Croft Amps with a digital source?

[isophene]

I've taken on board Record Spot's advice to build a system around amps and speakers rather than the source. Some would no doubt say different but I thought I'd go with it for a start ... and am now very curious about the 7 series pre-power combination from Croft Acoustics. The mid-range one.

Does anyone have any experience of using them to run a cd player? How do you like them?

When I get round to it I'm thinking of buying the Audiolab 8200cd that's been so well reviewed, in spite of the allegedly dodgy tray.

Also does anyone have any speaker suggestions? (I can't afford Harbeths!)

Thanks again for any and all comments, advice and opinions.

 

[Al ears]

If you are intent on doing it that way round you are going to have to go and audition as many speakers as you can and make sure they are suitable for your room.

Although the Croft should be fine with the Audiolab if you have bought the wrong speakers the whole system is going to suffer.

The Crofts will drive most fairly efficient speakers well although some it will find difficult.

You'd obviously need something like the Micro 25 Pre to ppartner the Croft 7 power and for that sort of money there are other / better options.

 

[bluedroog]

I use a Squeezebox Touch via a Beresford DAC in to a Croft 25 and Quad 909 combination and I think it works very well. I feel the valve pre can take any digital edge off the source and makes for a pleasant combination.

I think the phono stage is a strength of the Croft amps but they can also give digital sources a fairly analogue feel.

 

[CJSF]

I use a Squeezebox Touch via a Beresford DAC in to a Croft 25 and Quad 909 combination and I think it works very well. I feel the valve pre can take any digital edge off the source and makes for a pleasant combination.

I think the phono stage is a strength of the Croft amps but they can also give digital sources a fairly analogue feel.

That about it, the Croft amps are realy good at driving difficult loads, thats not to say, go out and find the most difficult load you can, thats not fair on any amp. I went the Croft upgrade rout, home auditioning the various amps, I found them very dynamic in my room with my PMC speakers. To much so to be frank, the room is 12 foot square, the PMCs are transmission line, horn loaded, studio type monitors, to much of a good thing IMHO.

So its essential to home dem, I'm not putting Croft down, far from it, I am a big fan. Whilst the integrated micro hybrid has a delicacy that suits my personal taste, and the phono stage is the bees knees, I could not get on with the extreme power of the Crofts higher up the range. Essential to listen with your source and speaker preference, at home.
CJSF

 

[isophene]

Thanks for that guys. I'm still researching it all, as much with my eyes as my ears at this stage, but I'll narrow it down. Any recommendations of valve friendly speakers for less than £1000 warmly received.

 

[bluedroog]

I’ve not even heard them yet so please don’t take this as a first hand recommendation but I am very curious to hear what the Kef LS50s sound like with Croft.

 

[Al ears]

Thanks for that guys. I'm still researching it all, as much with my eyes as my ears at this stage, but I'll narrow it down. Any recommendations of valve friendly speakers for less than £1000 warmly received.

You must audition the Cambridge Audio Aero 6, readily available in Richer Sounds, assuming you are in the UK.

90db sensitivity and easy to drive, yours for £650, and to quote Hi-Fi Choice "One of the finest affordable floorstanders you'll hear, make sure you audition it now."

Sorted.....

 

[isophene]

Thanks for that ... they look the part. 'Natural' sounds about right too.

As a perhaps stark contrast I thought of also auditioning, when the time comes, a pair of Neat Motives.

 

[CJSF]

Sorry, what I did not say, I was equaly happy feeding my Croft from CD or Computer linked Spotift, Radio, via an HRT DAC, great stuff. Croft are one of those unusual products where nothing much phases it, it just gets on with the job of producing natural well balanced sound . . . 'it does what it says on the tin' . . . 😉 CJSF

 

[Macspur]

I've heard Croft with a Rega Saturn and Harbeth P3ESR... very tasty.

Mac

www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net

 

[Happy_Listner]

I don't have the Croft Pre Power combo but I do own the Croft Phono integrated amp. The only real difference between the two is that the integrated has a passive preamp and the preamp uses an active pre with one tube.

I love my Croft playing records. The built in phono stage (same as in the pre) uses two tubes. It gives me just the right amount of clarity and warmth.

But I have to say that I am disappointed when using my Cambridge Audio 840C with it. The sound becomes too fast and too bright for my ears.

Compared to the Cambridge Audio I think Audiolab has a bight and sterile sound that would only make matters worse. That one extra tube in the pre section of the pre amp might help matters some compared to my integrateds passive pre.

You might like a brighter sound than I do so none of this may bother you as it does me.

All I know is that Croft is at its best when using vinyl.

 

[edplaysdrums42]

Hi Isophene

I pretty much have the set up you describe and enjoy it very much. The phono stage is one of the strongest points in the pre but most of my listening is from Spotify through the audiolab these days and always sounds superb to me. I have no intention of changing my gear unless I come into a LOT of cash! I've have owned amps by Cyrus, ATC and Luxman, the Croft's have been my favourite so far by a long way. My personal opinion if course.

Cheers, Ed

 

[isophene]

Thanks for that. Like most people I want to hear detail and clarity but I'm imagining the valve stage will contour the sound from the source, which has been described as a bit dry or bright, with a degree of valvey spaciousness and depth. Is this what you've found with your set up? Don't let me drag you into purple audio-prose here, if it sounds great it sounds great. I'm just curious, if you've go time to tell me more about your set-up. Thanks again...