I am using a pair of Wayne Picquet restored Quad ESL 57 speakers. I've been using an old NAD power amp with a phono pre direct in and achieving pretty decent sound. However, I am not sold on the amp. Comparing and contrasting with an old Fisher tube amp I have and the Fisher has a softer, darker presentation, but nowhere near the definition, depth, and transparency of the NAD. I want to try various solid state power amps with my Quads and I want to spend somewhere in the $500 used price range or less or slightly more money. I've been looking at Quad power amps. I also remember liking the Arcam Alpha series power amps long ago. Which of the Quad amps between the 405, 606, and 909 have the warmest sound? I guess what I'm missing from my system is some silkiness. The sound is somewhat hard and a little harsh. The answer, obviously, is a tube power amp, but I would like to explore the solid state world with Quads a little bit and would like some ideas. Sonic goals: warmth, smoothness, silkiness, full and robust, lush, pleasant and non-fatiguing.
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Topic - Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - Mr Blue Sky 17:05:07 09/3/14 (27)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - Ubiquitous Biscuit 12:37:27 09/7/14 (0)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - Davy 14:20:45 09/6/14 (6)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - kentaja 05:03:03 09/7/14 (5)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - Davy 06:54:20 09/7/14 (4)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - kentaja 05:03:59 09/8/14 (3)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - Davy 05:29:47 09/8/14 (2)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - kentaja 06:06:23 09/8/14 (1)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - Davy 07:04:13 09/8/14 (0)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - Davy 13:14:21 09/6/14 (0)
- RE: Quad 405/606/909 vs Arcam Alpha series vs NAD vs other for Quad ESL 57 - mbnx01 11:40:40 09/4/14 (0)
- That would be the Quad 303 of course! (nt) - longtimequadowner 17:17:04 09/3/14 (16)
- Quad 303 - YES - dcramer 20:33:30 09/8/14 (6)
- RE: Quad 303 - YES - longtimequadowner 20:35:38 09/9/14 (2)
- RE: Quad 303 - YES - dcramer 18:23:54 09/10/14 (1)
- RE: Quad 303 - YES - longtimequadowner 22:04:39 09/10/14 (0)
- RE: Quad 303 - YES - Mendel 10:51:04 09/9/14 (2)
- RE: Quad 303 - YES - Davy 08:50:00 09/10/14 (1)
- RE: Quad 303 - YES - Mendel 17:28:20 09/10/14 (0)
- RE: That would be the Quad 303 of course! (nt) - Mr Blue Sky 17:54:59 09/3/14 (8)
- RE: That would be the Quad 303 of course! (nt) - longtimequadowner 18:52:23 09/3/14 (7)
- RE: That would be the Quad 303 of course! (nt) - Mr Blue Sky 21:57:51 09/3/14 (6)
- Congratulations! - longtimequadowner 22:14:12 09/3/14 (5)
- RE: Congratulations! - Mr Blue Sky 22:17:25 09/3/14 (4)
- RE: Congratulations! - longtimequadowner 22:32:16 09/3/14 (3)
- RE: Congratulations! - Mr Blue Sky 22:49:27 09/3/14 (2)
- RE: Congratulations! - louie3 06:53:14 09/4/14 (0)
- RE: Congratulations! - longtimequadowner 23:04:42 09/3/14 (0)