Belloire's Kit

[belloire]

hi all, newbie member, so thought i'd share some kit piccies.

Front End:

Roksan Xerxes/RB250/Grado Gold/ NVA Phono 2 (pic shows old AT cart, and no phono amp)
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010305.jpg

Audiolab 8000CD
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010310.jpg

Linn Sneaky DS (this may be replaced with SB3/DAC-8)
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010311.jpg

SB3
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010314.jpg

Xindak DAC-8
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010309.jpg

Amplification:

CR Developments Romulus Integrated amp. using as a power amp in my case.
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010307.jpg

Croft Micro 25 Pre Amp
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010308.jpg

Magnum MF250 power amp (not, presently, in system)
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010313.jpg

also have a Linn Majik Kontrol (not, presently, in system and not pictured)

Speakers:

B&W 602.5 S3 (present choice)
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff393/belloire/P1010312.jpg

also have Linn Katans & Epos M12.2s (again not, presently, in system and not pictured)

sadly all in bedroom at the moment until we get a bigger place. sounds great though!

[jandl100]

Hi Darren :)

Lovely kit (especially that CRD Romulus valve amp ;)) ... the speakers are trailing behind a bit, though! Is that the next upgrade?

In what ways is the Croft pre better than the pre-amp section of the Romulus? ... must admit I tried a few pre's with the Rommie and preferred the Rommie's pre-amp section. I suspect that Croft 25 of yours is rather special!

[belloire]

hi Jerry,

you are correct about the speakers. the b&w's are a stop gap at the moment. the valves aren't good with the linn katans, too polite, and the epos are too unrefined. b&w's are cheap middle ground. gonna sell all 3 sets and buy something new.
i'm still undecided about the Croft, not really done enough demoing yet. however i tried the Linn Majik Kontrol, an £1800 pre amp, and it sounded rubbish. i thought it was broken, so tried it in my pals all linn system, where it was fine. just doesn't like valves i guess! (i might try it with the magnum for a bit of fun)
i went from the romulus to the linn and was gutted. then putting the croft in was amazing. such a difference! the Linn sounded flat and dull, the croft opens everything up again. not really got the room at mine at the mo. moving in october all being well. going to a bake off at the beginning of October where there will be no end of fancy kit. be nice to try the romulus and croft there.

on a side note, tried the squeezebox and xindak against the sneaky ds today for the first time. i'm leaning towards the squeezebox at this point. a little 'darker' perhaps, but guitars sound more like somebody is playing in my room than i've ever heard before! again, prolly take them to the bake off and then sell 1 of them (more speaker money!)

loving the Romulus though!

[southall-1998]

NVA Phono2, great phono stage.

[Ali Tait]

Swap the SB3 for a Touch and you will have even better sound by all accounts.