Croft Pre/Power Amplifiers

[Rob1969]

Good evening,

I have recently bought a Croft 25R Line Preamplifier and 7 Power Amplifier that were both delivered today.

I have been listening to them all day and whilst they sound wonderful at reasonable volumes with all types of music at with the volume turned right down there is a hiss/hum coming from both speakers. At lower volumes and especially with simple music it is apparent. Not devastatingly so but enough to rob the music, I think, of some detail. The same music at higher volumes seems fine as the hiss does not get louder with an increase in volume.

Anyone experience anything similar and found a solution?

Thanks

Rob

[walpurgis]

Hi Rob. Are you using high sensitivity speakers or speakers with a forward top end presentation?

[Rob1969]

Should have said. I have Harbeth's Monitor 30.1's. Not particularly sensitive but fairly detailed.

[walpurgis]

Hmm. I'm pretty sure somebody else raised a similar issue with audible hiss from Croft amplification recently. Could be gain related I guess, unless there are faulty components, but that would likely affect one channel only I reckon. Might be an idea to contact Glen at Croft and discuss this.

[Jimbo]

Probably a bit of tube noise, this would be normal but it apparent and audible if you get close to the speaker or have especially bright tweeters.

It should not be a problem at normal listening levels.

[Haselsh1]

Gotta be honest, I never experienced this back in 2009 when I had my Croft pre/powers. Best get it checked out. Hope all is OK though.

[Macca]

Dodgy valve in the pre-amp?

[hifi_dave]

Sounds like a noisy tube and Glenn will rectify this as soon as humanly possible.

[hifi_dave]

Glenn has now advised that an ECC82 in the power amp will rectify the problem. A replacement valve is on the way.

[Rob1969]

So, here is a lesson for me in the future. Speak to your (hifi) dealer first. Nothing wrong in the slightest with the amplifiers. Just me being a totally paranoid git and the minor tweak will sort things out. I suspect most people would be happy as is.

For those that are interested these are easily (and I mean easily) the best sounding amplifiers I have had in my system and I have had a number. They build on the qualities of the integrated that I had by bringing more life, dimension, depth and resolution and are very, very special.

My wife was in the lounge yesterday and she was sat on the floor doing some paperwork with her back to the speakers. I put some music on with quite a lot of ambient detail and movement of sound across the soundstage and she immediately looked up and said "that is spooky - sounds like the sounds are coming from all around the room". She rarely makes comment about the hifi other than "What? Another box? What on earth is it this time?".

They perform their magic without trying to be clever or flashy and just get on with the job. Glenn is clearly a master of circuit design.

Thanks for the replies anyway and as I said - speak to your dealer in the first instance!

[Firebottle]

They do this without trying to be clever or flashy and just get on with the job.

That's part of the 'magic' of valves. Done right you can't beat it :)