Interview with Bottlehead - Part 1: Busting Tube Myths & How Bottlehead Began

[@danschmalle136]

I did not express myself very well about the harmonics. A perhaps overly-simple way to look at it is the even order harmonics are at octaves above the fundamental note, thus they are "musical" and more acceptable as a coloration of the original recording. Odd order harmonics are not necessarily at frequencies we would consider to be within the commonly accepted musical scales. So they tend to color a recording in a way that is not pleasant.

[@andersforsgren3806]

Hello mate, it came trough for me at least. Yet you are absolutely right in the comment here. I am fully aware that the tubes I enjoy the most often are the ones that are less HiFi whereas - lets say Philips tubes, who are very linear but lack overtones sound dull and not musical to my ears. Well I hope to get a demo somewhere, someday of some Bottlehead gear.

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Anders, in my experience, the lower priced Bottlehead gear is a great taste test because you can buy at a great price, build it, try it, and if you want to upgrade or you don't happen to like it, there's always a second-hand market for pre-built kits via Head-Fi and the like.

[@andersforsgren3806]

@@PassionforSound Thank you for your nice reply and video! Yes his gear come with a great price too bad in the US of A which would mean freigh and customs charges. I have indeed developed an interest in building, partly from seeing the very good how-to videos by Young Ahn of Fluxion. But the interest started after I did run into Josef Svalander. Probably not that known. If he is it might be for being the constructor of the TUBA preamp. A hybrid preamp with EF86 pentodes, 12 of then 6 per channel and a construction that still holds it ground even today - but perhaps too complicated for a first project. ;) (But he happily share the blueprints for the design for anyone who is interested.)

[@PassionforSound]

Wow. Cool. I'll check both of those out!

[@jeremysohan]

Thanks and take care, Dan.

[@snowrang3r657]

Here we go again... I always come back to these interview series, they provide such good value.

[@PassionforSound]

I agree! I come back and rewatch them all the time too!

[@TheRealWindlePoons]

Thanks for the interview and sincere thanks to Dan. I am given to understand that when the human ear is overloaded, we hear second harmonic distortion, which the brain just interprets as "louder". Possibly why single-ended amps' distortion is less audible? I have all copies of Sound Practices, I used to subscribe to VALVE and built my first Bottlehead (ParaSEX) kit in the last century. I am now building my sixth Bottlehead kit and my son built a Mainline after I'd built his pair of 300B Paramounts. Brilliant designs and excellent build manuals. Cannot recommend Bottlehead highly enough. Paramounts with Lowther horns are simply jaw-droppingly "effortless". 👍

[@PassionforSound]

That's so cool to hear about you and your son enjoying the Bottlehead gear! Glad you liked the interview 🙂

[@bobsaffron8284]

Is the Mainline 1.1 Amplifier kit available in a 240v format? Thanks for the video.

[@PassionforSound]

Absolutely! Mine is plugged straight into an Aussie wall socket - no inverter needed. 🙂

[@bobsaffron8284]

@@PassionforSound Many thanks for clarifying that. It wasn't clear from the company's Mainline 1.1 page.

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure

[@512bb]

Holly cow, what a fantastic interview, I didn't realize Dan was behind The Tape Project. Because of this interview I am going to buy a Bottlehead amp, can't wait to see which one he recomens. Thanks much!!!!

[@PassionforSound]

Awesome! Glad you're enjoying it - I've nearly finished the edit for Part 2. Are you looking for a headphone amp or speaker amp?

[@512bb]

@@PassionforSound Hello, I would be looking to build a headphone amp even though I mostly listen to my main 2 channel system which I'm lucky enough to have Air Tight 211 SET monos but I am intrigued with the purity of his designs & the fact that that you can taylor things with mods.

[@PassionforSound]

In that case, it's hard to go wrong with any of the BH kits. The Crack is really only suited to high impedance cans like Sennheiser HD6x0 / HD8x0 or Beyer T1s. The Single Ended Experimenter (SEX) kit is brilliant with everything and the Mainline is the bee's knees (or duck's nuts if you prefer). Basically it all comes down to your headphone choice and/or budget, but all are great sounding and super fun to build.

[@derlissi9754]

One face per screen is enough! Whose?

[@redrich2000]

This was really interesting. Can't wait for the rest!

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you liked it. Honestly, I was worried that this first part isn't as strong as the rest so I hope you'll REALLY enjoy what's to follow...

[@shawnpwatsons1]

Very Interesting. On to the other parts of the interview. Thank you Dan for this video.

[@PassionforSound]

Yes, huge thanks to Dan. Glad you're finding it interesting

[@redrich2000]

Damn! I should buy a lottery ticket!

[@PassionforSound]

The power of patronage, my man! :-D

[@rcobsesssed]

GREAT content! Just found your channel and very impressed. (What keyboard is that on your desk?)

[@PassionforSound]

Hi Mark, glad you like the channel! The keyboard is an IKBC Table E Mechanical Keyboard that I bought through Drop. Sadly, I've retired it because the LEDs started to go out one-by-one after only a very short time. I loved it otherwise.

[@bananajoe275]

Thanks for the giveaway :)

[@PassionforSound]

You're welcome. Did you flick me an email?

[@bananajoe275]

@@PassionforSound yes i did this moment