with this audio system still a breath-taking experience for me.

Then, I am in a long holiday now, starting from this day to next week. And because we are still in this pandemic situation, so me and my family planning to create a small staycation at our house. I prepare mini pool for my kids, it is 3 meter by 2 meter balloon pool, while me and my wife will enjoying the nice afternoon with some bread and coffee.

So, for more rewarding experience, I need an outdoor Bluetooth speakers, connected to my Apple Music Player on my smartphone. Although the sound quality will not become the first priority, this Bluetooth speakers should capable to deliver the sound fuller and louder, but still enjoyable to hear.

To make it simple, the power source for this Bluetooth speaker could be using external 12 volt batteries or wall wart DC adaptor. It should be very efficient that it can play music all day long and the most important things when building this Bluetooth speaker should be cheap and simple.

Copper Vs. Aluminum Chassis Effect In The Audio Application

From many years ago, the audio industry has been using the copper material for the electronic enclosure. This said to be the best enclosure for the electronic inside and impacting to the audio quality.

The copper is the best conductive material, yet cheap enough if compares to the others exotics material such as silver or gold. Especially for the copper is the very best way to get minimum loss in voltage transfer through the long and wide surface area.

The problem with the copper material is not the cost of the material, but because the copper characteristic is corrode easily, then when using it for electronic chassis, the engineer has to deal with extra cost to protect and avoid this corrosion. This additional step makes the copper more shiny and elegant to look at, yet withstand for long period of time.

So in this post is not just about theory. I will witness the effect of the copper chassis compares to the previously using the aluminum chassis.

Stay reading.