Elephantears
26-06-2016, 16:29
Croft Teknifi Preamp – A special Croft linestage which is essentially like a 25R with added features, improved regulation and better components. £770 plus postage or collection from London SE23.
It has an upgraded output stage using 2 x 12BH7A, which Glenn now favours, with full valve regulation, regulated power supply, and some extra features that are not available in the 25R, such as massive Mudorf caps and extra rectification.
It looks superb, with a black Perspex case and a very nice single volume pot.
It was originally made by the Danish company Tekni-fi, who were also Croft distributors, but it was then extensively modified by Glenn Croft, making it into something like a Micro 25R, but with even better valve regulation and power supplies.
I spent more than £250 on further modifications after I bought it. This involved a new output stage and significant modification to the power supply which actually made it more simple (one transformer was removed) and more effective.
Glenn rates it as better than a 25R (although not as good as a 25RS). I think it has a better dynamics and detail than the current 25R, and slightly more tonal fullness. In other words, a little more of everything; not a radical improvement over a 25R but a subtle one in a box which is much better looking than the current models.
One thing I liked very much about this is that there is significantly more room for manoeuvre on the volume pot than the current 25/25R. It has a good amount of gain but it’s also much easier to set at low volume.
It is ideal if you don’t need an MM phono input, or use an external phono stage, but Glenn has told me that he can fit a phono stage if required. I'm also selling a Firebottle Plus MM/MC phono stage which would be a great partner to this linestage.
Features summary:
- Glenn Croft's latest output stage with 2 x 12BH7A
- 2 x EI ECC83 regulator valves and 2 Mullard rectifier valves
- power supply brought up to spec to be used with this output stage:
- 2 huge Mundorf Tube caps for smoothing
- separate tube regulated power supply for each output tube.
- Jensen power caps
- Elma selection switch, which I had completely rewired
- Clarity output caps, braided cloth and silver strip wire cable
- 3 inputs plus tape out
- captive power cable
- Black perspex case
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb412/andreweastham/IMG_8856.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/andreweastham/media/IMG_8856.jpg.html)
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb412/andreweastham/IMG_8852.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/andreweastham/media/IMG_8852.jpg.html)
It has an upgraded output stage using 2 x 12BH7A, which Glenn now favours, with full valve regulation, regulated power supply, and some extra features that are not available in the 25R, such as massive Mudorf caps and extra rectification.
It looks superb, with a black Perspex case and a very nice single volume pot.
It was originally made by the Danish company Tekni-fi, who were also Croft distributors, but it was then extensively modified by Glenn Croft, making it into something like a Micro 25R, but with even better valve regulation and power supplies.
I spent more than £250 on further modifications after I bought it. This involved a new output stage and significant modification to the power supply which actually made it more simple (one transformer was removed) and more effective.
Glenn rates it as better than a 25R (although not as good as a 25RS). I think it has a better dynamics and detail than the current 25R, and slightly more tonal fullness. In other words, a little more of everything; not a radical improvement over a 25R but a subtle one in a box which is much better looking than the current models.
One thing I liked very much about this is that there is significantly more room for manoeuvre on the volume pot than the current 25/25R. It has a good amount of gain but it’s also much easier to set at low volume.
It is ideal if you don’t need an MM phono input, or use an external phono stage, but Glenn has told me that he can fit a phono stage if required. I'm also selling a Firebottle Plus MM/MC phono stage which would be a great partner to this linestage.
Features summary:
- Glenn Croft's latest output stage with 2 x 12BH7A
- 2 x EI ECC83 regulator valves and 2 Mullard rectifier valves
- power supply brought up to spec to be used with this output stage:
- 2 huge Mundorf Tube caps for smoothing
- separate tube regulated power supply for each output tube.
- Jensen power caps
- Elma selection switch, which I had completely rewired
- Clarity output caps, braided cloth and silver strip wire cable
- 3 inputs plus tape out
- captive power cable
- Black perspex case
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb412/andreweastham/IMG_8856.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/andreweastham/media/IMG_8856.jpg.html)
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb412/andreweastham/IMG_8852.jpg (http://s1204.photobucket.com/user/andreweastham/media/IMG_8852.jpg.html)