I think I killed my brand new Croft Series 7 :(

[Audio Al]

I have owned several Croft items and never had a problem with any of them , currently have a 25R

[cjm123]

I have owned an original 1982 Super Micro, Vitale, Series 4, Micro 25 Basic, Series 7 and now my current Micro 25 and at the risk of tempting fate I have never had a fault....not bad eh over 38 years?..Oh and I have not heard anything that sounds better or even close for the money nor indeed for considerably more.

Chris

[hifi_dave]

In my close on 40years of selling Croft, I can only recall a couple of 'proper' faults, way back, decades ago, with the Series 5 power-amp and a batch of faulty valve sockets. Glenn exchanged the faulty units and all was well.

With this latest range of 25 pres and 7 power-amps, I still haven't had a fault in the 12 years or so it has been available and I do sell a lot of Croft. I don't know of any company with a better track record and is one of the many reasons I have stocked Croft for so long.

[beadlesabout]

It's a shame the thread turned out this way as I am pro croft.

Firstly, what happened was an expected event. I now know how to avoid it. I also know that if I am uncomfortable with avoiding it manually, Glenn will fit a relay circuit. He has offered to do this FOC.

He also serviced a previous Croft integrated I had and upgraded the power supply. It was serviced as a precaution as it was second hand (there was nothing wrong with it). Again, he didn't ask for any money and quite frankly I feel guilty about it!

Outside of this thread I can't say I've come across any reliability concerns, and quite right too, there is so little to go wrong with such a beautifully simple circuit and no PCBs. I'm sure anyone could service one with a little understanding.

On top of all that, it's UK manufacturing on a small scale for a reasonable price. That is worth a lot to me. And it sounds great.

Given Glenn's generosity and excellent after sales support, I would hate for this thread to turn anyone off his products, so this post is the next best thing to deleting this thread, which I don't think I can do.

[struth]

Think there has been plenty positives too. You can't please everyone, such is life.

[Spectral Morn]

I reported honestly a problem a dealer (now no longer one) had with demo units he got from Glenn, this was around 2012, so current designs. He had faulty 7 series power amplifiers (more than one), a 25 pre (I had forgotten model number so wrote series 7 as its contemporary with those) + phono stage. The phono stage was faulty out of the box, would not power up. I was there saw it in person, I was thinking about writing about it, but based on that and the other problems I chose not to.

This ex dealer had asked me in passing if I thought there were any brands he should look at, I suggested Croft as I was aware there was a following and the issues of the early days and mid period should no longer be a factor. He took the brand on and the demo stock, which he brought in to represent the brand had a crazy number of issues, either out of the box right away or after being on display. I felt extremely embarrassed over this, and expressed the opinion that if this was representative of Croft then he should send them all back and not represent the brand. That is what I would have done.

This is fact, and I don't print this here lightly, or casually and if anyone wants to challenge me legally to prove it I can, with no issue whatsoever.

I was called a liar on this thread (implication of what was said) and that was very upsetting as I don't lie, and certainly do not publish falsehoods on here or anywhere else. What I wrote was not hearsay, or guess work or anything else but 100% take to the bank fact.

I am not happy being called a liar on this thread.

[Marco]

Indeed, Neil, although I can't find who was guilty of directly calling you that... Could you quote the relevant post please, as the person responsible should apologise. Just because someone doesn't like hearing something, as it's critical of the brand that they like and/or own, doesn't excuse them from calling you a liar, as I have no doubt whatsoever that what you're saying is true.

As for deleting stuff (sorry, Alfie), that's not going to happen, as we don't practice censorship on AoS, or 'protect' anyone or any company from justified constructive criticism, Croft or otherwise, much as I love the company and its equipment, and have a massive amount of respect for Glenn.

Therefore, threads such as this perform a valuable service, as far as highlighting any problems that exist, even if Croft equipment currently suffers from no such issues, and so any reasonable manufacturer, Croft included, who values customer feedback and their good reputation, would be glad of being made aware of it

Marco.

[IHP]

Indeed, Neil, although I can't find who was guilty of directly calling you that... Could you quote the relevant post please, as the person responsible should apologise.

Marco.

Or alternatively those concerned could consider that falling out on the internet about Hi-Fi is, well, a little bit silly really .

[Stryder5]

+1 ^^^^

Gary

Or alternatively those concerned could consider that falling out on the internet about Hi-Fi is, well, a little bit silly really .