Upgrade options for a Croft Micro 25R?
I have to admit that I have been and still am a loyal Croft customer.
Recently I had my Series7R monoblocks upgraded by Glenn (Croft) from the standard 55W to 110W. It has helped them to sound more composed and precise in the lower frequency range, taking better control of the speakers, although the latter are supposed to be easy loads (Harbeth SHL5 Plus 40th Anniversary). Mids and highs sound as they used to, so all is fine.
I have recently added a NOS (non-oversampling) DAC (LAB12 DAC1 SE+) to the system and it sounds sublime with the Micro 25R and the monos. However, I’ve come to realize that now the system’s performance with digital files is better than with the analog chain, consisting of a Roksan Xerxes - Audiomods Series 5 - The Cartridge Man Music Maker III. I remember the same turntable used to sound great in my other hi-fi system, with Croft SuperMicro IIR and Series 7, but in the primary system the turntable sounds comparatively congested, shut-in and rolled-of with the Micro 25R, although the preamp has a couple of great NOS Tesla E83CC in the phono stage. I’m scratching my head…
I think it’s about time I considered an upgrade of the Micro 25R preamp to RS spec. I am wondering though, whether at the same time it would make sense to separate the phono stage and so end up with a Micro 25RS line only + RIAA RS.
Thoughts/suggestions, please?
I thank everyone in advance for their contribution.
System1: Lenco L75 with custom plinth, SLAT, sph bearing, SG4 external power supply + Alfred Bokrand AB-309 tonearm + Denon DL103R (aluminum body) + Well Tempered 12" tonearm clone + Denon DL103R (wooden body), ASR Mini Basis Exclusive HV, Marantz CD6005, LAB12 DAC1 SE+, Hattor BIG passive + active pre, Lab12 Suono power amp, Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge, LAB12 Gordian, Belden 8428, Black Cat Red Level Triode, LAB12 Knack MkII
System 2: Roksan Xerxes original (HiFi Inspire plinth) with Maxon ReMax motor + Audiomods Series6 + Ortofon Cadenza Black microridge retipped, ASR Mini Basis Exclusive, Marantz CD6003, Croft Micro25R + Series7R monoblocks (110W/ea), Harbeth SHL5 Plus 40th Anniv.
System 3: Marantz CD6003, Croft SuperMicroII ('R' spec by Croft, Tesla E83CC in phono)+ Series7, Snell Type EII (with bypass caps, new internal wiring, WBT nextgen 0703Cu), Mark Grant HDX1, Atlas Hyper 3.0