I have recently been able to collect my Croft OTL 3 amplifier but due to the covid restrictions and other things it has not been used for about two years . The seller has had it running but given the time and the nature of this amplifier I would feel much better if it could be serviced / checked over before I put it behind my very loved Quad ESL 57 speakers.
Now the obvious thing which I have tried to do is get in touch with Croft Acoustics and ask them to look it over and service or upgrade as needed. However I tried to contact them for three weeks both by the preferred message e-mail and telephone but as yet not had any response at all . Not too sure if they are still going as I have not been able to talk to any of the dealers listed and the website has not been updated since 2015 . Any information on them would be appreciated as this would still be my first option.
Next option is has anyone any advice on any other service companies that would take a look at this amp given its very specialist nature ? I am North West based (Liverpool) and around that area would be best . I am aware of Mike Powell but he is always really busy and after the wait I have had already i really want to hear this amp . So Northern Area would be best but prepared to drive to Midlands and most places that can be reached in an hour and half or so .
Hi,
that makes me a bit nervous to hear because normally Glen answers very, very fast to emails.
I hope he is fine, he is such a kind and helpful guy and his designs sound great to me.
I wouldn't worry about Glenn not being there. Keep at it. I've contacted him 2-3 times over the years and on two of those occasions my experience has been somewhat far from ideal. In fact once the impasse was broken only when I wrote a letter to him. Once I actually manage to get a message to him he's reported problems with IT/email - so he may well not be receiving your emails. Try calling Dave at Radlett Audio to see what recent dealings he has had?
Bencat did you get your Croft Series 3 sorted. I have a Series 3 which Glenn has been keeping sorted for me for about 3 years now. I was getting some distortion from one of the channels so like you I tried to get in touch with Glenn via his email. Eventually I did get a response and I took the amp over to him in Scarborough a couple of weeks ago. Looks like the output valves were on their last legs so he has changed all the valves for me. He is so reasonable with his repair costs - costing £240 pounds so that's great. Picking up the amp on Saturday so really looking forward to hearing it in my system with the new valves. If you need his email address let me know. Do you live anywhere near York. I too have the Quad 57 speakers with very good digital and vinyl front ends so if you ever wanted to come round to hear the system you would be more than welcome. Glenn did say to me he is definitely winding down. He only supplies the UK and USA markets now having given up on Europe because of the hassles of Brexit. Look forward to hearing from you. Regards David
Hi David dropped my amp with Glenn just over two weeks ago. Glenn said he is very busy and it would be quite a while before he could look at my OTL . Well been waiting a while to get this in my system so a few months more will not hurt .
Yes York is not too far and I will be passing when I collect my amp so will give you a shout to see if I can get a listen then .
Great you got your amp overto Glenn. He has sorted my amp out now so hopefully your's will not be too far behind. Yes you are more than welcome if you come and drop in when you go to Scarborough to pick up the amp. You might be interested to know that a couple of years ago the transformer went into a melt down. Glenn said it would cost about £600 to get rewound so he put 4 toroidal transfomers in the amp instead. Cost about £250 in the end. Difficulty to say definitely but I feel this actually made the amp even better so this is something to think about for the future in terms of longeivity. The transformers must be 30 years old now and I think what happened on mine that the insulation failed and it shorted out - hence the melt down. Glenn is really resonable for his repairs so hopefully your service will not cost you much. You are in for a real treat when you plug it into your 57s. They sound fantastic together. I recenlty went round to here a friends system including Kef Razor speakers at £19000 plus £30000 of Linn streamer - he owns the Linn Naim shop in York. I actually felt my system with the Croft and the Quads sounded as good as if not better than his system! Glenn acually used the Quads when he was designing and voicing the amp way back in the 90s and had a stacked pair of quads at the time. Hope to see you in York sometime!!!
Bencat - I saw your Series 3R amp today when I was picking up my amp at Glenns'. He said he had nearly finished the service so should be sorted very soon. The 3R looks very cool. Mine is the standard 519 valve Series 3. Interesting Glenn says it is getting more difficult to get the 519 valve but the ones on the 3R are easily sourced since there were loads made in Russia. So maybe I will look out for Series 3R amp.
I think you made a mistake mine is a standard series 3 the same as yours and has 509/519 valves . As you say these are very hard to find now. Glenn has confirmed it is now finished and says it needed one valve replacement and he has done a couple of small mode . I will be going to collect it on Tuesday next week provided Glenn is happy with that so fingers crossed I can hear my full system by the weekend.
Glenn showed me a Seres 3R so I assumed it was yours. Should sound great in your system. Mine working fine again now with its new set of valves. Glenn reckons some of the valves he replaced were the originals he put on the amp 30 years ago so with a bit of luck this new set of valves will see me out (I am 61 now!).
Yes David Glenn must have either finished mine before you were there or started on it after as he said he'd had playing for a few days I would presume it done before you got there . Good to hear about how long the valves can last I have at least three full changes but they are not all new and I have not found anyone to test them .
Yes I have started to collect a few off ebay but hopefully I will not need the valves for a long time now!!!! Enjoy the amp when you get it home and let me know what you think of it - I think it is pretty wonderful so I hope you wll too!!!! How long we will be able to rely on Glenn to sort out any issues I do not know but it is great that he still is happy to look after his old babies at least for the timebeing
Well never thought I would be able to write this but my Croft OTL 3 is now back and safe in Liverpool . Arrived home from the round trip just before 15.00 and frankly I know I am getting old because I am feeling tired not done many long drives since around 2017 . I am now for once going to do the sensible thing and leave the Croft were it is . If I try and install it I will make a silly mistake so best tackled tomorrow after a good sleep . As well as getting the Croft plumbed in I am going to do a new DIRAC Live run through with the Croft as amplification once that is finished will then hopefully relax and have a listen to some music . I just hope that after all the wait and different things I have done my expectations are not too high .
Great glad the amp is safely back home with you now. Enjoy your listening session - I think you will find it has been worth it!!!! Let me know how you get on. Interesting your room improvement stuff. No idea how this works. Maybe you could let me know? Regards David
Okay finally got the Croft in place and working . I have my Quad ESL 57's placed right up close to the back wall but about 2ft + away from either side wall . I know this is not how they are supposed to work and without some assistance it would produce a very strange sound . However things in the DSP world have moved on and using a MiniDSP DDRC 22D and DIRAC Live I am able to get the reflections and time alignments adjusted for the position and also the account for the issues within my room . So after getting the Croft set up and playing quietly I completed a completer Wide Image session (maximum number of mic positions) with the Croft . Once adjusted by me as I know what else needs doing to make it work for me I am now able to sit back and play some music .
There is an issue though and this is that the Croft will not drive the Quads very loud what they put out is lovely and everything I have been looking for but no real head room left . I can live with this but would love to be able to get it just that bit more .
I need to now give it some time to play and relax as the Croft has not really been used now for nearly three years so as with most Valve amps I have come across they need a little burn in time to really sing . I am happy and if anyone has any suggestions for getting the volume issue sorted then let me know .
Bencat - don't know what the issue is with the Croft in terms of volume. My Croft is fed by a AudioPax Model 5 pre-amplifier and the Croft will play pretty loud -for electrostatics that is. My neighbour does occassionally complain about the noise level so not exactly quiet. What is the output voltage from your pre? I got my Series 3 back from Glenn after he changed the output valves but it was still distorting in both channels so it has gone back to him to sort out. When it is working properly it sounds fantastic but it has been over to Glenn to sort out a bit more than I would have liked. Maybe I will try a SS amp next. Someone is selling First Watt clone F-6 amps (Nelson Pass design) on ebay using the DIYaudio kit parts for about £1000. This amp should work very well with the Quads so I may give it a punt for an easier life!
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