December 2020

Great Audiophile Gift Ideas For The 2020 Holiday Season
Enjoy the Music.com celebrates our 15th annual gift ideas to give your audiophile!

Bottlehead Single Ended eXperimenter's Kit 3.0

  Bottlehead's affectionately-named S.E.X. 3.0 Kit ($785 on up) is extremely easy to build and will run any dynamic headphones – even AKG K1000s and Audeze LCD-2s – to great effect. Power output is a generous two watts per channel, so it could also drive highly efficient loudspeakers too! The big update for Version 3.0 is that Bottlehead has changed the tubes used from the now difficult to find 6DN7 to the 6FJ7. The 6FJ7 is the same tube in a different glass envelope designed to fit in a Compactron socket. Same great sound as the 6FJ7, but in a tube that isn't being gobbled up by our competitors who have (finally) caught on to the great sound of the 6DN7.

The other significant changes are a new universal power transformer, new heater circuit wiring for exceptionally low noise operation that allows use even with sensitive IEMs, and an improved assembly manual and easier to build layout. Upgrade from the standard version includes black molded IEC power cord to the Bottlehead Power Cord Kit (for 120VAC mains only) and save $5 over the regular price at just (+$79.00) A Bottlehead Badge is not included with your kit but you can add one (+$8.00), plus you can get cool swag with a Bottlehead Cap (cotton twill in black) for just $15.99.

As this is a kit, fear not as assembly is a one or two evening affair, It has been designed for the builder with a little or (if you are patient and willing to carefully follow directions) no kit assembly experience. A very thorough assembly manual (the S.E.X. Manual) is included in Adobe PDF format, containing step-by-step printed instructions you check off as you work, detailed photos of the chassis underside and components, and a thorough checkout procedure. All the builder needs to supply is solder. As with our other kits the Bottlehead Forum serves as the builder's online tech support resource, with dozens of experienced builders participating to help you with your questions. You can get the Bottlehead S.E.X. 3.0 Kit at this link.

Recommended by Enjoy the Music.com's Jeff Poth.

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