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Thread: Glenn Croft is building amplifiers again! CroftAcoustics.co.uk

  1. #41
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,478
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Steve,

    Lets just be clear on this, there is no criticism of PFM here and certainly not of the Admin/mod team...
    Absolutely not, and I should have thought that was taken as a given. The parallel-running Croft thread on PFM understandably piqued my interest and therefore so did some of the comments which I felt were worth mentioning. I also know you've got an excellent relationship with Tasha where matters of hi-fi are concerned.

    Del and me are the same. Ok, I'm fortunate that I've got a separate room for my hi-fi but if I didn't, and the system lived downstairs in the lounge, Del wouldn't give a flying fig what type of volume control was on the preamp. She would simply get used to it - in fact she would be more interested in the fact that it sounded superb than any issues of minor operational inconvenience.

    What do people do I wonder who use computers only to access their music? It's not just simply a case of hitting the 'play' button - you have to access the relevant music files you wish to play and that takes more effort than quickly twiddling two volume knobs on a preamp. So if their beloveds can get used to that extra 'phaff' they can surely get used to using dual-mono volume controls!

    I also don't know about you but I generally find that there is a 'set level' I tend to listen at which rarely varies. For me it's four clicks from zero on the volume control of the Croft. I rarely deviate from that listening position using CD or vinyl unless cranking it when people come round for a sesh. Therefore the dual-mono controls could simply be set to one's favourite position and left there.

    The thing that I mainly find ridiculous though apart from the fact that someone would be daft enough to forgo owning a superb sounding preamp for the sake of its volume control arrangement is that people's wife’s are apparently so concerned about this issue. Surely there has to be some 'come and go' and mutual understanding in a relationship?

    I mean, if Del wants a new cooker or washing machine she picks what she wants and decides on the relevant facilities of the products she's buying because it's mainly her who will be using them. However on the occasions where I use those items (and it is fairly regularly) I wouldn't kick up a fuss if I had to press two more knobs on the cooker to heat up my pasta or on the washing machine to spin-dry my jeans! Of far more importance is that the cooker and washing machine are more efficient and do their job better. Similarly, I wouldn't expect her to kick up a fuss if I bought a new preamp that used twin volume control knobs that was obviously far superior to what I had before - she would just get used to it as I would get used to using the new cooker or washing machine...

    Or am I being too rational and simplistic?

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & regulator mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat with Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight. Isonoe feet & boots. Ortofon RS-212D tonearm with Denon DL-103GL, in a Denon PCL-300 headshell, fitted with Funk Firm Houdini and Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp and Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp, fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.

  2. #42
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Central England

    Posts: 2,932

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    Reading this thread and the parallel one on PFM makes me want to buy one. OK, I'm not really taken with the idea of dual volume pots but I'd live with it if for £1400 it outperformed the Spectral DMC-15.

    I'm looking to change my preamp and I would seriously consider a Croft. The Spectral is superb for the way it reproduces dynamic contrasts and subtle timing cues. It also excels in imaging and soundstaging. Where it falls down very very slightly is in naturalness, particularly of the human voice compared to a Glasshouse Transformer Volume Control passive pre that I tried in my system for a couple of weeks. However, the latter came second on all the other attributes compared to the Spectral.

    A preamp that can do the lot for £1400? I'd live with twin pots for sure.

    I also don't know about you but I generally find that there is a 'set level' you tend to listen at which rarely varies. For me it's four clicks from zero on the volume control of the Croft. I rarely deviate from that listening position using CD or vinyl unless cranking it when people come round for a sesh. Therefore the dual-mono controls could simply be set to one's favourite position and left there.

    The thing that I mainly find ridiculous though apart from the fact that someone would be daft enough to forgo owning a superb sounding preamp for the sake of its volume control arrangement is that people's wife’s are apparently so concerned about this issue. Surely there has to be some 'come and go' and mutual understanding in a relationship?
    I totally agree. I feel all smug inside when I read of chaps just caving in to unreasonable stipulations made by the Other Half. I suspect that on a few occasions the missus is just an excuse. Hi-fi forums are populated by hi-fi/music lightweights who simply won't go that extra mile for the best sound/£/$/€ performance and the poor wife ends up being the bloody scapegoat along the lines of "...oooh there's no way the missus would put up with that..."

    Tasha admitted to me a while back that she'd listened to the system for months without ever adjusting the volume because she didn't know how to. I did explain that the knob marked "output level" did volume.

  3. #43
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,478
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Tasha admitted to me a while back that she'd listened to the system for months without ever adjusting the volume because she didn't know how to. I did explain that the knob marked "output level" did volume.
    Which kind of proves the point I made earlier, and I doubt she's alone

    You need to hear my preamp again, and hopefully we can do that soon.

    One thing I meant to ask is if the new Croft preamps are line-level only or if they have a built-in phono stage? Croft preamps usually come equipped with a MM phono stage but this might now just be with the Charisma and the other more hi-end stuff.

    If the new range does come with a phono stage then you're ready to go with an SL-1210 should you decide to purchase one

    Perhaps Matt could clarify?

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & regulator mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat with Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight. Isonoe feet & boots. Ortofon RS-212D tonearm with Denon DL-103GL, in a Denon PCL-300 headshell, fitted with Funk Firm Houdini and Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp and Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp, fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.

  4. #44
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Halifax, UK

    Posts: 1,394
    I'm Nick.

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    That's interesting. I've not heard anything from ModWright but if Andy and you rate it then it must have something going for it. I'm very happy with my Croft pre so I won't be looking at anything else, though
    It wasn't intended as a plug for them, but I was supprised by the improvement it made.

    Will you be coming? It would be good to meet up again. I'd like to hear that big valve amp of yours again - in fact didn't you say you were bringing it round to Ian's?
    I am hoping to, I mentioned to Al that I was waiting to see how the numbers played out, so there was room for the local folk first.

    I was going to drag the 211 over to try with Ians speakers some time, I don't know what he is up to now though, given he was selling the EARs

  5. #45
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: North East UK

    Posts: 6,358
    I'm InSpace.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    One thing I meant to ask is if the new Croft preamps are line-level only or if they have a built-in phono stage?
    I'm sure the website mentions a built in MM stage.
    Shian7
    --------------------------------------------------------

    Kudakutemo
    kudakutemo

    ari mizu-no tsuki

    Though it be be broken -
    broken again - still it's there:
    the moon on the water.

    - Choshu.

  6. #46
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,478
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    There you are Steve, even better!

    How are you getting on with yours, Mikey?

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & regulator mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat with Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight. Isonoe feet & boots. Ortofon RS-212D tonearm with Denon DL-103GL, in a Denon PCL-300 headshell, fitted with Funk Firm Houdini and Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp and Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp, fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.

  7. #47
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,478
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Nick,

    It wasn't intended as a plug for them, but I was supprised by the improvement it made.
    They are now on my 'recommended list' when offering upgrade advice to members.

    I am hoping to, I mentioned to Al that I was waiting to see how the numbers played out, so there was room for the local folk first.
    You've got to come. We can't have a 'fest' without the main man! Besides, what you bring is always worth hearing

    I was going to drag the 211 over to try with Ians speakers some time, I don't know what he is up to now though, given he was selling the EARs
    He's still selling the 509s and has ordered a 'souped-up' Yaqin MC-110B from France. See here:

    http://www.yaqin.fr/

    Looks tasty. I'm observing with interest...

    I'd leave the 211 thing until he comes back from Canada (off for 3 weeks from 13/7) or the Chesterfest. We'd both very much like to hear it in Ian's system and in mine, if there is time. I'm only 35-40 mins from Ian.

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & regulator mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat with Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight. Isonoe feet & boots. Ortofon RS-212D tonearm with Denon DL-103GL, in a Denon PCL-300 headshell, fitted with Funk Firm Houdini and Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp and Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp, fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.

  8. #48
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Birmingham, Midlands, United Kingdom.

    Posts: 151
    I'm Matt.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shian7 View Post
    I'm sure the website mentions a built in MM stage.
    Yes Marco,

    Shian 7 is correct all pre-amps will have 3x line and an MM phono stage and there will be a separate Phono-stage in the range also.

    As far as I know Glenn has no intention of ever producing another line only pre.

    Also thanks to you and the guys for your continuing support of Croft Acoustics. PFM may well ask me for a trade fee but as you know I am only the web designer and personal friend to Glenn. I have no official post at CA, that is Glenns baby.

    Regards, Matt.

  9. #49
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Birmingham, Midlands, United Kingdom.

    Posts: 151
    I'm Matt.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    Nick,

    I will be demonstrating the effect of Transparent cables in more detail at the forthcoming Chesterfest. Oh, and I'll be bringing my KAB-modified SL-1210 along, too, so you might be curious how this compares to your SP10.

    Marco.
    Marco,

    My money is on the SP10, I may have told you that I once owned one and regret ever selling it.

    I would like to hear those Tranparents sometime to see how they go up against my Siltechs and Chord sig. Maybe next time you come down?

    Matt.

  10. #50
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,478
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Oh I don't doubt that will be the case, Matt. It is fundamentally a better T/T, when performing at its best, and I know Nick's is an excellent example of the breed

    I just think it will be interesting for everyone present to hear how close my modified 1210 gets to it. Some might be surprised at the results

    Good news on the phono stage. Jeez, that makes the new amps ever better value for money... Steve, get yer arse in there boy!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & regulator mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat with Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight. Isonoe feet & boots. Ortofon RS-212D tonearm with Denon DL-103GL, in a Denon PCL-300 headshell, fitted with Funk Firm Houdini and Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp and Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp, fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.

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