CROFT Riaa R vs. Jolida JD9

[Hedonist]

Dear All,

I am planning to purchase a new phono stage. So, I have narrowed the choice to Jolida or CROFT But would like to know pros and cons between modded Jolida (which I am planning to do) and CROFT Riaa R. I have LO MC Dyanavector, so step up for CROFT is a must!!!
Have anyone compared them directly?

Thank you,

Hedonist

[Rare Bird]

Well the Croft is hardwired, the Jolida isnt.

[hifi_dave]

The Croft is a wonderful MM phono stage at a great price. Unfortunately, if you have a low o/p MC, you will need a step-up or transformer plus incon. Therefore, the sound will sink or swim on the choice of these.

[Tarzan]

Dear All,

I am planning to purchase a new phono stage. So, I have narrowed the choice to Jolida or CROFT But would like to know pros and cons between modded Jolida (which I am planning to do) and CROFT Riaa R. I have LO MC Dyanavector, so step up for CROFT is a must!!!
Have anyone compared them directly?

Thank you,

Hedonist

l recently heard a Croft Basic with Ortofon T5's( very basic SUT)with my Denon Dl103 and for me was a great and l mean great sound, so much so that lwill be buying a Croft pre-amp very shortly- high end sound for relative buttons:)

[Hedonist]

Thanks.
One more question. Maybe I will have a chance to audition the Quad 24P! Any idea how Quad compares with Croft or Jolida?

Thanks again!!!

[Open Door]

The Jolida is very flexible. Takes MM, high MC and Low MC. The dip switches on the back of the unit allow one to set the phonostage to match the cartridge by type, capacitance and impedance. You can also adjust them to better suit your ear. Two outputs on the Jolida - normal and high gain allowing the use of very low output cartridges. They sound superb and is one if the best and most reviewed items in the Jolida library. It is now in mk2 disguise with a better voltage regulator, better caps, new resistors, Hexfred diodes and gold pin tubes. A giant killer.

[DSJR]

The old Quad 77 pre had a lovely sweet sound and a really nice MC input. Whether that transfers over to the current models is unknown to me at the mo, but Chinese-made Quad is alive and kicking and still making some great stuff I understand. Can't wait to hear the latest stuff :)

[ChrisKemp]

Does it mean that not one at this forum can tell a little about what this Riaa compares to? I can´t find a single review or anything??

http://www.decoaudio.com/wpimages/wp74b0975f_05_06.jpg

[Jimbo]

Does it mean that not one at this forum can tell a little about what this Riaa compares to? I can´t find a single review or anything??

http://www.decoaudio.com/wpimages/wp74b0975f_05_06.jpg

Hi Chris,

I am not surprised you cannot find a review of the Croft RIAA R because it is extremely rare! I know some dealers who have not actually seen or heard one!
I believe there is also a Croft RIAA RS out there somewhere too which has a unique valve configuration in the phono stage consisting of 3 valves instead of two and I'm not sure if they are ECC83's, they may be 12BH7As but not sure on that detail. I expect it is a truly superb sounding pre though!

Let me know if you can find anything on this amp as I would be interested, but getting to hear one or read a review may be tricky:lol:

[Firebottle]

Surely the performance of the RIAA R will be identical the 25R when used in phono mode?

The third valve is equivalent to the line stage valve in the 25R unless I'm mistaken.
Having heard the 25R round at Jimbo's I can say that it is excellent.

:cool: Alan

[paskinn]

I own both the basic riaa and the two box rs version. The basic riaa at £500 is a quite incredible bargain, at least to my ears. The two-box rs has a firmer, more 'grippy' bass and is a bit tidier and more controlled across the whole frequency range. So it is better in hi Fi terms. However, I like the basic riaa a great deal, and don't feel that the upgrade is usually needed.
No doubt others will disagree....it always depends on what you like. My own view would be that a standard riaa with a good step up can handle even expensive MCs with no problem.
I haven't heard the jolida, but have owned the quad 24p. Very versatile, but for me the Croft sounds better, just more flowing and easy.
As always, you may hear things differently. But Croft is a greAt audio brand at unusually fair prices. You could do a great deal worse....

[ChrisKemp]

Great feedback guys! Thank you. I cought interest in the a Croft Riaa after I bought a London Decca Super Gold from Divine Audio. Here in Norway we have a very pro hifi store that now is a dealer of Croft again. The store is called Audio Art. I contacted this store in Oslo aski g if I could review the Riaa R after xmas/ new year. After your postings about the Croft Riaa today, I am really looking forward to it. When I get it I'll post a little review and som pictures. May even make a Youtube video:)

I only use one cartridge as of now, and that is a London Decca. In the future I might buy a MC, but I love the Decca sound so much that I doubt it:)

[Jimbo]

Great feedback guys! Thank you. I cought interest in the a Croft Riaa after I bought a London Decca Super Gold from Divine Audio. Here in Norway we have a very pro hifi store that now is a dealer of Croft again. The store is called Audio Art. I contacted this store in Oslo aski g if I could review the Riaa R after xmas/ new year. After your postings about the Croft Riaa today, I am really looking forward to it. When I get it I'll post a little review and som pictures. May even make a Youtube video:)

I only use one cartridge as of now, and that is a London Decca. In the future I might buy a MC, but I love the Decca sound so much that I doubt it:)

I know others may disagree Chris but I think many MC will find it difficult to beat the London Decca for its sheer live immediate sound. It is a very special cartridge which would be a marriage made in heaven with the Croft RIAA. As you maybe aware Glenn Croft has always used Decca cartridges so i think it may well be optimised for this particular make of Moving Iron cartridge:)

[ChrisKemp]

I know others may disagree Chris but I think many MC will find it difficult to beat the London Decca for its sheer live immediate sound. It is a very special cartridge which would be a marriage made in heaven with the Croft RIAA. As you maybe aware Glenn Croft has always used Decca cartridges so i think it may well be optimised for this particular make of Moving Iron cartridge:)
Yes, I have only heard som very expensive carts at hifi shows and not in my own system. But I must admit that I also think you need a very pricey MC to beat the Decca when it comes to dynamics and lively music production:) And as you say, I have read several places that Glenn Croft optimises his Riaa to Deccas. That makes it so interesting, too:)

[hifi_dave]

Croft phono stages, separate and in the pres, are not optimised for Decca/London cartridges. They do work well with Decca/London but they have no special loading as they are intended to be a universal phono stage. Not much point in optimising for one particular cartridge as few of those are in use.

[Jimbo]

Croft phono stages, separate and in the pres, are not optimised for Decca/London cartridges. They do work well with Decca/London but they have no special loading as they are intended to be a universal phono stage. Not much point in optimising for one particular cartridge as few of those are in use.

You are correct Dave, the loadings for the Decca cartridge may not be optimised in the Croft pre amps as such but I have heard a range of Decca cartridges with the Croft 25 pre and they sound very good indeed.

[ChrisKemp]

Maybe tuning is a better word. I mean, the ProAc speakers are tuned with Audio Research amps. Together they sound great. If one follow that anology...Decca and Croft Riaa should also sound great together:)

[topoxforddoc]

How about this for a Christmas cracker! Just announced on PFM and Wam - a new TRON phono stage for a grand or less. OK it's a bit more than the Croft, but these pics suggest that it is likely to be beautifully built (like all the TRON kit). If it sounds anything like its bigger TRON Seven brothers, it should be a steal at the asking price - it's less than a new EAR 834P and about the same as a WhestTWO and Icon Audio PS1.

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=166644

[DSJR]

About time too! GT has priced his great sounding stuff for the far eastern snob/cachet market for some years now and if he can keep the magic but in a UK friendly lower priced package I'm all for it - more power to him! :)

Any chance of getting one in hifi dave?

[hifi_dave]

Yes, the Tron Convergence will be here in the New Year.

[Jimbo]

Surely the performance of the RIAA R will be identical the 25R when used in phono mode?

The third valve is equivalent to the line stage valve in the 25R unless I'm mistaken.
Having heard the 25R round at Jimbo's I can say that it is excellent.

:cool: Alan

The Croft RIAA is a 3 valve phono stage with the 3rd valve lowering impedance. A bit different to the Croft 25 phono stage.:eyebrows:

[Floyddroid]

Ooooh, here goes. Just get me helmet and flack jacket on. The Quad in my very humble opinion is streets ahead of the Croft. Sorry and all that! I confess to being a slight Croft heretic but the Quad may not have the purist elements of Croft products but it is very well made, sounds excellent and caters for both MM and l/oMC cartridges. As for the Jolida i couldn't say. Right, off to the bunker. :sofa:


Thanks.
One more question. Maybe I will have a chance to audition the Quad 24P! Any idea how Quad compares with Croft or Jolida?

Thanks again!!!

[Haselsh1]

OK, so I only own a Croft Micro 25 Basic but the phono stage is the best I have ever heard for four hundred quid. For that, I get a free preamp as well.