Croft preamp - 12BH7A or 6SL7?

[mathewf]

Hi all

I'm about to buy Glenn's latest preamp offering, the "25RS LS" which is a souped-up linestage version of the RS two box solution. The LS comes in two varieties, which as the title suggests can incorporate either a 12BH7 or an old school 6SL7 in the linestage slots (x 2).

I have a 25RS at the moment which has a single BH7 which works well for my tastes in that it's fairly lean sounding. Reading up though I haven't found a single post that doesn't extol the virtues of the 6SL7 that can be found in some of Glenn's earlier preamps. So I am a bit stuck which way to go, any opinions or thoughts based on experience would be useful.

[The Black Adder]

I've never seen the LS version. But I'd be tempted with the 6SL7, it will certainly address the leanness with a bit more overall drama. There are plenty of 6SL7's to choose from too, it's great fun. I'm currently running x2 NOS Brimar brown bases in the line, superb!

It would be great to see a naked pic (ooer!) of the new LS version if anyone has the means.

[mathewf]

I've never seen the LS version. But I'd be tempted with the 6SL7, it will certainly address the leanness with a bit more overall drama. There are plenty of 6SL7's to choose from too, it's great fun. I'm currently running x2 NOS Brimar brown bases in the line, superb!

Hi Black Adder - I see you have an Epoch which I imagine will have fairly similar characteristics to the LS with 6SL7s. I would be interested to hear what different types of 6SL7 produce in your Croft? I would be most interested in the ones that sound lean, neutral and transparent.

[The Black Adder]

Hi Mathew.

Yes, I have the Epoch Elite although it's nothing like a stock one, it's been upgraded an awful lot by Glenn. It has dual separate PSU amongst other things. Yes, 6SL7's do have different sounds in the line stage. For a lean yet open and transparent sound then try the Russian MELZ ones. For something with a bit more body but with still lots of stage then NOS Brimar's or Raytheon's are a good choice or Sylvania WBGT's.

The Central valve also changes the sound as well as the regulator valves... it's all good fun and once your sorted with valves it's everything you would want, and more.

Marco has even more experience as he's had his longer than mine so he might pop in to elaborate.

[hifi_dave]

I've never seen the LS version. But I'd be tempted with the 6SL7, it will certainly address the leanness with a bit more overall drama. There are plenty of 6SL7's to choose from too, it's great fun. I'm currently running x2 NOS Brimar brown bases in the line, superb!

It would be great to see a naked pic (ooer!) of the new LS version if anyone has the means.

It's not a 'new' model. It's a two box jobbie as the 25RS but line level only. It has a choice of B9a or Octal valves.

[The Black Adder]

ah... righto. With it being called the RS LS I thought it was a new one, but I get it now.

[mathewf]

It's not a 'new' model. It's a two box jobbie as the 25RS but line level only. It has a choice of B9a or Octal valves.

I believe it also has uprated larger output caps as well as some other bits...

[mathewf]

It's not a 'new' model. It's a two box jobbie as the 25RS but line level only. It has a choice of B9a or Octal valves.

Hi Dave, I believe you said you sold a couple of these? Could I ask if they were B9a or Octal flavours?

[hifi_dave]

Octal.

[lurcher]

I would have thought there were a lot of other dereference between the two than just the valve. A 6sl7 is very different to a 12bh7, so I would guess the circuit is very different.