Exclusive pictures of the new amps from Croft!

I have just received the first available pictures of Glenn's new designs from his web consultant Matt O'Donoghue:



http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7070/croftanni.jpg



He advises, I quote:

"The new Croft amps are in production and Glenn is currently fulfilling orders for dealers.

The pre-amps are Micro 25 and 25R (25th Anniversary models)
The power amps are Series 7 and Series 7 R
The phono Stage is named the Riaa.

Prices are £700 for both Micro pre and Series 7 power amps. The "R" versions will look identical externally but will be vastly superior internally and sonically and are priced at £1400 each.

The Riaa phono stage will retail between £550 and £600 (final costings to be decided).

More details will be posted on the website (http://www.croftacoustics.co.uk/) and a list of dealers in due course."

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Great stuff! Matt will I'm sure be along soon to answer any questions and give a full overview of the new product launch!

I hope to be able to hear some examples soon, so stand by folks for a full review :)

Marco.

Nice! I take it the power amps are monoblocks?

Mmmm, I like the look of those. Are they valve or hybrid...?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Filterlab

Nice! I take it the power amps are monoblocks?

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Hi Filterlab,

No, there are no plans to produce monobloc amplifiers at this time.

In the picture is the Micro 25 pre and Series 7 power amp.

Both the Series 7 and Series 7 "R" are stereo amplifiers, just to clarify the "R" looks the same as the basic 7 but has a larger PSU and advanced circuit.

All of the new products feature various Hybrid design innovations with an optimum mixture of valve and SS technologies selectively applied to the circuits.

As a matter of interest some features of the latest Hybrid circuits can be applied to past products for those who wish to go down the upgrade path.

Regards, Matt.

Nice. If I were to get all 'valvey' I would certainly entertain Croft as my first point of call. I like his approach, and the testimony from satisfied punters says it all. No-nonsense VFM, I bet they sound sublime.

Best wishes with this launch. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alan

Nice. If I were to get all 'valvey' I would certainly entertain Croft as my first point of call. I like his approach, and the testimony from satisfied punters says it all. No-nonsense VFM, I bet they sound sublime.

Best wishes with this launch. :)

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Hi Alan,

Thanks for the support.

You wouldn't neccessarily have to get "all valvey", the hybrid option tends to satisfy lovers of both valve and SS technologies. The fact that the power amp is SS at the output stage means that you get a lot of SS characteristic in the sound with valves doing what they do best at the input stage.

Try it, you might like it!

Best, Matt

I'm sure I would, and had funds been free (& were I not in love with current rig) Croft is where I would go. It's great to see 'cottage industry' manufacturing taking an upturn, and may that trend continue. It is easier to buy into a manufacturers ethos, or philosophy, when one man designs and tests and listens for himself. It becomes a matter of whether ones listening priorities are the same as the designer rather than blind brand loyalty. A designer who loves music & values the response it gives us is a wonderful asset to the hobby. Sadly not often can these voices be heard from inside corporate monsters or out on the street.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matodono1

Hi Filterlab,

No, there are no plans to produce monobloc amplifiers at this time.

In the picture is the Micro 25 pre and Series 7 power amp.

Both the Series 7 and Series 7 "R" are stereo amplifiers, just to clarify the "R" looks the same as the basic 7 but has a larger PSU and advanced circuit.

All of the new products feature various Hybrid design innovations with an optimum mixture of valve and SS technologies selectively applied to the circuits.

As a matter of interest some features of the latest Hybrid circuits can be applied to past products for those who wish to go down the upgrade path.

Regards, Matt.

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Sounds good stuff Matt. Will the power amp be happy driving low impedance loads?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Filterlab

Sounds good stuff Matt. Will the power amp be happy driving low impedance loads?

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Hi Rob,

The "R" version will cope better than the standard, but overall low impedance is not expected to be a problem.

Both prototype poweramps are currently out being used with Martin Logan (Clarity) loudspeakers. I believe that these offer many amps a challenge with low impedances.

Regards, Matt.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matodono1

Hi Rob,

The "R" version will cope better than the standard, but overall low impedance is not expected to be a problem.

Both prototype poweramps are currently out being used with Martin Logan (Clarity) loudspeakers as we speak. I believe that these speakers offer many amps a challenge with low impedances.

Regards, Matt.

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1.1ohms at 20khz is a good enough challenge in anyone's book! Sounds very interesting indeed. I look forward to hearing them at some point.