Which CROFT pre-amp?

My future Hi-Fi is going to be centered around a Croft Micro 25 R fitted with Genalec Gold Lion 12AX7's with gold pins. Quite what form the power amp will take is still up for debate but for me it has to be a Micro 25 R to get things rolling. Although I love the 'rawness' of my current Micro 25 Basic I find that my system would benefit from a better level of refinement.

I have a late 80s Micro II - Glenn brought output stage to latest spec & revised valve regulated supply (keeping it valve), I've since messed with smoothing caps (increasing values considerably) and swapping output caps. I love it - very agricultural looks, but it's still my reference pre & comes with a fantastic MM stage.

I chatted with Glenn a fair amount on best modification routes - mostly down to providing dedicated supplies per stage and channel...but am happy enough with the sound as is so far.

From a value for money perspectiv, think I paid £165 all up with purchase, work by Glenn & shipping from him to Ireland around 7 or 8 years ago. Beat that :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by REXTON

OK. I've now put up a few adverts on the various forums for a Epoch or a Charisma.

---

Then you'll be going down a very long upgrade route.:)

Not necessarily, Jim. You can do it all in one hit, if you can afford it, by following what Jo and I have done - and then just put the whole thing to bed and enjoy the music! :)

Marco,

I've learned to be more selective with how I spend my money nowadays and slowly upgrade as needed, I've been debating getting a new valve pre for over two years and have decided to go down the croft route after hearing a few. A don't mind spending money on upgrades as I see it as part of the hobby and get just as much excitement listening to new kit as buying new vinyl. I'm actually really looking forward to seeing how far i can take things.... :eyebrows:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by REXTON

I've learned to be more selective with how I spend my money nowadays and slowly upgrade as needed, I've been debating getting a new valve pre for over two years and have decided to go down the croft route after hearing a few. A don't mind spending money on upgrades as I see it as part of the hobby and get just as much excitement listening to new kit as buying new vinyl. I'm actually really looking forward to seeing how far i can take things.... :eyebrows:

---

Nice one Andrew, I am sure you will end of with a stunning preamp! Would love to go down this route myself but will wait till someone decides to sell up!:lol:

....... thought you guys might be interested in the innards of my new Mega Micro

of course it's the power supply in the second pic which blows ones mind .........


I'll let you know how it sounds when it gets here.

no half measures there!

Looks like it means business! :)

Plenty of caps there in the PSU. Not many of the Mega micros around.