+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18

Thread: Croft Super Micro A IV Octal has arrived

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

    Posts: 6,882
    I'm Lawrence.

    Default Croft Super Micro A IV Octal has arrived

    She's a beaut, great condition and sounds wonderful too. I sold my Micro Basic a couple of years ago (originally bought on here) as it didn't quite do it for me (bit soft, slight lack of detail and drive) but this one is a different kettle of fish as you'd expect from the model down from the Mega Micro. The main attraction was I have been after an octal valve based pre for some time (plus its rarity, never seen one for sale before) and this lives up to all my expectations and a bit more, despite it's age. Basically, totally quiet, very clean sound, pure and detailed with plenty of air and space around the instruments and no sign of roll off at the frequency extremes. Bass is all there but not woolly. It also has enough energy and attack to keep me happy. This won't be going anywhere for a while.

    Sent from my BLN-L21 using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Birmingham

    Posts: 6,811
    I'm James.

    Default

    Nice.

  3. #3
    Join Date: Apr 2008

    Location: Warrington

    Posts: 3,451
    I'm Neil.

    Default

    Cool, definitely not cat friendly though ha ha!
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Nov 2008

    Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire/Panteg is where my late father was born

    Posts: 4,382
    I'm Chris.

    Default

    Like the top grill, so that you can see inside.
    It reminds me of my old Concordant pre I used to own, very cottage industry, and like Doug Dunlop the right channel sockets are at the top, he told me he did this to confuse and annoy the reviewers lol.
    Chris

    We've gone on holiday by mistake !

  5. #5
    Join Date: Aug 2008

    Location: Suffolk, UK

    Posts: 1,473
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    The croft preamps are really starting to pique my interest. In many ways the circuits seemed flawed if you look at them from a design standpoint where best possible measurements rule, but I keep hearing that they sound so musical.
    ~Paul~

  6. #6
    Bigman80 Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Primalsea View Post
    The croft preamps are really starting to pique my interest. In many ways the circuits seemed flawed if you look at them from a design standpoint where best possible measurements rule, but I keep hearing that they sound so musical.
    They do sound good. No arguing with that regardless of the circuits. I enjoy them

  7. #7
    Join Date: Aug 2008

    Location: Suffolk, UK

    Posts: 1,473
    I'm Paul.

    Default

    Although if l owned one I think that I would have to connect the two volume knobs with a rubber band, so that they would move together.
    ~Paul~

  8. #8
    Join Date: Apr 2008

    Location: Warrington

    Posts: 3,451
    I'm Neil.

    Default Croft Super Micro A IV Octal has arrived

    Quote Originally Posted by Primalsea View Post
    Although if l owned one I think that I would have to connect the two volume knobs with a rubber band, so that they would move together.
    Yep a pragmatic way to sort it. I would be driven nuts by trying to match them up, and I do adjust the volume a lot.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  9. #9
    Audio Al is offline Pishanto Specialist & Super-Daftee
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Dagenham Essex

    Posts: 11,215
    I'm Allen.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Primalsea View Post
    Although if l owned one I think that I would have to connect the two volume knobs with a rubber band, so that they would move together.
    I like the dual volume knobs , allows you to optimise left and right sound depending on your seating position relevent to speaker position
    [

  10. #10
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Nice one... A picture with the lid off would be good, Lawrence. Always enjoy admiring Glenn's superb soldering techniques, when doing point-to-point wiring, and super-short signal paths!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •