Hi all, I hope the following might be of interest as today I've found significant improvement in sound quality at zero cost, and by accident.
As a non techie type it's taken me seven years to discover that my Oppo CD/DVD player has a variable volume option, and I thought I'd try it out as my Croft preamp is sans remote control. Getting off the sofa to turn volume up and down, particularly with twin pots, can be a bit of a drag after a couple of glasses of Rioja. First World problem, I know.
I'm in a small terraced house and get on well with my neighbours so we have a compromise where they let me know if they're out for the evening leaving me free to cane the hifi guilt free, otherwise the Croft volume knobs stay at 3 O'Clock max.
Tonight, I'm controlling volume via the Oppo and the preamp is fixed at 7 O'clock. The transformation is significant. Separation, detail, tighter bass. I'm guessing this is because there's more juice flowing through the Croft.
I'm listening to the same CDs I played last night, 70s funk n soul, guitar rock and electronic dance and all are enhanced.
Enjoy your evening, mine's going VERY well......