The Croft Epoch - A Tale of developing a MoFo of a pre amp..........

**Wakefield Turntables** · 17-07-2016, 20:50

It's been two hours and the difference is massive, honestly. Clarity, transients, note edge's, surface noise, sound stage construction, all improved. It's far too early to really see where the improvements have fully manifested. I'm having dreadful ground loop hum with the paradise at the moment which is quite sad as this is my reference phonostage on the valve setup so I'm using the Ortofon SPU via the SUT and Sugden setup. I'm still extremely pleased with the outcome.

**Jimbo** · 17-07-2016, 20:55

Can you take a piccy showing the valves and one of the front please

You have a truly world class pre amp there Andy. Beautiful workmanship and if you come to sell it it I am waiting.

**Wakefield Turntables** · 17-07-2016, 21:05

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Can you take a piccy showing the valves and one of the front please

You have a truly world class pre amp there Andy. Beautiful workmanship and if you come to sell it it I am waiting.

Valves are nothing specials, Sovtek!!! I'll post some pics of the valves if you want and the front of the amp tomorrow. I've been given some recommendations for valve replacements by Marco and Joe. I want to get a feel for how the amp sounds before a start to Toob roll.

**Wakefield Turntables** · 19-07-2016, 19:46

Time to replace the crappy Sovtek tubes. I should have some NOS Mullard ECC35's by the end of this week

And if my bid is accepted some NOS RCA 6SL7 red bases. The amp continues to improve, currently listening to my DECCA FFSS recordings and they sound excellent.

**Wakefield Turntables** · 20-07-2016, 10:42

Right, we are on! NOS RCA red base purchased from USA and the GT version on the black base Mullard ECC35. Tube rolling here we come.

**Wakefield Turntables** · 20-07-2016, 19:14

Here we are for all tube geeks.

And some RCA jobbies.

Lets see what these can do for the Epoch.

**Wakefield Turntables** · 20-07-2016, 20:24

Ground loop hum sorted, now some proper listening to Jazz through the paradise.

**Wakefield Turntables** · 23-07-2016, 07:42

MUllards have now arrived, let's have some fun listening to them in a room at 30oC with a valve amp

**Macca** · 23-07-2016, 08:37

So, despite the heat, is it ticking the boxes?

**Wakefield Turntables** · 23-07-2016, 08:50

Originally Posted by Macca

So, despite the heat, is it ticking the boxes?

Martin, yes it is. I intend to produce a write-up in the next few days detailing my findings. Stay tuned.

Thread: The Croft Epoch - A Tale of developing a MoFo of a pre amp..........

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