The Black Adder
03-03-2012, 16:52
Hello all.
A few changes have been afoot recently in my system. The main differences have been made in amplification and crossovers. Firstly the crossovers made by Nick Gorham. These babies have really made my 12" Monitor Golds really come alive. With my previous amplification (Croft Quad II monoblocks) they showed just exactly what these speakers could produce.
When Marco visited me and took a listen with the previous system he mentioned that the speakers have the potential to really shift some air. The emphisis on amplification and crossovers were the obvious things to change first so I had a chat with Nick and he agreed to make some for me.
With some tweaks we got the crossovers working amazingly well indeed with no more of that over emphasised Tannoy Honk.
The Crofted Quad II amplifiers are very, very good indeed but now we have two little un's I felt I had to move them on, they had a lot of exposed valves to which I personally love but in the end they had to go.
Because I was so impressed with the Basic pre-amplifier and what Glenn did the Quads I traded both in for the 25 pre and a rather special 7R power amplifier. Special because instead of pushing 55wpc this one pushes 30wpc lowering the impedance to suit my Tannoys.
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/Tannoy%20Crossovers%20New/DSC05689.jpg
Amplification:
The Quads have a full on Valve sound, GEC KT88's along with other NOS GEC's the sound was a very nice modern sound with nothing much bearing on the original stock versions which to me sounded nice but lacked in speed. Not overlay a bad thing as lots of people like them. The crofted Quads are powerful, balanced yet smooth.
The 7R has more gruff, more poke but still keeps things smooth, faster and very powerful.
So the 7R pushes 30wpc and the Quads just over 20wpc. What gives I hear you ask? Well, Adrian at Audio Flair offered me the special lower powered version and so at first I was a little apprehensive about this because I wanted a Jeremy Clarkson moment (POWER). So thinking this is what I wanted Glenn assured me it wasn't... not with Tannoys.
Adrian then assured me further that this amp will certainly move some air. So the order went in to Adrian of which he was fantastic, everything went so smoothly and a great guy to deal with. With this a trade in of my Basic pre to a 25 was also done.
Further upgrades to the 7R were also made including upgraded resistors, valves, sockets and an upgraded output stage.
The Sound:
So with the new Crossovers and amplification how does it sound? Well, it's different... a lot different and much more to my new taste... which is nice.
The sound is all encompassing. Fulsome, powerful with a sound-stage to die for, deep and wide. Love it. From the first needle drop I just knew something was different… very different. That lovely thump was a very nice…Thump!
The bass actually shakes my pictures on the wall and it's so realistic. Playing a track I'd not heard before I thought their was someone on our drive revving a Ferrari or something and at the same time someone tapping on the window. I had to flick the bloody mute switch to make sure Jeremy Clarkson wasn't trying to tell me to turn it down. lol
The 7R is still burning in and is improving all of the time.
I can't praise Adrian at Audio Flair enough for helping me out, great chap and of course Nick, cheers fella.
Happiness:
... is a wonderful thing! :)
The 7R (With extras)
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/DSC05757.jpg
New view of my system
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/DSC05866.jpg
A few changes have been afoot recently in my system. The main differences have been made in amplification and crossovers. Firstly the crossovers made by Nick Gorham. These babies have really made my 12" Monitor Golds really come alive. With my previous amplification (Croft Quad II monoblocks) they showed just exactly what these speakers could produce.
When Marco visited me and took a listen with the previous system he mentioned that the speakers have the potential to really shift some air. The emphisis on amplification and crossovers were the obvious things to change first so I had a chat with Nick and he agreed to make some for me.
With some tweaks we got the crossovers working amazingly well indeed with no more of that over emphasised Tannoy Honk.
The Crofted Quad II amplifiers are very, very good indeed but now we have two little un's I felt I had to move them on, they had a lot of exposed valves to which I personally love but in the end they had to go.
Because I was so impressed with the Basic pre-amplifier and what Glenn did the Quads I traded both in for the 25 pre and a rather special 7R power amplifier. Special because instead of pushing 55wpc this one pushes 30wpc lowering the impedance to suit my Tannoys.
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/Tannoy%20Crossovers%20New/DSC05689.jpg
Amplification:
The Quads have a full on Valve sound, GEC KT88's along with other NOS GEC's the sound was a very nice modern sound with nothing much bearing on the original stock versions which to me sounded nice but lacked in speed. Not overlay a bad thing as lots of people like them. The crofted Quads are powerful, balanced yet smooth.
The 7R has more gruff, more poke but still keeps things smooth, faster and very powerful.
So the 7R pushes 30wpc and the Quads just over 20wpc. What gives I hear you ask? Well, Adrian at Audio Flair offered me the special lower powered version and so at first I was a little apprehensive about this because I wanted a Jeremy Clarkson moment (POWER). So thinking this is what I wanted Glenn assured me it wasn't... not with Tannoys.
Adrian then assured me further that this amp will certainly move some air. So the order went in to Adrian of which he was fantastic, everything went so smoothly and a great guy to deal with. With this a trade in of my Basic pre to a 25 was also done.
Further upgrades to the 7R were also made including upgraded resistors, valves, sockets and an upgraded output stage.
The Sound:
So with the new Crossovers and amplification how does it sound? Well, it's different... a lot different and much more to my new taste... which is nice.
The sound is all encompassing. Fulsome, powerful with a sound-stage to die for, deep and wide. Love it. From the first needle drop I just knew something was different… very different. That lovely thump was a very nice…Thump!
The bass actually shakes my pictures on the wall and it's so realistic. Playing a track I'd not heard before I thought their was someone on our drive revving a Ferrari or something and at the same time someone tapping on the window. I had to flick the bloody mute switch to make sure Jeremy Clarkson wasn't trying to tell me to turn it down. lol
The 7R is still burning in and is improving all of the time.
I can't praise Adrian at Audio Flair enough for helping me out, great chap and of course Nick, cheers fella.
Happiness:
... is a wonderful thing! :)
The 7R (With extras)
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/DSC05757.jpg
New view of my system
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/DSC05866.jpg