noromance- Any thoughts on a nice MM cart to keep things simple. I was thinking Nagaoka. Thanks (-:
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Yogi- I called Jay (Bluebird) last week, and left a VM. No return call. I figured it was a fluke, called again, and left another VM. No return call. At that point, I figured he wasn't responsive because he was only the Canada, but not US distributor.
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Thanks- I was hoping 50 watts would be plenty, especially the way I plan on using this system. Does anyone know who the Croft US importer is? I want to get some recommendations for a well matched cartridge. So far, going only from what I've read.... 2M black: no romance (-: , Nagaoka: some romance.
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Thanks all. I may give Gene a call, but will first seek out a closer dealer.
With regard to a cartridge, I have some time to figure that out. I would like to avoid an SUT, and the extra cable that would be needed. So either an MM, or a High output MC. I want to play to the strengths of the system. What I mean is a nice refined, fleshed out midrange. |
miner42- Very nice office system you've set up there. If I was going to set up a digital based system, I may have taken the same route. What I plan to do is integrate this system in to my main listening room. It will be for shorter listening sessions, when I don't want to play the main rig. The benefit there is I can use my Well Tempered GTA. In the future, I may try this in the bedroom, but I'm thinking playing vinyl in the bedroom may be a little over the top. Please update us when your Rega/Harbeth system has some time on it. |
Thanks Michael and Johnny R. I will try to hear all that I can. Please keep the thoughts coming. Ultimately, I have to figure this out, but it's always interesting to hear what's working for other Harbeth users. |
The Croft is on it's way for a home trial.
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Thanks so much for the response frazeur1. My dealer also carries Nagaoka, and mentioned setting up a Nagaoka w/ Croft for a customer. He did say this was very good. For now I will run my Tsd-15/ A23 SUT/ Amadeus table. This combo may ruin me, because it is pretty darned good. But it's a borrow from my main system, and is currently my only source for the Croft audition. Nagaoka is first on my list, assuming I keep the Croft. (-: |
It’s a hard to be too critical of what I’m hearing from the Croft and P3’s. For my taste, it’s really quite engaging. It’s does that immersive tube thing, which allows me to forget I’m listening to a system. It has the color, but with an ever so slight opacity. In other words, I wish it was a tad more fleshed out. I also find it begins to sound strained when you go beyond mid/loud listening levels. The above said, I’m being critical, and I’ve heard 100K systems which I’ve enjoyed MUCH less. This combo has the right thing going on. For a one box solution, it’s really quite good. I think about a what a good 40 watt tube Integrated, like LM, would do for the P3’s. But then I’d need a phono stage, and another cable. I also think it would take a pretty good phono stage to beat the Croft. Wanting to keep things simple, I think the Croft, at it’s price, is a very nice amp. Plus, having Followed A’gon, and other forum comments about the P3’s, I’m not so sure a 35-40 watt tube amp is the answer. I would imagine this being less true as you go further up the Harbeth line.
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All much appreciated (-: It's nice to have just a few tubes, especially when dealing with NOS prices. frazeur1- funny you mentioned the MP-200. That's the one my dealer just got in. However, I am ONE turntable short at the moment. I plan to look at a new table for my main setup, that would take the place of my WT Amadeus. Then, the WT would move to the Harbeth & Croft system. If that falls through, I could see a Thorens TD160 Super with a Jelco fitting in very nicely within this setup. The Hana cartridges also have my interest. Does the Croft have enough gain to mate well with a High Output MC?
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Thanks yogiboy- That should give me quite a few options. I want something that will shine with that Harbeth midrange. Not that I don't want an even handed cartridge, but here, it's about the mids.
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I think at this level there are always trade offs. For instance, I heard the exposure (2010) has better bass than the Croft, in to the P3’s. However, the Croft had a bit more tube magic. That was simply one persons opinion, but it stands to reason. Johnny R- It’s a nice little amp, and my guess is that MM phono is hard to beat for the money. Like yogi said above, 1.5mv or above, and you have a nice little setup. I’m sure you’re making them sing as well. You certainly have world class sounds in that shop of yours. Always loved that Quicksilver & Vandersteen combo. Cheers -Don
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