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Wakefield Turntables
15-08-2023, 18:45
I've been keeping this one (not so) secret. I had an oppotunity to buy this Phonostage from a famous cartridge designer/modder. It's his personal phonostage that he asked Glenn Croft to build and was used to "voice" his cartridges. I'm a little bored, so here are some pictures.

https://i.ibb.co/Jc9ZXHD/MMPS6.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/S0yCfhf/MMPS4.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/1ZLLP4X/MMPS7.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/tmvDH6J/MMPS8.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/VQ93XTK/MMPS5.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/DKTgwpd/MMPS3.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/cFpQnCL/MMPS1.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/6RD5C1m/MMPS2.jpg

Any thoughts or comments?
Jimbo
16-08-2023, 05:57
Interesting selection of valves used by Glenn back then, would you be able to detail them and their positions in the topology ? You could have some great fun/results rolling some of those for sure. They were also the reason Glenn moved mainly to JJ ECC83s in his later designs as these were more readily available although I am sure some of those in that amp you have can still be sourced?
Wakefield Turntables
16-08-2023, 08:15
Main ones on output are 5691 one of my very favourite 6SL7 variants. Expensive but very very nice. The others are for power regulation . I’ll have a look tonight.
Jimbo
16-08-2023, 09:20
Glenn used to say his ECC83 valves were as good sounding as the 5691 etc but I am not so sure?:hmm:
kininigin
16-08-2023, 13:57
Do you know what carts it was "voiced" for?
brian2957
16-08-2023, 14:20
Bet it sounds fab :)
Wakefield Turntables
16-08-2023, 14:27
Music maker carts I think it was len Gregory old phonostage
kininigin
16-08-2023, 15:08
Music maker carts I think it was len Gregory old phonostage

Ahh ok, not a cart i have had the pleasure of hearing.
Wakefield Turntables
16-08-2023, 19:28
Valve complement. x3 RCA 5691 my all time fave of the 6SL7 variety. It had x1 6336B valve which I think is a valve used in PSU regulation and x1 CV4004 and x1 8089 both Mullard valves (I know I have this valve wrong as the numbers are very worn, so best guess).
Wakefield Turntables
16-08-2023, 19:29
Bet it sounds fab :)

Yes, stunning at times, it certainly pulls apart poorly recorded material, that's for sure.
Wakefield Turntables
16-08-2023, 19:31
Interesting selection of valves used by Glenn back then, would you be able to detail them and their positions in the topology ? You could have some great fun/results rolling some of those for sure. They were also the reason Glenn moved mainly to JJ ECC83s in his later designs as these were more readily available although I am sure some of those in that amp you have can still be sourced?

I've had the JJ's Ecc83's before but I'm not a fan. I'm a Mullard bloke M8137's.
Jimbo
16-08-2023, 20:28
The JJs are very poor in the phono section but OK in the regulation, anywhere they don't influence the sound too much. Tesla ECC83 are on a different planet.

The preamp although slightly utilitarian is in a great case and uses quality components throughout. I expect some of those valves maybe bettered but I would say all better than ECC83 implementation ?

I had the chance to buy so many of the preamps Glenn produced over the years but only ever bought the Micro and the Croft 25R. I did listen to nearly all the iterations of preamps he built and most of his power amps. Some were never seen by many as they were one offs, a bit like yours, all besboke items.

His Dakshini OTL power amp was superb and I had that for a short while. However the one amp that bent my brain was his OTL Cypher mono blocks. I think they were £10,000 a pair way back and were built in fantastic quality cases the like which he never used again. The amps themselves were fairly low power (15W output) 6A7SG but the grip and control they had on the speakers and the SQ was mind bending. Bet not many folk have ever heard these. If you see any for sale BUY!
The Black Adder
17-08-2023, 10:24
A very nice phono stage. From the best era of Croft IMO. But why keep things secret? lol
guy
18-08-2023, 07:15
I've been keeping this one (not so) secret. I had an oppotunity to buy this Phonostage from a famous cartridge designer/modder. It's his personal phonostage that he asked Glenn Croft to build and was used to "voice" his cartridges. I'm a little bored, so here are some pictures.

…..

https://i.ibb.co/DKTgwpd/MMPS3.jpg

………

Any thoughts or comments?

What is the purpose of the “short circuit” option and “balancing system”?