Hi James,
I am also in search of a new phono stage. It would have been great to put a 'real' Croft RIAA phono stage against the lot and see how it would fare. Personally, I would also be curious about a Paradise phono stage, which -although from the SS camp- has received rave reviews.
In any case, bake-offs can be so informative and eye-opening in most cases.
Originally Posted by
Jimbo
I think you are right Panos, the 25R phono stage does have the Croft sound but is more simple than the RIAA phono stages. i have asked the question of Glenn too and there is not enough room to put the RIAA phono stage in the 25R.
I expect the RIAA R and RS to sound significantly better! and they are where I will be heading in the future.
On the day of the bake off the basic Croft phono stage sounded great even amongst very good company.
System1: Lenco L75 with custom plinth, SLAT, sph bearing, SG4 external power supply + Alfred Bokrand AB-309 tonearm + Denon DL103R (aluminum body) + Well Tempered 12" tonearm clone + Denon DL103R (wooden body), ASR Mini Basis Exclusive HV, Marantz CD6005, LAB12 DAC1 SE+, Hattor BIG passive + active pre, Lab12 Suono power amp, Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, LAB12 Gordian, Belden 8428, Black Cat Red Level Triode, LAB12 Knack MkII
System 2: Roksan Xerxes original (HiFi Inspire plinth) with Maxon ReMax motor + Audiomods Series6 + Ortofon Cadenza Black microridge retipped, ASR Mini Basis Exclusive, Marantz CD6003, Croft Micro25R + Series7R monoblocks (110W/ea), Harbeth SHL5 Plus 40th Anniv.
System 3: Marantz CD6003, Croft SuperMicroII ('R' spec by Croft, Tesla E83CC in phono)+ Series7, Snell Type EII (with bypass caps, new internal wiring, WBT nextgen 0703Cu), Mark Grant HDX1, Atlas Hyper 3.0