Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[hifi_dave]

We sold so many of those back in the day. It was a similar price to the Audiolab 8000A which was the mags fave but we sold three Series 500 for every Audiolab.

Those were the days...

[DSJR]

Yeah, and you got more than three times as many as Audiolabs back for service too - and don't deny it, my memory's not THAT bad you know...

[jandl100]

Mega

Hope the cap surrounded by hot resistors has been replaced (must have been by now) and you haven't totally lost the lovely lively treble you gained with the Croft Series V.

No wonder these AI amps were used with screechy Snells. They needed to be IMO The A500 even removed the sssting from some pro-Acs too....

You could at least have got the pre and power amps (First and second?). At least they were more neutral with the relaxation IMO

Not your cuppa char, eh Dave?

... not sure I've seen you so 'down' on a piece of kit before!

Well, these things are all relative .... the 'lovely lively treble' of the Croft was a bit OTT for me - never could quite settle down with it - a bit too bright & breezy for me, I guess.

Tbh - at least with my kit, and this evening bypassing the AI's pre section by going in via the tape-outs and using my Chord amp's pre section (so gaining remote control ) the whole shebang was very lucid and articulate, but with a pleasing weight and gravitas. A better balanced sound for me - I liked it a lot

[Barry]

Hi Barry

I'll probably only be keeping this for a couple of months as I have some new speakers on order and I doubt this fine little beastie will drive them - be interesting to find out, though. It certainly drives my Infinity's with enthusiasm. 25WPC? - sounds a lot more! But I guess that's valves for you.

No, I don't think it has the selector upgrade, I'm not sure. I'm thinking of using it as a power amp by going in thru the tape outs and bypassing that gubbins anyway. Do you think that would work?

Hi Jerry,

Don't see why this shouldn't work. I believe Neil (Dalek Supreme) has some knowledge of these amps; he might be able to add his opinion on this.

Regards

[jandl100]

Yep, Barry - I tried it this evening and bypassing the pre section in this way and using the pre-outs from my Chord 2600 amp opened up the sound very nicely ..... and gave me remote control!

[The Grand Wazoo]

Jerry,
For the price at the time (£500) it was a great little amp in the right system - I've heard it sound marvellous.
The early ones were guaranteed to fail though. I've been told that at one point the returns to the factory actually exceeded 100% of all those that had been built at the time (because some went back twice or more!). Lookout Toyota!!!

But I'm told that if it's lasted this long it will be fine (either it received the necessary modification or it was built after they had the design sorted).

Others may clarify this.

[DSJR]

Jerry,
For the price at the time (£500) it was a great little amp in the right system - I've heard it sound marvellous.
The early ones were guaranteed to fail though. I've been told that at one point the returns to the factory actually exceeded 100% of all those that had been built at the time (because some went back twice or more!). Lookout Toyota!!!

But I'm told that if it's lasted this long it will be fine (either it received the necessary modification or it was built after they had the design sorted).

Others may clarify this.

I rest my case

Seriously, it's a bit too soft toned - i.e. - wrong - for my tastes. At least the Croft Series 4Sa had some "push" to go with its warmth...

Until the next one.......

[jandl100]

I rest my case

Seriously, it's a bit too soft toned - i.e. - wrong - for my tastes. At least the Croft Series 4Sa had some "push" to go with its warmth...

Until the next one.......

Nope - you're wrong, Dave. And I'm pretty sure I know why ....

The AI 500 as AI intended is an el34-based amp. Mine has 5881 power tubes.

All (and I mean ALL, to a greater or lesser extent) el34 amps I have owned or heard have been pipe&slipper machines that, for my tastes, extract the pizzaz from the music. I'll wager a penny to a £10 note that it's the AI500 using el34 toobs that you are basing your opinion on. I can assure you that my amp with 5881's is quite nicely lively and in no way a snooze-machine, thanks very much ....

[MartinT]

I felt the same way about the Croft Series 4S that I still have in my garage. Running on EL34 valves it too had soft edges and lacked some go. Glenn Croft then upgraded it to 6550 valves which certainly gave it more edginess and shear brute force in the bass. I just never liked it as much as the Leak Stereo 20 I also have, especially in the midrange.

[jandl100]

I felt the same way about the Croft Series 4S that I still have in my garage. Running on EL34 valves it too had soft edges and lacked some go. Glenn Croft then upgraded it to 6550 valves which certainly gave it more edginess and shear brute force in the bass. I just never liked it as much as the Leak Stereo 20 I also have, especially in the midrange.

Thanks Martin. ... I agree also that the Leak St20 is a mighty fine amp!

Hey Dave !! - I rest my case