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Harbeth with Croft phono integrated vs Yamaha AS1100/AS2100

I confess from the get go... I now own the Croft Phono Integrated, but have been playing with the idea of feeding it more power with something like the Yamaha. It’s the P3’s, so we are talking inefficient, even as far as Harbeths go. I have to say, the Croft with my Amperex 12AX7’s is really quite good. I have no issue leaving the Croft/Harbeth pairing alone...It does so many things well. While it may give up some detail, it gives a nice tube sound that immerses me in the music. I’d have no trouble endorsing the combination...just thinking about the Yamaha lately. Any thoughts ??? (-:
fjn04
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,464 posts
 
You would be taking one step forward, two steps back. The 45 watt Croft is plenty enough for the P3. BTW, I’ve owned larger Harbeths and always preferred the P3. There is something about that speaker that is special to my ears! Here ya go!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF1rWiEhEjY
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 
@jetter @fjn04 
It's me who has the black Treasure 12AX7LS tubes in my phono Croft 25R!
Check my posts for more info. Suffice to say, very good from new, sublime and better than all I've heard after 20 hours.
skoczylas's avatar
skoczylas
240 posts
 
Hard to beat the Harbeth-Croft combo. But the Yamaha has those meters which are hard to resist...  joking aside as much as I love the Yamaha sound (and the casework and meters) I dont think it’s an upgrade over the Croft for those speakers. I would move to a Yamaha if you plan to change the speakers. Croft-Harbeth is an ideal second rig why mess with it? 
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