Fletcher Audio, Pear Audio, Croft and ESP

[kidhoward]

I would like to share my positive experience (albeit limited) with some of Fletcher Audio new design, Croft amplifiers and ESP loudspeakers. One year ago I have decided to renew my system. Of course I have prepared myself (reviews, magazines ... now I know it was big waste of time) and happily went to the dealers to listen to demo systems. In mind I had only digital and the new Hi-res trend. Because I was convinced that the 24/96 must be as good as analogy. I listened to many systems (Wavac, Ascendo, Livig voice, Luxman, ASI liveline ect.). The most expensive was CHORD system where only transport was worth around 7,000 €. The whole system was about 60,000 €. On the other side I have also tested the Hi-res with the rDAC from Arcam. After that experience I will no longer even think about buying a new CD player. For digital sound I can say that everything was played very clean with a multitude of details. Always controlled. But I have missed something. There was no pleasure. There was no lifelike sound. Then I told myself that I'm going to listen to the turntables again.

I have listened to different combination. The most expensive was around 100,000 € altogether. Only turntable/tonearm/cartridge combination was 50.000€. And the cheapest was around 7,500 €. And that combination was something special; Croft Micro25/series7, Harbeth SHL5 and turntable The Blue. Sound was amazing. So much better than anything I have heard so far. And after that I have made some investigations about all those brands.

I know that most of you know about Croft and Harbeth but I doubt that you have heard about company Pear Audio Europe and the owner Peter Mezek. But if you will go carefully through website Fletcher Audio you will see that Peter was close friend of Tom Fletcher. The Blue was designed by Tom and it shares many parts with Fletcher Audio. I haven’t got opportunity to listen to omega .5 but after The Blue I can only imagine. Tom Fletcher must have been great designer.

I am glad that I have opportunity to listen to above combination.

Today I am happy because I know that I will not have to spend huge amount of money on top MC cartridge, exotic tonearms and space design turntable. Combination The Blue / Croft / Harbeth is so good that I doubt I'll ever need more. It was better than much more expensive brands.

Of course I would like to have Shahinian or PodiumSound loudspeakers but then I would have first to build a new music room at least 40m2. I have listened to those speakers at Pear Audio too.

And latest experience was combination with ESP speakers. For now this is my reference system. I hope that someone of you will have chance to listen to those speakers. In fact Sean McCaughan is one of the last great designers of loudspeaker and he is living in England.
This is only a description of my experience and feelings. It might be completely different from all others. Maybe others have different preferences. My preference is lifelike sound.

[MartinT]

If Pear Audio Europe are associated with Pear Audio UK (same logo so I guess so), then I have had superb dealings with John Burns over Dynavector products. A most helpful and pleasant chap.

[hifi_dave]

The Fletcher, Croft, Harbeth combination makes great sounds but I don't know about the ESP speakers. A quick Google reveals only 'Home Cinema' packages. Surely you aren't referring to them ? :scratch:

[basnas]

Hi

What cartridge to you use ?
Fletcher tracer 1?

best jan

[kidhoward]

The Fletcher, Croft, Harbeth combination makes great sounds but I don't know about the ESP speakers. A quick Google reveals only 'Home Cinema' packages. Surely you aren't referring to them ? :scratch:

Hi Dave

Of course not. Here is the link:

http://esploudspeakers.com/welcome/index.html

Those speakers are amazing. I have never heard of them before. Peter has made me speechless. If you will have opportunity to listen to them try it. They are true High End. I have listened to smaller model Bodhran.
Here is another opinion:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/archive/index.php/t-83750.html

Ales

[hifi_dave]

Ah, yes, I remember them now..:doh:

[kidhoward]

If Pear Audio Europe are associated with Pear Audio UK (same logo so I guess so), then I have had superb dealings with John Burns over Dynavector products. A most helpful and pleasant chap.

Hi Martin

I am not sure but I suppose they used to be together. But they are completely different company. Peter is now concentrated only on good sound. He is not in marketing anymore and not dealing with the mass market. I have met him only by chance. He completely turns my view on Hi End. After few sessions I am aware that mass market is all about shiny boxes and advertisement. Small Croft was true surprise for me. Also he makes 3 different models of turntable. I listen to Kuzma XL and his Airline tonearm, but my ears telling me that Peter’s equipment is much better. Simply he has music. He is great chap.

[kidhoward]

Hi

What cartridge to you use ?
Fletcher tracer 1?

best jan

I don’t know what kind of cartridge he was using. I just know that it was MM model.

[basnas]

Hi

I think the mm cartridge on this Tom Fletcher is a Tracer 1, or the Excel 70S
I think it is the same cartridge.

But Glenn Croft is use the (Very Good Decca Blue)

5364


best jan

[kidhoward]

Hi

I think the mm cartridge on this Tom Fletcher is a Tracer 1, or the Excel 70S
I think it is the same cartridge.

But Glenn Croft is use the (Very Good Decca Blue)

5364


best jan

Thanks Jan

I know about Croft and Decca. I was talking about that with Peter. He told me that he value Decca and his cartridge the same. Anyway..it is not important for me, because I hope that someday I will have the sound I have heard at his place. As I told already we have compared his combination with other much more expensive. I am glad that I didnt buy expensive MC with phono amplifier. Croft and that cartridge will do the job.

[Lidsmoes]

Hi

I think the mm cartridge on this Tom Fletcher is a Tracer 1, or the Excel 70S
I think it is the same cartridge.

But Glenn Croft is use the (Very Good Decca Blue)

5364


best jan

Very Nice picture!
What is the little preamp next to the wave supply - do you know?

best, Lars

[kidhoward]

Hi

I think the mm cartridge on this Tom Fletcher is a Tracer 1, or the Excel 70S
I think it is the same cartridge.

But Glenn Croft is use the (Very Good Decca Blue)

5364


best jan

Hi Jan

I want to ask you is this your Turnatable on the picture. It was the same turntable and same cartridge which I have listened to at Mr. Peter Mezek.

Can you tell me something about it.

Regards,

Ales

[basnas]

Hi Ales

No it is not my turtable, it is from a hifi fair article. witch some picture
My deck is a Nottingham analogue hyperspace.

best jan

[kidhoward]

Hi Jan

I was and stil I am very impresed with that turntable. Where was that fair? Did you have oportunity to listen to that set up? I know that Peter is working with guys from Denmark.

[kidhoward]

Hi

I think the mm cartridge on this Tom Fletcher is a Tracer 1, or the Excel 70S
I think it is the same cartridge.

But Glenn Croft is use the (Very Good Decca Blue)

5364


best jan

Does anybody know something about this cartridge on the picture?

[hifi_dave]

From previous comments and the fuzzy pic, it looks like a Tracer 1, 2 or 3. These were MM cartridges supplied by Tom/Nottingham Analogue some years ago.

[kidhoward]

http://www.analogplanet.com/content/pear-audio-blue-turntables-have-familiar-looking-design-elements

http://audioskies.com/news/

[hifi_dave]

Fletcher turntables and arms under a different name. What's that all about ???

The Fletcher products were supposed to be Tom's 'legacy' but his name has been dropped..:scratch:

[sq225917]

That's what happen when you die and there's no contractual obligation on the business partner to retain the naming. It also helps if the living party has low morals or no sense of the true worth of Tom's place in the analogue firmament...

[hifi_dave]

Amen.

[Alan Sircom]

Fletcher turntables and arms under a different name. What's that all about ???

The Fletcher products were supposed to be Tom's 'legacy' but his name has been dropped..:scratch:

I'm finding this a little odd, too. I saw the Pear Audio Blue decks at T.H.E. Show in Las Vegas and brought up the subject of Fletcher Audio. I didn't particularly feel like dancing at the time, but I got the distinct impression I'd been waltzed thoroughly and effectively around the subject.

If this is where Tom's legacy and the Fletcher Audio products end up, then fine... so be it. The Fletcher Audio Omega Point 3/Zero combination I reviewed was excellent and if that brand has stalled and Pear Audio Blue has risen out of the ashes, at least that means Tom's final designs are still being manufactured. However, I'd prefer to know what, when, where and how, without needing to brush up on my paso doble.

Other things I'd sort of like to know is which Pear Audio Blue turntable in particular caught kidhoward's eye - the kid thomas, the kid punch or the, er, kid howard? And did the Bodhran SE blow kidhoward away before or after ESP became Pear Audio Blue's UK distributor? Little things like that.

[YNWaN]

Also, there is a UK dealer selling it's 'own brand' turntables that look exceedingly like Tom Fletcher designs - in fact, they obviously are TF designs.

[Audioman]

The impression I get is that the Fletcher Audio production has stalled though I believe not necessarily permanently. The Pear Audio Europe Blue has been around a while in fact and is a different product which appears to have had some input from Tom before he passed away. Visually it has a lot in common with the Divine Audio 'Analogue Works' turntable which Andrew purchased and is very enthusiastic about. Interestingly Divine are also dealers for Notts Analogue and Fletcher Audio. Their own TT appears to be an amalgam of Fletcher and Notts analogue parts incl a Bastin designed power supply. Just checking Devine site reveals the Fletcher products are still for sale as well as Analogue Works. I don't think there is a direct relationship between UK and Europe Pear Audio. UK Pear sell The Well Tempered TT.

[sq225917]

Alan, I like the new 'controversial' you much more relaxed than the old one... ;-)

[kidhoward]

I'm finding this a little odd, too. I saw the Pear Audio Blue decks at T.H.E. Show in Las Vegas and brought up the subject of Fletcher Audio. I didn't particularly feel like dancing at the time, but I got the distinct impression I'd been waltzed thoroughly and effectively around the subject.

If this is where Tom's legacy and the Fletcher Audio products end up, then fine... so be it. The Fletcher Audio Omega Point 3/Zero combination I reviewed was excellent and if that brand has stalled and Pear Audio Blue has risen out of the ashes, at least that means Tom's final designs are still being manufactured. However, I'd prefer to know what, when, where and how, without needing to brush up on my paso doble.

Other things I'd sort of like to know is which Pear Audio Blue turntable in particular caught kidhoward's eye - the kid thomas, the kid punch or the, er, kid howard? And did the Bodhran SE blow kidhoward away before or after ESP became Pear Audio Blue's UK distributor? Little things like that.

Hi Alan. Look at the two parts video. It will explain a lot. Tom and Peter were close friends. This is all I know. I have heard ESP Bodhran before ESP became Pear Audio Blue's UK distributor. I have sent the first post in this thread almost 2 and a half year ago, because I was really impressed with the sound of the whole system (including room setup and wires). Sean McCaughan (ESP) is great guy. Old school. I have heard all three models of Pear Audio turntable. Of course the quality is going up with the model.
Also my friend has Larsen speakers and Pear audio turntable with Croft phono. I was impressed with the sound and friendliness of set up. WAF is very high. And Michael Framer has just confirmed that I wasn’t wrong. My friend has installed system almost a year ago.
What is interesting form me is that Sean and Peter are true music lovers. I have privilege to talk with Sean. He doesn’t want to talk about technical stuff too much. But he likes to talk about live music performance, sound of different concert hall, etc. After all dealers who are mainly occupied with crazy priced wires (my experience) and constant upgrades that was real refreshment.
So after I have found ESP/Croft/Pear set up everything is about finding and buying good LPs. And if the times will come that I won’t be able to put speakers in the middle of the room…Larsen will be my choice.
This is just information. Maybe it will be useful for somebody. But of course personal listening is necessary. Everybody should decide on his own if this combination is worth the money.

[kidhoward]

Ops..here is the video. Sorry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36i3g0Ntq_I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9krKxcOEBE

[hifi_dave]

That is a well travelled video of dear old Tom but it doesn't explain why 'Fletcher' has been dropped from the products which were intended to be Tom's legacy. Tom spent the best part of his life designing and building wonderful music making machines and the 'Fletcher' brand was going to be used to keep his name and reputation alive but it now appears to have been ditched.

A great pity. IMO

[Spectral Morn]

That is a well travelled video of dear old Tom but it doesn't explain why 'Fletcher' has been dropped from the products which were intended to be Tom's legacy. Tom spent the best part of his life designing and building wonderful music making machines and the 'Fletcher' brand was going to be used to keep his name and reputation alive but it now appears to have been ditched.

A great pity. IMO

agreed


Regards Neil

[YNWaN]

Yep, I've seen both of those vids before and they don't actually explain anything - nothing with regard to the weird company shenanigans and very little from a technical persepective either!

[kidhoward]

http://audioskies.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Audio_Oasis_Audio_Skies_ESP_Pear_GamuT.jpg

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue76/rmaf14_oasis.htm

http://www.stereophile.com/content/january-2015-issue-here

"Michael Fremer enthuses over a new LP player from Pear Audio...."