View Full Version : Croft 'Unveiled'
Croft 25R + Preamp
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Ninanina
05-05-2019, 19:22
How ever does Glenn do such intricate work? it's amazing the amount of work in there..
Its mind blowing he hand solders every component in extraordinary tight spaces. These amps are the work of a true artisan in the best possible sense and they sound superb.
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 19:28
Glenn is a master at his work
The only Croft I had was the integrated and it wasn't for me but I always wanted to try a Croft further up the chain but now owning Maggies won't really allow for that unfortunately
Oh I forgot I also owned a Vitale pre and that was very good used with a pair of Quad II's
Glenn is a master at his work
The only Croft I had was the integrated and it wasn't for me but I always wanted to try a Croft further up the chain but now owning Maggies won't really allow for that unfortunately
Oh I forgot I also owned a Vitale pre and that was very good used with a pair of Quad II's
You would be surprised what Glenns power amps can drive, especially the 7R monos.
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 19:42
You would be surprised what Glenns power amps can drive, especially the 7R monos.
You may well be right James and I did consider getting some 7R's but the ML came up and I thought I'd like to try it, which I'm so glad I did
However I will at some point try another Croft as I love what Glenn does
southall-1998_mk2
05-05-2019, 19:45
I still have the Croft integrated down on my wish list. Someday I'll try one hopefully.
S.
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 19:47
I personally wouldn't buy the standard Croft integrated Shane... maybe the Integrated R though...
southall-1998_mk2
05-05-2019, 19:49
I personally wouldn't buy the standard Croft integrated Shane... maybe the Integrated R though...
You found it bland or something?
S.
I still have the Croft integrated down on my wish list. Someday I'll try one hopefully.
S.
I would save a few more pennies and go for the separate preamp and power amp or best still a Croft RIAA phono (if required) and a 25R line stage with a Series 7 power amp. There are always second hand amps coming up for sale.
Bigman80
05-05-2019, 19:55
Take those with the new camera Jim?
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 19:57
You found it bland or something?
S.
Yes 'bland' is pretty much how I would sum up the sound of the standard Croft integrated. It did nothing for me at all and I really wanted to love it.... it had a rather boring sound to my ears anyway and, to me, had no dynamics... however it does nothing badly I guess and does give a nice sweet sound with no harshness... if that's what you are after.. It didn't last very long with me...
If you want to try one they come up quite frequently on the bay between £500-£750 ish.. so they are easy to try out and re-sell if you don't get on with it..
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 19:59
I would save a few more pennies and go for the separate preamp and power amp or best still a Croft RIAA phono (if required) and a 25R line stage with a Series 7 power amp. There are always second hand amps coming up for sale.
What he said :)
southall-1998_mk2
05-05-2019, 19:59
Yes 'bland' is pretty much how I would sum up the sound of the standard Croft integrated. It did nothing for me at all and I really wanted to love it.... it had a rather boring sound to my ears anyway and, to me, had no dynamics... however it does nothing badly I guess and does give a nice sweet sound with no harshness... if that's what you are after.. It didn't last very long with me...
If you want to try one they come up quite frequently on the bay between £500-£750 ish.. so they are easy to try out and re-sell if you don't get on with it..
One man's bland is another man's smooth. Anyway, thanks for your feedback.
S.
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 20:21
One man's bland is another man's smooth. Anyway, thanks for your feedback.
S.
Or womans :lol:
You are welcome...
Take those with the new camera Jim?
Yes.
Bigman80
05-05-2019, 20:45
Yes.Excellent quality!
Excellent quality!
Cheers mate, been using it a fair bit this weekend. Very pleased with it indeed, take a look at the pics I posted up on Ok 'whats for lunch or tea" post.
Shadow Moses
05-05-2019, 20:56
Great pics Jim looks fantastic
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 20:57
What camera is it James ? pics are excellent...
Great pics Jim looks fantastic
Cheers, Neil. listening to it just now and enjoying some superb vinyl.:)
Shadow Moses
05-05-2019, 21:06
Cheers, Neil. listening to it just now and enjoying some superb vinyl.:)
Brill with no work in the morn eh
Brill with no work in the morn eh
Yes could be a late night.:)
Ninanina
05-05-2019, 21:12
Late nights are the best ;)
Bigman80
05-05-2019, 21:38
Speak for yourselves. I'm up at 5 for work
hifinutt
05-05-2019, 21:39
Fab the see the lovely sonority design . I had stands made for my 804 and very effective upgrade for my CD player
Fab the see the lovely sonority design . I had stands made for my 804 and very effective upgrade for my CD player
Well spotted Phil, Steve at Sonority did a great job with the roller shelf and it has definitely contributed to isolating the Preamp. Wish I could afford a few more!
Frazeur1
06-05-2019, 07:57
Very nice pic of your Croft Jimbo. I absolutely love the sheer simple, spartan looks of Croft gear, and obviously the sound quality.
Looking inside gear to see how it was all crafted is interesting to me. Always liked the TV series about how things are made too.
Hi Tim, I do like taking a peak every now and then, usually changing tubes.:) I am planning someday to have it upgraded to a super high spec which should give me even more performance, although its not exactly lacking now.
hifinutt
06-05-2019, 09:57
Well spotted Phil, Steve at Sonority did a great job with the roller shelf and it has definitely contributed to isolating the Preamp. Wish I could afford a few more!
yes must get over to his amazing dem rooms sometime
Whilst I like to play with power amps for a bit of fun when I think about 'upgrading' my 25R I just come to the conclusion why bother ? It really is as good as I want a preamp to be. Do you find the isolation makes a difference ? It's not something I've ever considered really.
As previously commented, lovely photos. The Croft one man R & D and build approach really appeals to me as I know it does to many others.
The isolation platform does make a difference but its subtle.
The isolation platform does make a difference but its subtle.
Well it looks great anyhow :)
Well it looks great anyhow :)
Thanks Ian.:cool:
I love my Croft micro 25r and riaa r they are definitely a keeper for me, may get them upgraded to the 2.box someday
I love my Croft micro 25r and riaa r they are definitely a keeper for me, may get them upgraded to the 2.box someday
I will be getting the 25R upgraded to Riaa R with line stage and separate PSU in the future. I am more than pleased with the sound I have been getting over the last 4 years so have not had the urge to do this yet. For certain I will never move away from Glenns amps, for me they do everything right and
I am still captivated by the sound I get from them.
hifinutt
06-05-2019, 17:57
would love to hear that combo sometime , must be magical with spendor
would love to hear that combo sometime , must be magical with spendor
You would be welcome over Phil. We must sort an evening.
hifinutt
06-05-2019, 18:55
look forward to it
Frazeur1
06-05-2019, 22:32
I’d like to come over too and hear it, but I am a little far at the moment! You have a very nice setup there Jimbo, good stuff!
The isolation platform does make a difference but its subtle.
I've just bought some isolation cones, only one person to blame for that !!! :lol:
:lo
I've just bought some isolation cones, only one person to blame for that !!! :lol:
:lol:
fiddlemaker
11-05-2019, 12:19
Lovely photos.
The most recent upgrades Glenn did for me* were amazing, not only in sheer performance but also value for money.
* 1990's micro A to 2-box 25RS, with RIAA RS phono built in; 7R to 7R monos.
Lawrence001
11-05-2019, 13:25
Lovely photos.
The most recent upgrades Glenn did for me* were amazing, not only in sheer performance but also value for money.
* 1990's micro A to 2-box 25RS, with RIAA RS phono built in; 7R to 7R monos.I'm surprised there's any saving from converting an earlyish Micro to a 25RS, I would have thought building from scratch would be easier and no more expensive save maybe reusing a transformer or two.
Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk
fiddlemaker
14-05-2019, 13:09
I'm surprised there's any saving from converting an earlyish Micro to a 25RS, I would have thought building from scratch would be easier and no more expensive save maybe reusing a transformer or two.
Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk
Yes, well, there ya go.
These are the amps that will see me out. :)
The isolation platform does make a difference but its subtle.
Thought of our brief exchange the other day Jimbo ;-). I went the way of an isolation platform via a granite slab kitchen cutting board (Waitrose, obviously !) and the 4 albeit cheap ebony/brass tipped cones from ebay I mentioned above, and hey presto……
http://i66.tinypic.com/sffq1h.jpg
Thought of our brief exchange the other day Jimbo ;-). I went the way of an isolation platform via a granite slab kitchen cutting board (Waitrose, obviously !) and the 4 albeit cheap ebony/brass tipped cones from ebay I mentioned above, and hey presto……
http://i66.tinypic.com/sffq1h.jpg
Any improvement Ian?
Any improvement Ian?
Honesty as always, I don't really think so - having said this, my motivation was it looking and feeling right, and I think it looks great ! It's not supporting my Croft pre btw, but the Radford. Plus, I always had the desire to integrate something from Waitrose into my system :). In all seriousness though, I like the feeling that the amp. is sat on something nice and solid for under 30 quid.
http://i68.tinypic.com/vzbz88.jpg
Honesty as always, I don't really think so - having said this, my motivation was it looking and feeling right, and I think it looks great ! It's not supporting my Croft pre btw, but the Radford. Plus, I always had the desire to integrate something from Waitrose into my system :). In all seriousness though, I like the feeling that the amp. is sat on something nice and solid for under 30 quid.
http://i68.tinypic.com/vzbz88.jpg
You can spend way more on dedicated amp isolation stands. I think my preamp roller shelf is over £1000!:eek:
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