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Post by jandl100 on Feb 11, 2021 5:02:08 GMT
Interesting, Chris. I've seen comments where the 520f and 306 were considered pretty much indistinguishable sonically.
I'm very impressed with the musical abilities of the 306 and CDP-2. I intend to go down the Quad rabbit hole and see what happens. A couple more power amps are on the way and I've got my eye on a preamp or two! I'm a bit more wary on the preamp side as previous personal experience as well as widely received opinions are that they aren't Quad's strongest suit sonically. I must admit that aesthetically the 66 preamp has me drooling! The CDP-2 has both fixed and variable outputs. I've only used the variable outs so far but have enjoyed the resulting sounds.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 11, 2021 5:37:18 GMT
An amazing review of the 66 preamp and 606 power amp here. www.tersaudio.com/quad-66-and-quad-606-review/"Conclusion That this latest 66/606 combination will give years of sterling, trouble-free service is not in doubt. The reliability and after sales service offered by Quad is second to none. Unfortunately, the sound quality is predictable and safe to the point where blandness supercedes any hint of musical colour." I have a hankering for trying that particular combo, with a mk2 606. I've a suspicion I'll come to different conclusions, but we'll see. There's unlikely to be problems selling Quad gear on, so it's a low risk experiment.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 11, 2021 14:00:16 GMT
I wonder how their latest gear compares?
When I was looking for a fully featured pre I came across the Quad Artera - looks like a very decent bit of kit.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 16, 2021 12:40:06 GMT
I wonder how their latest gear compares? Latest Quad gear? Hmm, no, that doesn't seem to be the direction I'm going in! Latest Quad Rig Update .... A fully refurbed and DADA updated 303 power amp has been added to the mix. I guess I was expecting some luscious laidback smoothness. Nooo. It doesn't do that at all. Vivid, palpable, shockingly fast and explosive on transients. The imaging is very 3D and real. Just now listening to some orchestral on Chandos - and a solo flute came in - it was so palpably there it made me blink. Low timpani roll just now - Whoa!!! - fabulous texture and sonority and sheer thwackiness. Then a scalp-tingling slow crescendo with loads of blatty brass. A bit ssshhhhhy at the very top, cymbals and similar - but I think the refurb has yet to fully run in properly. This Quadness is turning into a very interesting journey. More Quad newness tomorrow and Sunday.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 16, 2021 13:20:48 GMT
Very interesting Jerry.
So maybe all the Quad 'pipe and slippers' stuff is a bit of a myth?
No doubt traditional Quad users in yesteryear would have their power amps in analogue systems with preamps and speakers that wouldn't be the last word in rez or accuracy.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 16, 2021 13:29:44 GMT
I also wonder if the 303 gradually fades as it gets older, hence its modern rep as P&S. Give it a refurb to return it to its original glory? Then there's the DADA updates as well. All very complex!
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 17, 2021 13:56:30 GMT
Quad 606ii power amp now installed. Another really, really good amp. Someone shoot me, please, if I buy any more amps. The 3 Quad power amps I now have, all with distinctive presentations, all excellent, are the only amps I need. I just need to keep reminding myself of that! I have a kind offer of a trial with a Quad 909 power amp, but not at all sure I'll be doing that. Seriously considering getting rid of my Primaluna valve amp. Just no real point in keeping it. Ditto my 1kWpc class D monos. Can I lose the box swap habit? No, probably not!
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 17, 2021 14:04:15 GMT
Re the pipe & slippers reputation of Quad - coincidence maybe, but it's curious to note that the sound of the 3 power amps gets increasingly less dynamic and incisive the more recent the kit is.
I wouldn't class any of it as P&S, though.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 17, 2021 15:48:02 GMT
That's Quadtastic news.
What kind of pre do they like - tube or SS?
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 17, 2021 16:24:31 GMT
They obviously don't object to ss, as that's all I have atm!
.... yeah, quite tempted to look for a valve pre (as you know) but decent ones come expensive with the necessary remote volume capability.
And I have to confess that I've had at least as many mediocre sounding valve preamps as I've had decent ones. So I am kind of wary. Maybe I'll see if I can arrange a swap with someone for my Primaluna power amp. But maybe I'll just stay with a Quad ss pre.
I'm currently using the volume control in the Quad CDP-2, and I've a Quad 99 pre coming out of quarantine on Sunday.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 17, 2021 17:05:49 GMT
Interesting - Quad Revisie, a Dutch company dedicated to the refurbishment of Quad amps, thinks the 303 was one of the best amps ever, and the best produced by Quad! That does rather tie in with my own experience so far. www.quadrevisie.eu/quadrevisie.htmlMy 303 is certainly a very good amp in absolute terms, if rather unforgiving in its explicit way. I can imagine needing a break now and then with the more relaxed 606ii.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 17, 2021 18:05:03 GMT
I had heard that modded original 405s are the best ones, the Pros even better.
I have no experience of Quad in my system, though.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 17, 2021 18:57:54 GMT
I had heard that modded original 405s are the best ones, the Pros even better. I have no experience of Quad in my system, though. Gosh, I've not heard that before. An unmodified original 405 could certainly be categorised as pipe and slippers, a very uninspiring amp. The mk2 is hugely better, not a bad amp at all.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 17, 2021 19:08:15 GMT
I enjoyed my 405-2 but wasn't impressed with the 'upgrades' I paid for - can't remember it sounding any different if memory serves ...
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 21, 2021 8:01:53 GMT
A Quintet of Quads is now in situ. 99 CDP-2, 99 Pre, Quad 606 (upped to mk2), 306 (DADAed), 303 (refurbed and DADAed). (And next to the 99's my faithful Nobsound BT5 receiver.) I've just plumbed it up with the 606ii. Not listened yet with the 99 Pre in the mix (wife still in bed!).
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 26, 2021 11:45:32 GMT
Well, out of that quintet of Quads only a duo remains.
The 99 preamp was the one disaster. Wonderful functionality, but imo the sound was vague, blurred, dynamically squashed.... just boring, really.
The 306 power amp (the reason I started my Quad Quest) majors on rhythmic drive and boogie factor. Great fun for a while but ultimately my focus is on microdynamic delicacy, transparency and soundstaging.
The CDP-2 digital preamp (and cdp) was impressive, but was let go as another preamp I have is a little more transparent, and another DAC I have is just that bit better all round. So good though the CDP-2 is there wasn't much point in keeping it. A good piece of gear, though.
Still here are the 303 and the 606ii power amps. Unexpectedly, it's the 606ii that is getting used. I'm surprised how good it is. It doesn't quite have the transparency and sheer dynamic speed of my refurbed 303 but I find its rather more relaxed presentation suits me better for longer term listening. No plans to move the 303 on, I'm sure it will get used and enjoyed now and then when I want a bit more excitement.
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Post by user211 on Feb 26, 2021 15:22:51 GMT
I've never owned any Quad. I've actually never heard a Quad amp for any length of time in a system worthy of assessing one in.
I must put that right one day out of curiosity.
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Post by bigman80 on Feb 26, 2021 15:40:13 GMT
Well, out of that quintet of Quads only a duo remains. The 99 preamp was the one disaster. Wonderful functionality, but imo the sound was vague, blurred, dynamically squashed.... just boring, really. The 306 power amp (the reason I started my Quad Quest) majors on rhythmic drive and boogie factor. Great fun for a while but ultimately my focus is on microdynamic delicacy, transparency and soundstaging. The CDP-2 digital preamp (and cdp) was impressive, but was let go as another preamp I have is a little more transparent, and another DAC I have is just that bit better all round. So good though the CDP-2 is there wasn't much point in keeping it. A good piece of gear, though. Still here are the 303 and the 606ii power amps. Unexpectedly, it's the 606ii that is getting used. I'm surprised how good it is. It doesn't quite have the transparency and sheer dynamic speed of my refurbed 303 but I find its rather more relaxed presentation suits me better for longer term listening. No plans to move the 303 on, I'm sure it will get used and enjoyed now and then when I want a bit more excitement. I've only sampled a couple of Quad amps and they did sound quite vague. A little veiled. I would like to try a 306, but never in a hurry to spend money on one. Probably won't either.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 26, 2021 16:30:23 GMT
To summarise and simplify....
Quad preamps = bad Quad power amps = good
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 26, 2021 17:12:43 GMT
Have you ever tried the old Quad II monos Jerry? I was interested in those a few years back but never pulled the trigger.
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