Croft amplification with Tannoy Turnberry speakers

[Eagle owl]

Does anyone use Croft amplification with Tannoy Turnberry speakers ? if yes, is it a good match ?

[DSJR]

Yes and yes :) Certainly the 25/7 sounds lovely with these. The speakers are more than able to reproduce any improvements made to source and upgrades to amps (R and RS), so good luck.

[The Black Adder]

I'd have to agree too. Croft kit have a superb synergy with Tannoys.

What I had done when I had my 7R amplifier made was to have the output reduced to 30wpc. This had a significant improvement. This was Glenns suggestion and I was very surprised with it. The mod didn't cost anything either.

[hifi_dave]

Croft with Tannoy works a treat and I sold a few Croft sets to go with the Turnberry when I had them on demo.

[Eagle owl]

Thank you :thumbsup:

[IHP]

I'd have to agree too. Croft kit have a superb synergy with Tannoys.

What I had done when I had my 7R amplifier made was to have the output reduced to 30wpc. This had a significant improvement. This was Glenns suggestion and I was very surprised with it. The mod didn't cost anything either.

Geoffrey, I hope you don't mind me going off topic ! Joe, could you just expand please ? You have me intrigued of course ! And you've given me a dose of Audio Nervosa you devil ;-)

[Reffc]

The Turnberry SEs I had married with the croft 7R and micro25 was a good match but I did find the bass rather over-blown and boomy with this combo. There was only a little volume needed to over-drive the power amp. Other owners of this combo have found the same thing.

Part of the issue for me was that the croft pre had too much gain so after speaking with Glenn, I changed the feedback resistors (470K standard reduced to 220K for intermediate gain or 100K for low gain). If you're handy with a soldering iron it's a pretty straightforward job. Reducing power output may have a similar net effect and the ECC83's could be swapped out for lower Mu triodes such as 82's for lower gain too although there may be knock on effects as the circuit is designed around the 83s. I can't see how lowering power output is ever a good thing as it reduces available headroom so would be interested in learning just why this improves sound quality. The issue I found was primarily one of gain, but others may have found different using different Tannoys with the Croft amps.

[fiddlemaker]

I have a low power 7r (bought s/h) that I gather was originally built for a La Scala owner. I emailed Glenn about it who told me that it could be returned to standard power at relatively modest cost by replacing the mains transformer and re-biasing. Clearly the same would apply if someone wanted to go the other way, from standard to low power.
Both Glenn and Adrian Parsons have told me that they prefer the sound of the lower powered versions. I was a bit sceptical as I also thought that you could never have too much power, but mine is sounding great at the moment (through Neat Elite SX speakers in a smallish room ).

[DSJR]

A little amp I'm trying at the moment is only 20WPC yet sounds so clear at low volumes, it doesn't seem necessary to turn it up to hear 'more detail.' I think I know what Paul means about the bass on current Crofts, but this never seems to get in the way, for me anyway.

[BertieTW]

I need to remove the black caps on the terminals of my Tannoy Turnberry SE for the use of banana plugs.
Tried a few times but no luck.
Does anyone know how to do it?
Do I need a special tool?

[The Black Adder]

I need to remove the black caps on the terminals of my Tannoy Turnberry SE for the use of banana plugs.
Tried a few times but no luck.
Does anyone know how to do it?
Do I need a special tool?

Do you have a pic of the terminals, Albert?

[BertieTW]

Here comes the pic

12641

[DSJR]

I can't remember how hifi dave had his terminated into the sockets (his cables have 4mm plugs and no adaptors were used). I don't know if this is possible, but can the thumb-nuts be unscrewed off the terminals? If so, the caps could be pushed out from t'other side I reckon. Again, why not phone Tannoy and ask them?

[hifi_dave]

They are just push fit plastic caps. Oik them out with a screwdriver.

[BertieTW]

Thanks for the advice. Will try again.

[Eagle owl]

If I were to buy a Croft pre and power amplifier combination, which would be the best way to go ? I don't have a turntable. I'm considering a Micro 25 line pre amp together with a 7R power. Or, would i be better off with a Micro 25R line pre and a 7 power ?

[Jimbo]

If I were to buy a Croft pre and power amplifier combination, which would be the best way to go ? I don't have a turntable. I'm considering a Micro 25 line pre amp together with a 7R power. Or, would i be better off with a Micro 25R line pre and a 7 power ?

Hi Geoff, I would recommend you go for Croft 25R and series 7 power amp.

[Eagle owl]

^^^
Thanks James. :thumbsup:

[IHP]

Hi Geoff, I would recommend you go for Croft 25R and series 7 power amp.

So would I Geoff, the 25R is the real performer here I feel. Had all and consider the benefits of the 25R over the 25 are more significant than the 7R over the 7. Not saying the 7R is shoddy by any stretch, just want to make that clear ;-)

[Eagle owl]

^^^
Thanks Ian. :thumbsup:

[The Black Adder]

Hi Ian.

Sorry about the delay.

When I had my 7R made Glenn advised me to not have the stock wpc of the 7R but to reduce it to 30wpc with the tannoys This was a superb move as the sound was really nice. It seemed less strained somehow. It's a mod he does to amps that are driving efficient speakers but you will have to ask him the technical stuff. :)

Very worthwhile for Tannoys IMO.

[Elephantears]

If I were to buy a Croft pre and power amplifier combination, which would be the best way to go ? I don't have a turntable. I'm considering a Micro 25 line pre amp together with a 7R power. Or, would i be better off with a Micro 25R line pre and a 7 power ?

Don't take the above advice to go for 25R/7 as gospel; it's very much system dependent and I would try and demo both options. In some cases, with some speakers, it is better to get the extra control with the power amp, and in some cases the regulation in the pre can almost open things up too much. Saying that if you get the right valve in the Series 7 it can be a great combination with a 25R.

[Eagle owl]

Don't take the above advice to go for 25R/7 as gospel; it's very much system dependent and I would try and demo both options. In some cases, with some speakers, it is better to get the extra control with the power amp, and in some cases the regulation in the pre can almost open things up too much. Saying that if you get the right valve in the Series 7 it can be a great combination with a 25R.

Thank you Andrew. :thumbsup:

[DSJR]

Sorry to dive in again, but my experiences with the R and RS preamp models is that they NEVER tell you how 'revealing' they are (the stock one gives all the detail there is in a given recording anyway I think). What these expensive refinements do is allow the circuit to operate more effectively and this is heard in the easier way it is to 'perceive' this detail in the playing and things going on far back in the mix. The SOUND doesn't really change at all. In fact, the RS needed a few minutes to 'creep up' on me when I first heard it, but the huge cheesy grin on my face subsequently spoke volumes.

[Eagle owl]

Sorry to dive in again, but my experiences with the R and RS preamp models is that they NEVER tell you how 'revealing' they are (the stock one gives all the detail there is in a given recording anyway I think). What these expensive refinements do is allow the circuit to operate more effectively and this is heard in the easier way it is to 'perceive' this detail in the playing and things going on far back in the mix. The SOUND doesn't really change at all. In fact, the RS needed a few minutes to 'creep up' on me when I first heard it, but the huge cheesy grin on my face subsequently spoke volumes.

Thank you Dave. :thumbsup: