Croft Super Micro pre-amp

[Dowser]

Having zero need for another pre-amp now I have a Croft Mega Micro to replace my mildly modified Croft Micro II...I of course bought this Croft Super Micro when I saw it for sale in Sweden

Going to do a full service, upping PSU capacitance as appropriate, listen to it and then probably sell it

Questions from my side (detail & photos below);
- I do not remember electrolytics in phono stage of my Micro II, not the Mega Micro - but these are for sure original - 22uF 63v items - keep them or replace with films?
- What the hell is the small (I think) poly cap pictured below?
- What is the LCR 47n 1KV cap bypassing the 25uF terminal of doubled Nichicon smoothing cap? What is 470n? Nanofarad? I assume a film can be used?

Anyhow, photos;

- Familiar basic display - seller suggested it was a Super Micro A, no label on back strangely, but my research says a normal Super Micro so I negotiated and bought;

Dusty internals;

Dodgy soldering to output sockets need revision (2 wires popped off so far );

What is this cap? Anyone know? Goes from PSU valve to close to line output tag board;

Electrolytics to be replaced;

And 4 of these in phono stage;

Valves (anyone who can identify by plates, yes please );

I'll order replacement caps, likely replace 1uF out caps for better ones...listen to it...then sell it. But I do want to hear it first.

Thanks, Richard

 

[jtgofish]

I used to own one.Croft Super Soggy would be a more appropriate name.

 

[Dowser]

I used to own one.Croft Super Soggy would be a more appropriate name.

thanks - really? I had a basic Micro II before the Mega I’m now running, sent it to Glenn for a service before having it delivered to me - he brought OP stage up to current specs and replaced stock parts of valve PSU (rather than migrating to silicon for HT). It was anything but soggy, but perhaps that was Output Stage update? Need to review cct in my Micro compared to the new one one…and the Mega perhaps. I really don’t recall seeing electrolytic caps in the OP stage before.

 

[eksiil]

+1. I have a Mega & an 'octal' SMAIV with a bespoke PSU. both are keepers. however, much as I like the Mega, I preferred the the SMAIV from the off. something about the 6SN7/6SL7 that the ECC83/99 simply can't do.

thanks - really? I had a basic Micro II before the Mega I’m now running, sent it to Glenn for a service before having it delivered to me - he brought OP stage up to current specs and replaced stock parts of valve PSU (rather than migrating to silicon for HT). It was anything but soggy, but perhaps that was Output Stage update? Need to review cct in my Micro compared to the new one one…and the Mega perhaps. I really don’t recall seeing electrolytic caps in the OP stage before.

 

[Vinny]

As ever, it is ill-advised to use any Croft model designation in the expectation that it will tell you what is inside any Croft pre'.

I have a Micro A - looks at least broadly similar to the OP's - 1 off ECC82, 2 off ECC83 and 1 off ECL85.

My Super Micro IV has 1 off ECL85, 1 off 85A2, 2 off 12BH7 and 2 off ECC83.

 

[Zombie]

Good pre, good combo with Quad II amps, providing the depth to their very wide sound stage. Compared it for fun with a LK1 phono input and in comparison the Croft was almost playing at half speed, an extremely laid back sound compared to the LK1 and a Project Tube box or whatever it was called

 

[Robert]

I had one of these many years ago running with a Croft Series V power amp.
Sounded great with the Impulse H2s at the time.

I love the simplicity of Croft units.