My Croft OTLs and Preamp

[StevieM]

I've been asked for some pics, so here goes.
First the OTLs

One clothed one naked

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b640/SteveMyatt/OTLs1Naked1Clothed_zps5b705d3f.jpg

One on it's own

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b640/SteveMyatt/1NakedOTL_zps43cd016d-1.jpg

Now the Preamp

Front Panel

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b640/SteveMyatt/FrontofNakedPreamp_zps02ae8a4a.jpg

Rear Panel

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b640/SteveMyatt/RearofNakedPreamp_zps35c13f56.jpg

Inside

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b640/SteveMyatt/NakedPreamp_zps1a4fb371.jpg

Pots are Alps Black Beauties

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b640/SteveMyatt/NakedPreamp2_zpse2d65765.jpg

Preamp Power Supply

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b640/SteveMyatt/PreampPowerSupply_zps2a101597.jpg


Hope you like them

[costerdock]

Man those look great - I'm sure they keep your house warm if they are anything like mine (I'm running close to half the number of tubes you have.)


Very nice.

[petrat]

Very interesting. I heard the OTLs some years ago at Martin Bastin's when I was picking up a 'skip-find' Garrard 301 that he'd fettled for me. It was bit difficult to judge as one of his Harbeth's drivers was playing up at the time.
Could you give a few more details of the rest of the sytem, the amplifiers' model numbers and whether any mods? Also, what are the main valves in the power amp? They look a bit like the PL509s that are in EAR mono blocks. By the way, Martin told me that his were replacements for EAR509s, so they must be something a bit special.
Many thanks!

[StevieM]

The OTLs were Glen Croft';s own pair as shown at the Hi Fi show back in the late 80s, I first heard them there along with Garrard 301 and stacked Quads. Being Glen's own, they were extensively modded over the years as Glen tried different caps etc.
They are exactly matched, Glen measures each component and then uses components of the same measured value in each amp.
Likewise the Preamp was Glen's own and was built using the same methodology.
Valves in the OTLs are PL519s

[petrat]

Thanks, Stephen.
Just found your thread in the Welcome section detailing rest of your system, etc.

[hifi_dave]

I'd like a fiver for every Croft Series 3 OTL we sold, back in the day. Great amps.

[StevieM]

My love affair with Croft gear started at that Hi Fi show. I went there to listen to the likes of Naim etc, but it was only when I was passing a small room on the first floor that I suddenly heard glorious music as opposed to "Hi Fi"
At that point I was using A Lecson Pre - Power combo.
I managed to get hold of a pair of Quad amps which I had modified by Glen and added a Mini Micro Preamp. I then, when funds allowed, upgraded to a Mega Micro, and eventually to the present amps.
Until I moved house, I used them with stacked Quads,but my present home doesn't, unfortunately, allow the space.

[DSJR]

I'd like a fiver for every Croft Series 3 OTL we sold, back in the day. Great amps.

My OTL (the last unregulated one he ever made) sounded great until the odd line fuse started blowing at random. If then was now, I'd have sent it back to Glenn to put regulators in...

The OTL's Tom Fletcher had in the early 80's were something else though :)