I also get distracted by sibilance, or sharp ‘s’ and ‘t’ sounds that can make ssssingers sssssound like they’re forssssssing esssss ssssssounds aggresssssssively. I describe “shoutiness” as an emphasis on the ‘ou’ sound of ‘shout.’ It’s a forwardness in the neighborhood of 1KHz and/or on the first one or two harmonics above it (when I make the sound ‘oooooIt can also give instruments like piano, but especially brass instruments, an added ‘honk’ to their sound. My ears are thus quick to perceive “shoutiness” in headphones in particular. My hearing quirks include a high sensitivity to midrange frequencies from just under 1KHz to around 3Khz, give or take. I’m getting to know jazz more and enjoying quite a bit. My preferred genres are rock/metal and classical/orchestral music. “Tube goodness” can be a thing and the Crack has it in spades. It’s usable with a narrow range of headphones, but for those that it works well with the listening experience is warm, smooth, fun, and very enjoyable. The Bottlehead Crack is not the most technically proficient headphone amplifier in its price range, but for this reviewer it is among the most enjoyable. I gave the Crack a thorough listen and what follows are my thoughts, and of course the best collection of Crack cracks I can muster. I am referring, of course, to the Bottlehead Crack tube headphone amplifier kit this unit including the Speedball upgrade. So, when a HiFiGuides Forum member messaged me and said – and I’m paraphrasing here – “Hey, you wanna hear the sounds that come out of my Crack?” I thought that sounds like a gas! and immediately agreed. Those second order harmonics can be oh-so-sweet at times. There’s just something about tubes, right? By my count I either currently own or have owned 7 vacuum tubed audio products a Douk branded tube buffer, Loxjie P20, Darkvoice 336SE, Monolith Liquid Platinum, Eddie Current ZDT Jr., Cayin HA-1AMK2, and Schiit Saga.

NOTE: This review was originally published on HiFiGuides forum on.

Bottlehead amp review 2a3