Which CROFT pre-amp?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Is there a general consensus of opinion as to what is considered the best Croft pre-amp?

Currently own the Micro Basic 25. I only intended it to be a stop gap amp but it's lived in my system for over a year and I love it.

[Marco]

This (or one very similar):







Marco.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Thats the Charisma X. It's very heavily modified. I'd like to start stock and work up the modification ladder.

[rubber duck]

Andrew, the Micro 25 is a step up from the Basic but if you haven't had this in your system, you could be perfectly happy with the Basic. I was and have both which I intend to keep, especially as the Basic is now discontinued. That in itself might suggest how much of a bargain it was. Marco should know, he's been championing the Basic for ages. Of course the best Croft amp currently available would be the 25RS which I haven't heard, and the 25R which I've heard but not in my system.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Yep, I know all about the 25RS but I wondered if the older designs were considered better in any way?

[Jimbo]

Why do you think Glenn stopped making his preamps with the larger Octal valves?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Why do you think Glenn stopped making his preamps with the larger Octal valves?

Good point James, why do yo think he stopped making them?

[Haselsh1]

I have found in the past that there is a massive difference between the 6SN7 type valve and the ECC83 type of valve. Unfortunately, I now have no choice but to use the ECC83 type due to availability of decent preamps.

[Marco]

Why do you think Glenn stopped making his preamps with the larger Octal valves?

Having spoken with Glenn about this in the past, primarily it was because getting good NOS 6SL7s (or 6SN7s) was expensive, and current production ones sound crap in comparison. Also, reliability wasn't consistent. As anyone who buys NOS tubes knows, you don't really know what you're getting until you plug it in and listen to it!

They might measure fine, but could still be noisy or develop faults, after even just light use when equipment is tested - and the bigger valves tend to be more 'temperamental', in that respect.

Current production ECC83s are relatively cheap, readily available, are generally reliable and sound/perform consistently well. I also believe that the circuit they use is easier and less costly to implement - all of which makes it a no-brainer decision for Glenn to use, instead of employing the use of larger octal valves, which when properly implemented, do sound better but are more expensive to produce a preamp from.

That said, the current range of Croft equipment still sounds superb, but in a different way... Most people just want to buy equipment fit for purpose, out of the box that sounds great, without faffing around modifying things, so the current stuff fits the bill. However, if you are prepared to go down the modification route, and seek out an old Charisma or Epoch, then the rewards (after spending a not inconsiderable sum on the necessary components) are significant.

Do remember also that Glenn will build virtually anything you want to your bespoke requirements, so if you wanted a 6SL7 or 6SN7-based preamp, designed from scratch, he'll do it for you and put it into a nice case. Obviously, however, that route will be more expensive than supplying him with a Charisma or Epoch to modify, as with the latter the core components and circuit are already in place.

Therefore, there's plenty of choice out there for anyone who wants to get a Croft preamp. Whatever option you choose, you're guaranteed to end up with something rather special, which will provide significantly more 'SPPV value' than is available with designs other manufacturers are producing at many times the price!

Marco.

[Haselsh1]

Again, my previous experience of 6SN7 types is that they go microphonic in a relatively short time and therefore have to be replaced at yet more cost. I am of course referring to modern variants. I adore Glen Crofts amplifiers for their sound quality which is way up there with the best of British.