View Full Version : Croft off to GC for 'R' upgrade
Warning - shallow attention seeking thread ;)
Well I'm really excited about this but nobody else I know is so I'm posting here ! It goes tomorrow and will come back as a full 25 R spec. and is likely to be the last pre-amp I ever dabble with. I've been mightily impressed with the 25 (and the 7R for the short while I had it).
For the moment my trusty Leak 20 sits between it and my Harbs. though it's triode connected and as such reduced in output. I'll be having this undone by Paul @ Classique next week as I think the Harbs. may benefit from a bit more whack.
The fun never stops !
What does the R spec give you, Ian?
What does the R spec give you, Ian?
A hole in my wallet ! I'll admit, I'm going in on blind faith here having owned the 25 for a good while. A bit more detail and soundstage and I'll be happy. I fully apppreciate the law of diminishing returns applies.
The Grand Wazoo
25-01-2012, 08:09
An R Spec..........
...........or an arse peck?
http://www.ozzienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/rhino.jpg
............hope you like it Ian! I'm sure it'll be great.
bluenose24
25-01-2012, 11:00
Regulated I think :s you can go one better n go rs now that Is something very special indeed :eyebrows: I myself don't have one (yet) but having heard it they are something very special indeed I have to say :cool:
Nev
I'm going in on blind faith I do this too. It's the new science.
likely to be the last pre-amp I ever dabble with mmm really? I have made similar such declarations, usually to my wife, but it's never really been true. ;)
Good luck with the 'R'ifying. Hope it works out.
I thought "R" was for Reference and there are more valves inside an "R" from memory. Whatever, it'll refine and beef up what you love about the standard model (I HAVE done the comparison) :)
The Stereo 20 once returned to something approaching "normal" is a funny funky little devil of an amp. At once velvety yet with a cheeky "groove," it LOVES Harbeths without in the sligtest making them stodgy or sluggish :D
I'm sure your blind faith will pay off with mr croft, it's not like you haven't experienced his kit before. How long is it away for? I need another mini-review of croft gear to get me reaching for my wallet ;)
hifi_dave
25-01-2012, 17:03
How about - it's blo*dy wonderful and you can't equal it at twice the price ?
Is that 'mini' enough..:scratch:
Warning - shallow attention seeking thread ;)
Well I'm really excited about this but nobody else I know is so I'm posting here ! It goes tomorrow and will come back as a full 25 R spec. and is likely to be the last pre-amp I ever dabble with. I've been mightily impressed with the 25 (and the 7R for the short while I had it).
For the moment my trusty Leak 20 sits between it and my Harbs. though it's triode connected and as such reduced in output. I'll be having this undone by Paul @ Classique next week as I think the Herbs. may benefit from a bit more whack.
The fun never stops !
We will give it all the attention this thread needs...glenn croft thread:)..BTW Ian nice one... it will be in good hands;)..And yes they will be a difference:eyebrows:
jon
I'm sure your blind faith will pay off with mr croft, it's not like you haven't experienced his kit before. How long is it away for? I need another mini-review of croft gear to get me reaching for my wallet ;)
No you don't simon..What do you want to know?..Ask away:D
jon
How about - it's blo*dy wonderful and you can't equal it at twice the price ?
Only twice? ;)
Marco.
hifi_dave
25-01-2012, 19:01
OK - can't equal it at 4 or times the price..:exactly:
Haha hifi dave, love the mini-review, very succinct! Maybe it's time to bite the bullet, and join the Glenn croft love-in. Now any advance on four-times!
OK - can't equal it at 4 or times the price..:exactly:
Dave is their any that can equal it and at want price?:D
jon
Haha hifi dave, love the mini-review, very succinct! Maybe it's time to bite the bullet, and join the Glenn croft love-in. Now any advance on four-times!
Simon get your hand down your pocket and spend sum folding stuff on CG gear you know you want to:D
jon
Regulated I think :s you can go one better n go rs now that Is something very special indeed I myself don't have one (yet) but having heard it they are something very special indeed I have to say
Nev
Now that is a long way off Nev !
I do this too. It's the new science.
Simon
It's the only way I know Simon, but you've got to have the faith bit !
The Stereo 20 once returned to something approaching "normal" is a funny funky little devil of an amp. At once velvety yet with a cheeky "groove," it LOVES Harbeths without in the sligtest making them stodgy or sluggish. Dave
I'm a huge fan of the Leak 20 Dave, and in particular Paul @ Classique's re-builds with his rusky PIO caps.
I'm sure your blind faith will pay off with mr croft, it's not like you haven't experienced his kit before. How long is it away for? I need another mini-review of croft gear to get me reaching for my wallet
You'll crack soon enough Si.
We will give it all the attention this thread needs...glenn croft thread..BTW Ian nice one... it will be in good hands..And yes they will be a difference. Jon
Good to be here, as I say the wife's not interested. I told her it's going back to have the knobs changed, which is indeed true.
And yes, I'll learn to multi quote soon but I'm off for a beer right now.
And I'd like to add that you're all Croft tarts ;-)
And I'd like to add that you're all Croft tarts ;-)
Yes we know...Ian i am just G croft slag:D..And i an proud of it:eyebrows:
jon
Ok, i don't want to trample over Ian's thread but can i ask a question whilst the Croft fans are all here. I'm using the croft 7 fed directly from a Quad Cdp-2 and the croft was a big step up from the quad 909 i had originally, but what i gained in detail and spaciousness (airiness?!) i lost a little of the fullness/bass depth. I'm not even sure if spaciousness and fullness aren't mutually exclusive, but would the addition of a micro 25 pre give me back some bass depth do you think? I do miss it at times.
Thanks, and sorry for the interuption Ian :)
Ok, i don't want to trample over Ian's thread but can i ask a question whilst the Croft fans are all here. I'm using the croft 7 fed directly from a Quad Cdp-2 and the croft was a big step up from the quad 909 i had originally, but what i gained in detail and spaciousness (airiness?!) i lost a little of the fullness/bass depth. I'm not even sure if spaciousness and fullness aren't mutually exclusive, but would the addition of a micro 25 pre give me back some bass depth do you think? I do miss it at times.
Thanks, and sorry for the interruption Ian :)
Hi simon i have all glenns gear in my setup...All i can say is that the bass is very tight and prominent no lost in bass what so ever..every upgrade i have had glenn has made a big diffrence..and the best sound in music i have now;)
jon
Thanks Jon, that's quite an enviable setup you have there, but way out of my league. I just wanted to make sure i wouldn't be missing out on a sonic attribute i like by having an all Croft amp setup at the lower end of the scale.
Cheers, Si
The Stereo 20 once returned to something approaching "normal" is a funny funky little devil of an amp. At once velvety yet with a cheeky "groove," it LOVES Harbeths without in the sligtest making them stodgy or sluggish :D
It certainly is. I still can't part with mine even though it's been in the garage for a few years. Fabulous sounding amp and way better than the Quad II.
Thanks Jon, that's quite an enviable setup you have there, but way out of my league. I just wanted to make sure i wouldn't be missing out on a sonic attribute i like by having an all Croft amp setup at the lower end of the scale.
Cheers, Si
Si their is nothing wrong with the lower end of glenns products...Put it this way if you bought some else's gear and get Bord with if can you upgrade it?With glenns gear their is always an upgrade..in my case no more for now and that is from the man himself:D
jon
Ok, i don't want to trample over Ian's thread but can i ask a question whilst the Croft fans are all here. I'm using the croft 7 fed directly from a Quad Cdp-2 and the croft was a big step up from the quad 909 i had originally, but what i gained in detail and spaciousness (airiness?!) i lost a little of the fullness/bass depth. I'm not even sure if spaciousness and fullness aren't mutually exclusive, but would the addition of a micro 25 pre give me back some bass depth do you think? I do miss it at times.
Thanks, and sorry for the interuption Ian :)
Knock yourself out Si, really :-)
How was the beer ian?...Ian did glenn say how long he would have your pre?
jon
There's nowt really wrong with a Quad 909 either and it does offer (potentially) well over double the power at far less distortion over a Series 7. The "issue" with many 909's apparently, is the far eastern construction and the quality of the capacitors fitted to some of them, coupled with the Quadlink circuit board, which isn't needed outside of a Quad system and adds extra bits that can affect sonics - apparently...
I have a huge respect and fondness for the Series 7, but it's not the be-all and end-all of amps out there. Air and space is its forte, yet I'm sure the "R" version would do what you want regarding a little more "urge" and "meat" in the bass. I appreciate I'm limited in what i can recommend these days, but if you could afford it, the Albarry mono's would offer you the best of both the 909 series and the Series 7, What these amps do with their 50W each is nothing short of remarkable IMO...
How was the beer ian?...Ian did glenn say how long he would have your pre?
jon
The beer was good. To be honest not asked about timescale, not too fussed, I'd rather time be taken.
The beer was good. To be honest not asked about timescale, not too fussed, I'd rather time be taken.
It's done ! Should have it early next week.
I will of course post my impressions but not for a little while, I always go a bit mad when I get new gear - you know, analytical, not relaxing into it etc. I'm happy to admit to this minor madness, for that's what it is !
It's done ! Should have it early next week.
I will of course post my impressions but not for a little while, I always go a bit mad when I get new gear - you know, analytical, not relaxing into it etc. I'm happy to admit to this minor madness, for that's what it is !
We Wait with baited breathe;)
jon
I will of course post my impressions but not for a little while, I always go a bit mad when I get new gear - you know, analytical, not relaxing into it etc. I'm happy to admit to this minor madness, for that's what it is !
OK, B******s to that, it arrived at work this morning so I booked the afternoon off, whacked it in the system and sat back with a brew. I've probably had 3 hours with it now.
First of all, I can’t do a review. I can’t go on about air, space, timbre, tonal balance and the like. I enjoy reading reviews but take them with a pinch of salt. This isn’t a review, it’s what I think of this pre with my Harbeth P3ESRs and Leak 20 in my 12 x 12 foot room.
Also it’s important to stress that I have limitations in being able compare the 25R with other pre amps. I’ve messed about with loads of power amps. but the only preamps I’ve owned are a Quad QC24 and an Eastern Electric BBA which I used as a single input pre. And of course the now upgraded Micro 25. So I do want to say again, limited experience here. Only fair to do so.
So, anyway, at the risk of appearing to be a sycophant to the AoS Croft massive I have to say out loud that this is a stunning bit of kit. Music just seems to surround and envelop in a way I've not heard before. The depth thing is quite astonishing, when a track finishes, if it's not one that does so very suddenly, you can hear the music withdrawing away from you, it's quite something. I really have not experienced my music in this way before.
I've loved owning the Harbs. but I somehow knew they were capable of being truly magical and here we are.
I feel quite proud, excited and very happy to own this box. Not a cheap bit of kit by any means, but I have no regrets now and I think over time I may even think that this considerable outlay was a bargain.
I think the Glenn Croft philosophy and business model is a marvel, one bloke designing and hand building amps. that can be returned and upgraded. No advertising, lets the gear speak for itself and people like us speak for the gear.
I'll probably come up with a few more words in the coming days, but in terms of upgrade over the Micro 25, then yes, without doubt. And I loved the Micro and could have lived with it.
Top job ;-)
Nice one ...ian so it sounds as though the upgrade was worth every penny:thumbsup:
jon
Great stuff Ian - I'm sure it will only get better. :)
Great to hear you're so pleased Ian. Sounds like the leap of faith was well worth the money! Enjoy your new purchase I'm sure it'll only get better with time too :)
Cheers chaps, serious question, do we believe in burn in etc, new gear improving after a while ? I've never really been sure !
Not sure if it's burn in or sensory acclimatisation, but I love that moment when you're not consciously analysing the kit and you realise it sounds great and you definitely made the right decision.
Cheers chaps, serious question, do we believe in burn in etc, new gear improving after a while ? I've never really been sure !
:lol:
http://static.seekingalpha.com/uploads/2009/6/5/saupload_can_of_worms_ahead.jpg
In my PERSONAL opinion, components (capacitors etc.) need some burn in, but I am not a believer in wires changing much (if at all) due to burn in.
It varies from unit to unit as well, I think - the Beresford Caiman is well known for requiring c. 200 hours to "burn in" and I definitely experienced that (it sounded quite rubbish to start with!) - whereas I didn't notice any real difference when "running in" the Brio-R recently, it just sounded great out of the box (after a few hours left warming up before use) and stayed that way!
But to answer your question, I would think it is entirely likely that capacitors especially will need a little time to burn in - though it may also be you getting used to the new sound too.
sensory acclimatisation
Just love that term Simon !
We'll Alex, if it gets even better I dare say I can live with it.
Just done another significant upgrade today. My leak 20 was triode conneceted, halving the power. Just had this 'undone' by Paul @ Classique and the Harbs. definitely benefit from that bit more power. This upgrade cost considerable less than the last one too !
All good, never been happier with my wash.
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