Croft Vitale ...... a bit of an unknown

[simon e]

Lovely looking system, very similar to mine TD124, micro 25 and a ST20.

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[Vinyl turner]

Sometimes doing a trial spot on the underside is wise. If it goes tits up you wont be upset. Its probably a wax finish so turps,white spirit isnt a good idea. Weak acetic acid should be ok..ie vinegar. Worst comes to worst you might have to strip and re wax the front. Maybe ask Glen croft what they use?

Thanks Grant,

I'll try the vinegar solution first off (was it 50/50 ?). I read somewhere (ont'interweb) that using an iron with something like kitchen paper (like the old use of iron & brown paper to press trousers) - to lightly heat the surface and draw the grease out was worth a try. But for obvious reasons I didn't think I'd follow that particular advice.
Yours sounds a safer bet.

[Haselsh1]

And make no difference whatsoever to sound or reliability....

The reliability of the Series 7 was actually appalling with the amplifier lasting less than six months before needing a repair so my experience is that it does have quite an impact on reliability if not sound quality. My experience of ownership of course, that's all.

[rubber duck]

So the problem was fixed with a better casing?

[Haselsh1]

So the problem was fixed with a better casing?

The problem was caused by cheap tacky switch gear. For those out there who may be interested, it is something that needs to be taken into account when you may be spending fifteen hundred quid or more. Cheap components are always going to lead to the same thing. Even my previous Chinese amplifier lasted longer than the Croft power amp did without needing a repair.

[rubber duck]

The point I was trying to make is that there is nothing flimsy or poor about the Croft case. It is as solid as need be and the build quality is very good including complete hard-wiring. But you are now raising a separate issue and it sounds like you may have an axe to grind. Premature component failure is unfortunate but can happen with any piece of hi-fi. I suspect your experience may be the exception, and to then generalise from this is unfair. The only problem I've had with my Series 7 since I've owned it over the past five years was a blown fuse and that was me being careless and not due to cheap components or a flimsy case.

[Haselsh1]

The point I was trying to make is that there is nothing flimsy or poor about the Croft case. It is as solid as need be and the build quality is very good including complete hard-wiring. But you are now raising a separate issue and it sounds like you may have an axe to grind. Premature component failure is unfortunate but can happen with any piece of hi-fi. I suspect your experience may be the exception, and to then generalise from this is unfair. The only problem I've had with my Series 7 since I've owned it over the past five years was a blown fuse and that was me being careless and not due to cheap components or a flimsy case.

As I always do, I speak from experience and there may be folk out there who are taken in by what is said on forums and what is not necessarily true. I do not ever hero worship anything like many others do and I am only interested in fact.
So, what I have said I stand by and unless this forum has recently taken to censorship, I shall continue to express my views based purely upon experience. My experience of Croft was not particularly good. I still maintain though that the sound quality is superb. If the product finish was as good then there would be no competition at all.

[Arkless Electronics]

The reliability of the Series 7 was actually appalling with the amplifier lasting less than six months before needing a repair so my experience is that it does have quite an impact on reliability if not sound quality. My experience of ownership of course, that's all.

As you yourself say in your next post it was due to dodgy switchgear. Not a flimsy case.... I rest mine...

[Arkless Electronics]

As I always do, I speak from experience and there may be folk out there who are taken in by what is said on forums and what is not necessarily true. I do not ever hero worship anything like many others do and I am only interested in fact.
So, what I have said I stand by and unless this forum has recently taken to censorship, I shall continue to express my views based purely upon experience. My experience of Croft was not particularly good. I still maintain though that the sound quality is superb. If the product finish was as good then there would be no competition at all.

And how do you think they keep the price down so low? Fancy heavy weight casework and designer components will double the price of a unit without necessarily adding anything to sound quality. The case will in fact definitely do nothing for the sound quality and the importance of component quality on sound quality is vastly exaggerated.

As it happens I have a pre amp waiting in the wings which I talked up a lot here on AOS 6 months or so ago but have temporarily put in abeyance (see my trade area) which is specifically intended to thrash any Croft in every area including build quality and for only about £200 more money. One has been commissioned and so photos etc will be forthcoming in the fairly near future

[rubber duck]

As I always do, I speak from experience and there may be folk out there who are taken in by what is said on forums and what is not necessarily true. I do not ever hero worship anything like many others do and I am only interested in fact.
So, what I have said I stand by and unless this forum has recently taken to censorship, I shall continue to express my views based purely upon experience. My experience of Croft was not particularly good. I still maintain though that the sound quality is superb. If the product finish was as good then there would be no competition at all.

Well, I also speak from experience and the truth! All I was suggesting is that, judging from the absence or lack of negative forum posts (not just here), yours may not be the experience of most Croft users. No one is saying your experience is not valid but so is mine, and I still own two Croft amps. I'm not sure where the hero worship comes in, or the suggestion that lies are being spread about Croft. But I'm glad you still think Croft sounds great.