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captain
04-04-2008, 23:10
Bluenote Koala CDP (Modified)
Croft Epoch Pre (Modified)
Croft Phantom Power (Please ask)
Dynaco FM-3 tuner (Modified by Croft and a few others)
ILP Acoustic Ribbons (Modified)
Trichord Powerblock
Atlas Hyper 3 Speaker cables
Nordost SPM Interconncets
Various Power cables

More about whats on the inside with this set up.


http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/all604.jpg

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/newcd323.jpg

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/2caps551.jpg
Modified CDP. one of the mods is real cool - Audio Note copper caps on one RCA out on the other Mundorf Silver/Gold.

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/pre746.jpg
Croft Epoch Pre (Modified with Audio Note Siver caps, Jensen Silver and copper caps. BlackGate N and F types)

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/power579.jpg
Croft Phantom Power

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/front1994.jpg

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/supply238.jpg

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/underside443.jpg
Dynaco FM-3 with lots of modifications.

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/speak4324.jpghttp://xs226.xs.to/xs226/08143/_mg_4385265.jpg

http://xs126.xs.to/xs126/08146/_mg_4380859.jpg
Built these a few months ago, but last week I rebuilt Crossover with Mundrof Silver/Gold and Dynamicaps then externalised it.

Filterlab
05-04-2008, 08:46
Very nice indeed Captain, and excellent work on the modifications.

What's your favourite component to modify?

Marco
05-04-2008, 09:25
Captain,

What an absolutely fantastic system!! :youtheman:

Croft-wise, you're making me jealous!

I intend to have some more mods done to my Charisma-X and will use the internal of your modified Epoch as a possible template :smoking:

The fascia you've got is the one I prefer, too. Dual-mono volume controls... Me wants! :eek:

Did you buy your Croft gear and CDP from Eminent Audio? If so, may I ask how much you paid for your Epoch, its modifications, and the Phantom power amp? I'm very interested in this, and one of my friends will be too.

Marco.

captain
05-04-2008, 16:46
Very nice indeed Captain, and excellent work on the modifications. What's your favourite component to modify?


I really liked making the speakers as it incorporates wood work skills which are very new to me.




Captain,What an absolutely fantastic system!! :youtheman:

Croft-wise, you're making me jealous!

I intend to have some more mods done to my Charisma-X and will use the internal of your modified Epoch as a possible template :smoking:

The fascia you've got is the one I prefer, too. Dual-mono volume controls... Me wants! :eek:
Did you buy your Croft gear and CDP from Eminent Audio? If so, may I ask how much you paid for your Epoch, its modifications, and the Phantom power amp? I'm very interested in this, and one of my friends will be too.

Marco.

I brought the Pre and power off a guy called Phil Bennion who was given them as a gift off Eminent/Croft for work he had done for them. Unfortunately he became terminally ill so sold them on to me for a £1000. I sent them over to Eminent with a £2000 budget to do their thing. I have also spent around another £600 doing bits and bob’s myself on the pre. The 6080’s in the power amp are Mazda which are rebranded Bendix Red Bank (the best 6080 tube) costing me £150 for a matched pair.

According to Amar about the power, Quote: I explained that the Phantom was designed made and then stopped because the cost was much higher than intended, the Mesmeris now (£30k) are the
parents of your amplifier.
On closing I should say that our initial instincts in creating the Phantom were correct.....(the trafo's in this model were already quite special).

Some day in the future we may choose to resurrect this fascinating instrument, if we did so I expect the cost to be in the £5k region.

I have heard the Charisma next too this Epoch and found the Epoch to be a lot better.

I brought the CDP off Eminent and brought the tuner off Amar. Their has been a lot more work done on the tuner since then.

Ian Walker
06-04-2008, 16:49
Hi Captain,

Some interesting points you've raised there. I'll come back to you later on that. In the meantime here's a picture of the inside of my Charisma-X. I'd be interested in your comments regarding what you think might be improved.

Marco.

P.S I'm using Ian's comp at the moment.

captain
06-04-2008, 17:41
Will get back to you on that Marco. I see by your profile you are a bit of a gourmet :) come shop here. Not yet live as still needs finishing off, but should be in a month or so.

Marco
06-04-2008, 19:10
Yes I love good food - well, I am Italian! I'm currently enjoying a nice bottle of 1998 St Emilion with some roast saddle of Welsh lamb, rosti potatoes, creamed fennel, baby carrots and petits pois :)

The deli thing looks interesting, although I rarely order fresh produce on-line. I like to inspect the quality of what I'm buying 'in the flesh' so to speak before buying it :smoking:

I'll have a good look through the site later, if I'm able to do so with it not being finished yet.

I'm just in the door from Ian's and having a bit of a listening sesh so will get back to you about some more Croft stuff later. Meanwhile, for your information, the valve compliment on my Charisma-X is as follows:

From the left... NOS US-sourced 6080 - NOS Mullard ECC83 (with Mullard 85A2 rectifier valve underneath) - 3X NOS Mullard ECC35 - 2X NOS RCA 6SL7.

Speak later.

Marco.

Ian Walker
06-04-2008, 19:39
Here's a piccy of my Charisma x no phono stage in this one.

Ian.

pjdowns
07-04-2008, 18:22
Nice Ian, very nice !

P.

captain
17-08-2008, 19:16
Been a few changes to my kit mainly internal.

I now have a upgraded Tekni-fi pre.

http://xs128.xs.to/xs128/08245/front262.jpg

The Croft power amp has been rebuilt and upgraded

http://xs130.xs.to/xs130/08335/tedpower3248.jpg

I have upgraded the Tuners power supply.

http://xs230.xs.to/xs230/08330/dy1915.jpg

And also built a mad crossover for my speakers.

http://xs329.xs.to/xs329/08281/cross3762.jpg

http://kirk.vin.googlepages.com/finshed1.jpg/finshed1-custom;size:313,520.jpg

I only got my power amp back yesterday so this is the first time listing to the speakers and tuner as I did this work while it was away.

Marco
17-08-2008, 21:17
Excellent stuff, matey. What's it all sounding like then? :)

Did you hear that I've had my Charisma-X extensively modified by Glenn? It sounds freaking amazing now!

Marco.

captain
17-08-2008, 21:31
Excellent stuff, mate. What's it all sounding like then? :)

Did you hear that I've had my Charisma-X extensively modified by Glenn? It sounds freaking amazing now!

Marco.

Very nice indeed Marco, I am very happy for the moment :).

I remember you said about your Charisma-X any pictures? Would love to look at the inside. Is it sounding good?

Marco
17-08-2008, 21:44
Yep, check this thread out:

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=881&page=7

Pictures are on page 7 above (post #68), but the beginning of the thread's worth a read as the sound of the Croft is described in detail.

Any comments would be appreciated :)

Marco.

captain
12-06-2009, 12:30
Some new bits. Picked up my pre and power back off Glenn Croft last Saturday, output section on pre rebuilt, new circut sounds very good. Some more changes on the power, both are now keepers.

Source

Divco TViX 4100SH LINK (http://www.tvix.co.kr/Eng/products/4100sh.aspx)

Audio Sector DAC1 LINK (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/audiozone5/system.html)

Meridian 518 Digital Audio Processor LINK (http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/367/)

Dynaco FM3 Tuner

Kenwood KT-5020 FM tuner info mods LINK (http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/DIY.html#KT-5020)



Amps

Croft modified Tekni-fi Pre amp

Croft Phantom Power amp

White Noise Audio Power amp with Op amp PSU LINK (http://www.hifiwigwam.com/view_topic.php?id=38768&forum_id=19)



Speakers

Vienna Acoustic Mozart’s


http://www.imagechicken.com/uploads/1244755768001484900.jpg

http://www.imagechicken.com/uploads/1244755837024266900.jpg

captain
28-06-2009, 19:20
Glenn Crofts rebuild on Pre's output stage. Now has dual mono pots.


http://www.imagechicken.com/uploads/1246220435098868200.jpg

http://www.imagechicken.com/uploads/1246220459068495600.jpg

captain
29-11-2009, 17:44
Just had one of these NOS DAC’s built for me LINK (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hi-END-DIR9001-TDA1541A-4-NOS-DAC-Kit-TDA1541_W0QQitemZ320451485981QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_CDPlayerSeparate s?hash=item4a9c65a11d). It uses a Lampizator (http://www.lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/Lampizator.html) designed tube output stage and has had a few tweaks on the board, all caps (apart from large ones on power supply and the WIMA's), resistors and regulators swapped out for better. Has had new star ground’s on the 4 TDA1541A DAC chips. The output uses Teflon caps, Shinkohs and Charcroft Resistors. Massive bit of kit and is mighty heavy with all the large transformers. Still bedding in but It has to be the most natural sounding CDP or DAC I have ever heard, just so easy to listen to. Has an incredible mid range and bass very open and detailed. Will give it some hours as I am sure things will get even better with time. This could be the one.


http://www.imagechicken.com/uploads/1259506282002450800.jpg

http://www.imagechicken.com/uploads/1259506369065395700.jpg

Themis
29-11-2009, 19:13
Croft + Vienna must be magic !
Nice pieces of art you have there, Captain ! ;)

Marco
29-11-2009, 19:45
Hi Captain,

*That* is very interesting indeed! Please keep me posted as to what your final thoughts are :)

I've recently been listening to a very good valve-based DAC (belonging to Duncan 'tubehunter') and comparing it to my Sony DAS-R1, which of course uses TDA1541 chips (but no valves), and the results are very close indeed, with Dunc's DAC just edging it in terms of ultimate resolution and openness through the mid and top-end. In every other area though, they are virtually identical (save a little more bottom-end extension with the Sony).

Owning valve amps, I am very familiar with the extra 'air and space' in the music brought about by the use of valves, as subjectively, to my ears, they have superior dynamic range compared to transistors.

So.............. What I'm thinking is how would the DAS-R1 sound if Lampizated? That could be very interesting indeed!!

I presume that one can send DACs to this chap in Poland, and he modifies them accordingly, and/or he would verify that your DAC is suitable for Lampizating and then supply a kit with which to fit into the existing design?

If the latter is the better idea, I could ask Duncan to fit the Lampizator kit for me to the DAS-R1.

Do you have any idea the approximate cost of the Lampizator kits and/or modification process?

Cheers!

Marco.

captain
29-11-2009, 20:02
Hi Marco not sure if he builds them to sell. I got mine from the guy I brought the DAC board from he built it from a schematic on the lampizator site. He does sell the transformers though as the one I have did come from him. They are an exceptional output stage and I would of though they would do the DAS-R1 real justice.

The Vinyl Adventure
29-11-2009, 20:15
here you go ... http://www.lampizator.eu/CLINIC/clinic.html

Marco
29-11-2009, 20:21
Cheers Hamish!

Hi Kirk,

It seems that the service is actually available after all... :)

Marco.

The Vinyl Adventure
29-11-2009, 20:29
It might be worth Reading the details, I haven't read it properly I just spotted it when I was mooching the other day.
It's not that I really understand what I'm reading but a lot of it seems to make sence.. Could it been done to any digital source? Like a Beresford for eg? Just purely out of interest...?

Marco
29-11-2009, 20:34
Don't see why not, providing one makes a bigger case to incorporate the additional circuit board, or tags it onto the existing chassis... Stan would I'm sure advise, although don't be surprised if he doesn't like the idea! ;)

I plan to speak to Duncan and get his advice, along with emailing the Polish chap to see what the score is :)

Marco.

The Vinyl Adventure
29-11-2009, 20:39
I'm just interested in the sort of kit it can be done to as aposed to actually planning on following through with doing it... If it is as good as it is suggested in some of his articles it would be more worth while doing to the majik ds... I jus wish I acutally understood the technical side of it as aposed to just understanding the fact that it makes stuff better

Marco
29-11-2009, 20:42
Join the club, mate! :)

Marco.

The Vinyl Adventure
29-11-2009, 20:47
Any clever people out there fancy enlightening me in layman's terms if possible if this lampizator conversion thing is sencible or indeed possible on a majik...oh and what the hell it actually does if that is possible?

The Vinyl Adventure
29-11-2009, 20:48
Please remember I'm not very technically minded!

Marco
29-11-2009, 20:49
Why not start a new thread in the room where the D.I.Y boys hang out? ;)

Marco.

captain
29-11-2009, 20:50
Cheers Hamish!

Hi Kirk,

It seems that the service is actually available after all... :)

Marco.

Cool definitely worth an investigation.

The Vinyl Adventure
29-11-2009, 20:50
I was just thinking that... Il do it now!