The Marco-boy main system, as of August 2020

[Marco]

The point is, *genuine quality* costs, and unlike vulgar, bling frippery, when properly applied, it REWARDS you, sonically.

I'm currently modifying my Lentek MC head amp, which cost £50 from ebay (a mint example), and which sounds superb with any of my DL-103s, through the valve MM stage in the Croft, and have just spent £115 with Hi-Fi Collective, on Charcroft Z-Foil and AudioNote Tantalum resistors, which Anthony will be fitting for me, and which based on previous experience in that area, I'm confident will transform an already superb sounding device.

Now, how much would a commercial manufacturer, selling such a device, have to charge for something like that, if £115 had been spent on resistors alone, regardless of the other components, casing, connectors, etc - what would the likely retail price be, including VAT and all other costs, in order to make a viable profit? £800?

Yet, I've only paid £165 (£50 initially, and the rest for the mods), but it won't reflect the potential sound quality. *That* is not only SPPV in action, but spending money on where it matters most, thus reaping the rewards - exactly my mantra with hi-fi!



Marco.

[Marco]

They are power amps though not pre-amps, big difference in terms of what is required.

I disagree. It might seem 'easy' to build a preamp, but I can tell you it's not easy to build a truly GREAT one [and that pisses all over most others]!

See here: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/croft/croft.html

And as you know, Glenn's not the type for 'unnecessary foo'!! It's all in the power supplies

Marco.

[Beobloke]

WOW - some serious engineering in there!

Wonder what one would cost today - if indeed anyone were even able to build one? £30k?

Marco.

I suppose the closest modern equivalent is the new Yamaha C-5000 which is £6499 but has none of the multichannel stuff, parametric EQ or any digital inputs. It is stunningly good, though.

https://europe.yamaha.com/en/product...000/index.html

As an aside, CX-10000s generally go for £2-3000 these days. Mine cost £495 but was not working. It took some fairly extensive repairs and no less than 108 new capacitors to bring it back to life!

[Macca]

I disagree. It might seem 'easy' to build a preamp, but I can tell you it's not easy to build a truly GREAT one [and that pisses all over most others]!

See here: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/croft/croft.html

And as you know, Glenn's not the type for 'unnecessary foo'!! It's all in the power supplies

Marco.

The problem here is that if you produce the world's best pre-amp it is going to be expensive, not arguing that. It will be expensive enough to be out of reach of anyone on a budget. So the target market is the high end customer. And because of the nonsense propagated by Six Moons and similar sites and magazines if you price it too cheaply it won't sell.

Because of this the punter for it associates performance with cost. So you don't price it at £3K and make a decent profit. You price it at ten grand so your target market can be confident that it's good.

[Marco]

Yes, but that only applies to 'punters' who either lack intelligence/discernment and/or experience, and/or who have more money than sense, and if the latter applies, erroneously *automatically* equate cost with quality.

It doesn't apply to 'punters' who don't exhibit those traits, and who have the money, if necessary, to spend on 'the best', based on their judicious judgement of such, and also what it takes to achieve it, but who also refuse to buy grossly overpriced 'badge-fi'!

[Count me in].

In audio, too many important mistakes are made either by 'punters' with the required money, but who won't spend enough [counterproductive 'tight-waddery syndrome'] to get the genuine 'best' (not necessarily most expensive) gear, and also those who have plenty of money, just buying overpriced bling.

As ever, the most correct decisions, and subsequently the most joy, is usually found in a happy halfway house between both! And that's the world I live in

Marco.

[Marco]

Anyway, in terms of my aforementioned resistor experiments, here's an interesting review of the AN non-magnetic Tants [although the sliver versions are a bit too 'bonkers' for use in the Lentek], and which reflects my experience on using them (and Z-Folis) before in the same application, but which also translates as effectively into other areas:

http://sw1xad.co.uk/audio-note-2w-si...sistor-review/

Interesting that Black Gate capacitors are mentioned, as my Audiocom-modded Sony DAC is full of them, and I fully agree on their sonic characteristics!

Marco.

[guy]

Cheers, mate. That was my intention, to show some nice clear shots in good light, illustrating its correct fitment.

It's piss-easy to do, when you know how and have practiced a few times, but as with anything else, rewards you with *meticulous* attention to detail, in terms of its set up, and also optimising the installation of the cartridge, ensuring that azimuth and VTA are SPOT ON

The Houdini is a genius invention from Arthur, and ably transforms the performance of every cartridge attached. I think that I'll paint the nylon screws black though, to make them less obvious!

Marco.

Any of these do the job?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M2-5-x-10...oAAOSwL7lekbbP

[DarrenHW]

You could have an active zero gain pre like the DCB1 built into the case - no lack of drive or softness with one of those. In any case those issues with passives are due to compatibility with the power amp, not the passive itself. Plenty of integrated amps use passive pre-amp stages but because they are properly matched to the power stage there's no issue.

That's a good call, I'd forgotten about those.

The Lash Up looks like it's coming on nicely Martin! The Oppo 101 is an inspired choice, were you on the search for one or was it serendipitous?

[Macca]

That's a good call, I'd forgotten about those.

The Lash Up looks like it's coming on nicely Martin! The Oppo 101 is an inspired choice, were you on the search for one or was it serendipitous?

Serendipitous - although I'm not that keen on it as a standalone player hence the DAC. It's all a bit of a disaster at the moment tbh. Can't get to the bottom of what's wrong. Got some Tannoy Ardens coming imminently so I'm waiting for them to arrive then have a re-assessment.

[Marco]

Any of these do the job?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M2-5-x-10...oAAOSwL7lekbbP

Yes, brilliant - thanks!

Now, can you find a pack of black M-25s in different lengths? That's your challenge, lol!

Marco.