best solid state amps for Quad 988?
flohmann -- Sat, 09/27/2008 - 11:57
After years of great service from my BAT VK-300xSE integrated amp with my Quad 988 speakers, I've decided to move to separates (necessary to integrate my headphone amp into the system). I've purchased the Aesthetix Calypso preamp (great!), and now need an amp.
The Quads can't use more than about 150w. And I'm interested in solid state because I've been disappointed by the McIntosh MC275 mkV that I've been trying out. The BAT integrated is much more vibrant and has superior resolution to the MC275.
I'm considering the Ayre V-5x or the BAT VK-250. And, because I've never recovered from my love of the classic Pass Aleph 3, I'd love to try the Pass First Watt Aleph J (although only 25 watts). Anyone have an special recommendations for solid state with the Quad 988?
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Why not tubes?
I'm still open to tubes, but after being disappointed with the MC275 (which has been well reviewed by reviewers with the 988!), I'd like to focus on solid state alternatives. But if someone has a fantastic tube amp recommendation (<$5000) from first hand experience with the Quad 988, I'd love to hear it.
Try the ARC VT 100! What is the rest of your equipment?
I'm skeptical about the VT100 because of the difficulty of retubing it. I buy most of my equipment used, and don't want the burden of shipping to ARC for a retube should a tube fail.
flohmann wrote:I'm skeptical about the VT100 because of the difficulty of retubing it. I buy most of my equipment used, and don't want the burden of shipping to ARC for a retube should a tube fail.
Not necessary to ship back, unless you take something else out along with the tube. Do you want to "play with the big dogs," or not?
I also have an Aethetix Calypso (which agree is great piece of equipment). Without doing much in the way of comparison with other products (based on living in a rural location with no high end stores within 100 miles) I bought a Sim Moon W7 power amplifier. This replaced Prodigy audio labs 150 watt OTL tube amps. Have to say that the W7 gives a very tubelike sound and meanwhile is built like a tank and has a lifetime warranty. If you can hear one then I don't think that you will be disappointed.
Speakers are Martin Logan CLS's which you may know are not easy to drive. The W7 more that does the job.
Good luck in your search.
The latest news: I'm having some very good initial results with a Pass First Watt Aleph J with the Quad 988. Only 25 watts into 8 ohms, but surprisingly good sound with the Quads. I've always regretted selling my Aleph 3, and the Aleph J has that same magic. But yikes, it's quite a space heater.
flohmann,
I too had the Aleph 3 once and loved it. If you like Pass amps, how about trying the XA30.5? My XA100.5s are not very hot for pure Class A and sound glorious.
flohmann, I too had the Aleph 3 and loved it. I just bought the Pass XA100.5 and find them not to be very hot for Class A monoblocks. They sound glorious. The magic of the Aleph 3 with better bass control and less noise. They have a lot of current which should help your speakers. Have you considered the XA30.5? Peter
flohmann, I too had the Aleph 3 and loved it. I just bought the Pass XA100.5 and find them not to be very hot for Class A monoblocks. They sound glorious. The magic of the Aleph 3 with better bass control and less noise. They have a lot of current which should help your speakers. Have you considered the XA30.5? Peter
How about Quad's own 909?
How about a Futterman OTL?
I finished to drive my ESL with one pair of Nagra VPA 845 triode. And the sound & sensation created is impressive. I tried before other appreciated amps, but Nagras are the best suitable amps for my Quads.
I truly loved my BAT 300se as well, quite excellent for the Quads, but it was clear the 988s needed tubes and after auditioning an all Jud Barber russian rocket tubed monos and preamp (fine...but...no quite) and CJ 12s and a few other combos, I stumbled upon a VAC--whatever the latest and greatest iteration of its integrated (the super? the super se?) and there it was, locked-in, perfect. I mean perfect. VAC 88s with nos cleartop 12au7s. BTW, kt88s are really good sounding right now. really good. Bought a big Quad subwoofer, sweet, really, with what I was saving from the CJs et al. Sounds so frigging good I just hooked up the rcas and haven't even bothered doing any tweeking (or cleaning, fiddling, experimenting with other settings to drive sub with speaker cables instead.) Nothing. Just listening.
I am married with Quad 988 from a lifetime, and the best amp I find to drive them fantastic through music (mostly classical) are Nagra-s VPA. They deliver together music with incredible finesse and romance and, when nedeed, outstanding dynamic-explosive sound. To be honest, they are nor suitable for hardrock, mettall, etc. Buy who cares? I sincerely recomand to try that combination.
Here's what I know:
The QUAD ESL's input impedence dips to 3.8 Ohms at one or more frequencies. Vacuum tubes are inherently low output current devices. The small atma-sphere amp can only drive the QUADs with an auto-former installed; otherwise (i.e. without autoformers) the lack of control in the bottom end is not acceptable. The autoformer solution, however, is not optimal either; too much metal as it were. Neverthess the Atma-sphere with the autoformers competes with any solid state offering; in general. So; QUAD has essentially designed their electrostatics to be powered by systems that can deliver high current at various frequencies/frequency sub-bands into low impedence loads. Without the autoformers; tube systems cannot seem to control the bass well. You don't want tube systems with output transformers driving the QUADs; as the QUAD have an output xformer at thier input. Again, this approach leads to too much metal in the signal path. My best results for the ESL's come from driving them with the PASS XA series amplifiers.
QUAD should re-design their input transformers to provide a 16 ohm load; with this solution, the great OTL tube amplifiers should be able to control the bass. The 16 ohm QUAD input tranny should at the very least be an option. After all; don't we want the best loudspeaker to be driven by the best amplifier???
I have considered cutting into my expensive QUADs, and reconfiguring the input transformer to be driven directly by a single ended tube circuit. The tubes secondary is the QUADs primary. The desideratum.
Regards,
Dr. Hobbs
Sorry,
when I said: "...the QUAD have an output xformer at thier input..." I mean't: " the QUADs have a transformer at their input".
I also said: "the tubes secondary is the QUADs primary". What I mean't to say is: "the tube drives the primary coil of the QUADs input transformer directly". Sorry for the initial inaccuracies; need more sleep.
Regards,
Dr. Hobbs
Hi ,
Following is an edited version of my comments on the 2905 thread :
I use 2905 , with ARC LS17 and PASS aleph 3 , although rather underpowered , on moderate listening level it is still quite okay and satisfactory ,
I also own primaluna prologue 1 , which sometimes I use to drive the quads.. , IMO , the primaluna is less transparent and less blacker background than the ARC PASS combo. But.. the primaluna reveal a little bit more of the spaces of the recording venue and more body to the vocalist..
But , all things considered , I still prefer the ARC PASS combo --until I can buy a replacement for the PASS , I'm looking forward to use a ARC REF 110 ..OR.. PASS XA 60.5
( I guess , if I use the full ARC combo , I'll get that "more space and more body" of the primaluna )
BTW my cd is Esoteric DV50 , TT Rega P3 + dynavector DX20 , Valhalla speaker cable , valhalla XLR from DV50 to ARC LS 17 , siltech snow lake gen 6 satt , powercords all nordost--shiva,vishnu,magus , you can see my system here.. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1236523003
antono