Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
Location: Knebworth, Herts
Posts: 218
I'm Retief.
I thought it was brilliant and excellent value for money - much better than the standard RIAA. A very organic sound with lots of soul, texture and weight. Some would say perhaps not the most accurate on a test bench but I couldn't care less
I now use an Audio Note M3 phono which is better - but for considerable more ££. I could easily live with the Croft, but wanted to reduce the box count and was hoping to achieve synergy with the integrated AN phono and pre, and my AN IO 2 cartridge, rather than an Icon Audio pre, Croft phono and AN cart, so sold the pre and phono on
Incidentally Croft/Decca and croft/harbeth combinations have a cult following - and I also use Harbeth 40.1 speakers now
PS. My system has changed quite a bit from the one listed in my signature, but I'm unable to find the "edit" button to update it for some reason
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Retief
Analogue: Origin Live Resolution mk2,OL Encounter mk3c,MM III and isolator.Digital:CA 840C.Amplification:Croft RIAA R, Icon Audio LA4mkii,Icon Audio MB845 signature version.Speakers: Kef Reference 203/2 Cables: Mark Grant G2000HD. Speaker cable Van Damme Hi-Fi UP-LCOFC.Headphone: Grado PS1000,HD650,HD600,Icon Audio HP8 RCM DIY Moth
My System
John Wood KT88 Amp.
Paradise Phono Stage
Sony TTS-8000 Turntable.
PMAT-1010 MK6 Tonearm.
Ortofon Cadenza Bronze
Sony X555ES Cd Player
Yamaha NS1000m Speakers
Location: KY - Scotland
Posts: 5,470
I'm Mike.
I've now got another Zyx R100, low output one this time and it's sounding brilliant. I might even sell my Decca just to add some funds back into the pot.
Firebottle has offered to upgrade my Vivant even further as he says his latest tweak makes it even better.
So that'll be sent off this week.
Location: KY - Scotland
Posts: 5,470
I'm Mike.
Location: Cheltenham
Posts: 982
I'm Charlie.
Jamie,
I'm pleased that you're back in the Decca fold.
Charlie
R2R: Studer A820 1/2 inch 2 track; Otari MTR-12 1/4 inch 2 track; Sony APR 5003; Sony APR 5002; Studer A807/II. Vinyl: Platine Verdier Allaerts MC1B/Schroeder Reference & Model 2 Decca C4E/Hadcock 228 TRON Seven Reference phono. Keith Monks MkII RCM Other analogue source: Nakamichi Dragon with ANT4066 mods. Amplification: TRON Meteor preamp TRON Voyager 20B SET power. Speakers: Avantgarde Duo. Digital: computing at last with Prism Sound Lyra 2 A2D converter
Well I bought Jamie's Decca and after setting it up in my stax arm, which was fine with a super gold and some putty, I had a disappointing afternoon. Did a basic set up and had it tracking at 1.5grams, very thin and slightly harsh sound with no bass and worse still, was vocals were difficult to hear and fading as the track played. The whole sound was like an echo. I gave up and put the Shure ultra back and all was wonderful. Going to need some help. I met a guy yesterday who is very experienced with decca's and he suggested blue tak blobs until the best sound was found, then weigh it and replace with lead. Well I couldn't even start to think about blue tak as their wasn't anywhere to start. Cart and headshell weighs just over 25 grams, I have an extra counterweight that I fitted but there is room for adjustment if the headshell needs more mass. Any thoughts?
Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers
Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house
Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck
System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.