Doc Bottlehead

Spawndn72

http://www.bottlehead.com/

I have always been kinda a diy'er. Anyone know anything about this company? And more specifically the Foreplay pre-amp?

This would be my first electronics project, but it looks like it might be interesting and do-able for a novice.

Also, could someone that is better at understanding spec's than I am look at them and tell me if the foreplay would be compatable with an adcom 545 amp. Just not really sure about the voltage output and the recomended ohm load.

Thanks,
Todd

fireshoes

They raffled one off at audiokarma.org last month. While I haven't heard one, I'm sure someone would have an opinion over there.

tryrrthg

I think forum member dcarlson was building a Foreplay. Let's hope he adds his 2 cents

dcarlson

It's easy to build, took me a couple of nights of soldering and a heck of a lot of fun. I need to resolder my joints, mine's got a bit of hum to it. The other problem I had was the output gain of the Foreplay is pretty high for my Dynaco ST-70. I've since kinda put it aside because of a lack of time but plan on revisiting it after I get the HT done in my basement.

I have the older design, there's a new version III selling now. Check out the Bottlehead forum for some answers.

hatchm

They are great folks to work with and the products are super bang for the buck. I built up a Foreplay (rev2, the new one is rev3) as my first diy project. Ugly as sin on the underside but there were no problems at all with the build and it is VERY quiet. I currently have a Seduction on order and can hardly wait although it will be a bit more challenging.

The build was pretty easy, I took my time and it was done in about 2-3 evenings, probably took me longer to get the plate painted (including picking out the color ;-).

Go for it, they're a lot of fun to build (and mod if the mood strikes). My only regret is that I like it so much that I haven't had the heart to take it out of service for the C4s, upgraded caps and sweetest whispers (stepped attenuator).

Hatch

dcarlson

I forgot to mention that I do have the sweet whispers and anticipation upgrades waiting to be installed as well.

Wardsweb

Dan (DocB) is a audio geek and good people. His company, Bottlehead, fills a very important niche in the tube audio world for guy with zero electronics knowledge and on a budget. Yes, he carries a few not so cheap kits, but the basics are very competitive when you take into consideration if you had to design the circuit and then go out and find all the parts. That and you get the "fix it for free" warranty, just in case you have two left thumbs.

I've been building Bottlehead gear for a couple years now and like what I end up with. I'm actually the guy who built the Foreplay II that was just auction off over at Audiokarma.org. You can also checkout some of my other Bottlhead builds on my website. These are fully documented step by step construction sites for the Paramour 2A3 SET amp and the Seduction Phono preamp. I'm also in the process of building the the Single Ended eXperimenter's amplifier.

Tour2ma

Hey, Luther... good to see you that you still drop in every so often.

Wardsweb

I stop in more often than I post. Life is in fast gear and I hardly have time to relax. As long as I have audio, I'm good to go.