Quote Originally Posted by DSJR View Post
Then you need to stop listening with your eyes and listen with your ears and heart It's already been done and the expensive blingy modern Luxman came a very poor second I recall, although it was the integrated model I recall... In terms of physical "feel" there'll be absolutely no contest, as the far eastern product will easily beat the little UK contender and in straight forward measurements too I suspect.

You have what seems to be an expensive system, so a mere £1500 on a couple of plain UK hand made amps with glowing things within and little else isn't going to float ones boat the same. However, an overweight and over-complex amp is what killed the Japanese top end onslaught over in these parts first time round..

Just my current views, and I'm known to be a bit mad even in my saner moments, but maybe US region things like the Bottlehead stuff, if it's as giant killing as I suspect it may be, may show you where I'm coming from, even if there may not be enough power for the M40's, which have a fair old crossover to row along within them
I can't find a Croft to demo, but the Luxmans have something going on.

I would call the Luxman more of a throwback than "modern"; it's got a balance control, mono switch, old-fashioned power meters, headphone jack, etc. It's pretty much a circa 1970 receiver, with modern innards.

I'd have to say that I'd be pretty excited to hear anything that would be clearly better.

Also, the 1500 GBP amps cost $95 more than the Luxman on this side of the pond. (e.g., the Naim Supernait is the equivalent of 3300 GBP here, and the XS is 1800 GBP)