Croft preamp and cd vaiable volume control

[Stranraer]

Hi all, I hope the following might be of interest as today I've found significant improvement in sound quality at zero cost, and by accident.
As a non techie type it's taken me seven years to discover that my Oppo CD/DVD player has a variable volume option, and I thought I'd try it out as my Croft preamp is sans remote control. Getting off the sofa to turn volume up and down, particularly with twin pots, can be a bit of a drag after a couple of glasses of Rioja. First World problem, I know.

I'm in a small terraced house and get on well with my neighbours so we have a compromise where they let me know if they're out for the evening leaving me free to cane the hifi guilt free, otherwise the Croft volume knobs stay at 3 O'Clock max.

Tonight, I'm controlling volume via the Oppo and the preamp is fixed at 7 O'clock. The transformation is significant. Separation, detail, tighter bass. I'm guessing this is because there's more juice flowing through the Croft.

I'm listening to the same CDs I played last night, 70s funk n soul, guitar rock and electronic dance and all are enhanced.
Enjoy your evening, mine's going VERY well......

[brian2957]

There are a few Croft users on the forum , and probably a few Oppo users too . The best improvements are ALWAYS the free ones David . Enjoy :cool:

[struth]

Got an oppo too. Never noticed if mine has. Must look as a matter of interest.

[Stranraer]

The best improvements are ALWAYS the free ones David . Enjoy

Hard to argue thanks, Brian. That said I do think the Oppo could be improved on, which might require £££s.
My Levinson 390 CD is now in hifi heaven so I'm casting around for ideas.

Trust you're enjoying your Rega Brio by the way. I was a very happy owner of one some time ago. An Apollo CD player, too.

[Stranraer]

Got an oppo too. Never noticed if mine has. Must look as a matter of interest.

Teaching you to suck eggs no doubt, but it's easy to find in the Audio menu.
You can set a maximum volume which I put to 15 (out of 100) initially in case I had the concept wrong and blew the speakers.

This did not happen.

[brian2957]

Yes , my mate has modified an Oppo to the max and it sounds excellent and plays movies to a very high level .

I've moved on from the Brio David , just can't figure out how to change the list of gear . I now use a big old Sony integrated :)

[struth]

Yes , my mate has modified an Oppo to the max and it sounds excellent and plays movies to a very high level .

I've moved on from the Brio David , just can't figure out how to change the list of gear . I now use a big old Sony integrated :)It's in settings or profile or both Brian. Would need to be on pc to be sure. Will find out tomorrow mate

[Stranraer]

Yes , my mate has modified an Oppo to the max and it sounds excellent and plays movies to a very high level .

I've moved on from the Brio David , just can't figure out how to change the list of gear . I now use a big old Sony integrated :)

Well the Brio could be described as many things, but Big would not be one of them. Although I like to believe that size isn't everything.

A modified Oppo sounds interesting. Could you point me in the right direction for more info ? I've got a fixation about the Oppo being a weak link in my system just at the mo.

[brian2957]

There you go David https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?56087-Hey-guess-what-I%92m-about-to-do-Major-Oppo-mods&highlight=gazjam+oppo

[struth]

There you go David https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?56087-Hey-guess-what-I%92m-about-to-do-Major-Oppo-mods&highlight=gazjam+oppo

PS Brian its;; Settings, edit profle or my profile, about me.. either/both.

[Macca]

I'd guess setting the Oppo to max output from min output gives an increase in dynamic range aka 'bit depth' - higher signal to noise ratio, hence more audible detail and so forth.

[brian2957]

PS Brian its;; Settings, edit profle or my profile, about me.. either/both.

Thanks buddy :)

[Lawrence001]

I'd guess setting the Oppo to max output from min output gives an increase in dynamic range aka 'bit depth' - higher signal to noise ratio, hence more audible detail and so forth.But he said he's using the volume so it's not max output. Could be full volume was overloading the pre and it sounds better this way. Have heard about that with a few DACs.

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

[Macca]

But he said he's using the volume so it's not max output. Could be full volume was overloading the pre and it sounds better this way. Have heard about that with a few DACs.

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

We don't know what volume the Oppo was set to before though. If it was set at full output previously and clipping the pre-amp, which as you say can happen, it would have sounded pretty poor.

Assuming it doesn't clip the pre-amp the optimal thing to do is have the Oppo at full output and adjust volume on the pre-amp. That way you know you are getting the full dynamic range. But then that means no remote control of volume.

[struth]

Thanks buddy :)

or you can add them as a sig, like you did:D

[Stranraer]

[QUOTE=brian2957;1252652]There you go David

Cheers Brian, I'll take the time to look through this over the next couple of days.

[Stranraer]

You've got it Lawrence. Croft Pre fixed at 7 O'Clock, and Oppo CD volume anywhere between 15 and 75, which rocked the Kasbah

[Stranraer]

We don't know what volume the Oppo was set to before though. If it was set at full output previously and clipping the pre-amp, which as you say can happen, it would have sounded pretty poor.

Assuming it doesn't clip the pre-amp the optimal thing to do is have the Oppo at full output and adjust volume on the pre-amp. That way you know you are getting the full dynamic range. But then that means no remote control of volume.

To clarify, I didn't know about this function before yesterday so wasn't aware but the Oppo output volume was fixed at 100%.
Don't get me wrong, it was sounding fine before. I just wanted to be able to control volume by remote. I wasn't chasing improvement.

[brian2957]

which rocked the Kasbah

Hahaha...love it David :)

Gary ( gazjam ) is the man for Oppo mods .

[Macca]

To clarify, I didn't know about this function before yesterday so wasn't aware but the Oppo output volume was fixed at 100%.
Don't get me wrong, it was sounding fine before. I just wanted to be able to control volume by remote. I wasn't chasing improvement.

Right I'm with you now.

Lots of Oppo 95 mods here http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Oppo_95_mods.html

[Stranraer]

Very grateful for all the input, links and advice. If I bite the bullet and sign up for the mods I'll keep you posted. One concern might be that the Oppo must be at least eight years old now. It's not been under any undue stress but these things obviously have a lifespan (as I found out with the Mark Levinson CD).
Re forum etiquette, any thoughts on whether I could approach Gazjam for advice ? He's been pretty generous with info and pictures on the link Brian sent.
Macca, I'll check yours out tomorrow thanks.
I'm spending another evening with the music tonight. Decemberists as I type. There's not a single CD that isn't sounding better, and significantly so, though I've not got to Jive Bunny yet.

[brian2957]

You have PM David .

[Stranraer]

You have PM David .

Thanks, Brian

[Macca]

I'm spending another evening with the music tonight. Decemberists as I type. There's not a single CD that isn't sounding better, and significantly so, though I've not got to Jive Bunny yet.

Jive Bunny is the ultimate test for any system, the make or break. That's why you never hear it played at shows.

[mikeyb]

Jive Bunny is the ultimate test for any system, the make or break. That's why you never hear it played at shows.That's not the only reason [emoji6] [emoji23]

[Stranraer]

Jive Bunny is the ultimate test for any system, the make or break. That's why you never hear it played at shows.

Totally. I can't be the only one who started chasing serious sound quality after hearing the mighty JB.....

[Macca]

It's what spurred me on. At last I can hear it exactly as the artist intended. 'Hooked On Classics' sounds ace too.

[Stranraer]

The genius of Bunny is impressive under any circumstances, but as I understand it the guy has been deaf from birth.