For further amplification: preamp advice and moving along from Croft

[IHP]

Just another option - not quite off topic I think and may be of general interest anyway.

I owned the 25R/7 combination for five or six years, last year sending the pre off to Glenn Croft to have the separate PSU of the 24RS model added. Obviously the law of diminishing returns applies but it sort of took everything that the 25R did up a little notch. I think you'd be surprised at the cost (certainly well within your budget). GC also offered the option of parts upgrades to the 25R and mods to the line stage. The cost of this was also very reasonable indeed though I never did pursue, frankly I arriving at the conclusion I was completely happy and didn't have the itch to have this done.

[camtwister]

Thanks for contributing, Ian.
Contacting Glenn to determine which modifications suit my system and budget is on the menu of options.
I'm familiar with the change from 25 to 25R, and as you say, the law of diminishing returns begins to push back beyond this point of development.
I'm not going to sell my Croft, so that I can pop it back in whenever I'm missing it.

On the used market at the time of writing, there's a Jean Hiraga designed Lectron and a mark one Audion Silver Night preamp available.
Has anyone experience of these?

Probably not the very rare Lectron, but it is recently serviced, is fitted with strong NOS valves, and has a separate regulated transistor power supply.
Gain is lower than the Croft, which wouldn't be a bad thing if I use it with my muscle bound power amp.
I'm also curious about the Silver Night. Anyone know it?

[hifinutt]

you mean this one ?

http://www.emporiumhifi.com/kent-bra...-preamplifier/

[camtwister]

Yep, that's the one. Any thoughts?

[hifinutt]

mmm 30 years old !! possibly !! i suppose if you have a good support person to help you service and fix it it might be worth while trying but these days i prefer something reliable !

[Macca]

Why would it not be reliable?

Being 30 years old it would actually be a lot easier to repair if it did go faulty than something modern that's using surface mount components.

[hifinutt]

ah good point macca , thats reassuring

[donmarrese]

I'd tread carefully with emporium hifi, I have dealt with them, and it left bad taste in mouth ..then subsequently heard same from others in the know...
Thought you should know...best have your purchase terms in writing before parting with your well earned cash ..

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

[Barry]

I too would be weary of dealing with Emporium Hi Fi. I bought a TT from them which had been 'tinkered with' and was not as described.

[camtwister]

Noted - thank you.