Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms vintage versus modern hifi

Fascinating thread.....

I'm a devotee of the "QUAD" sound, and have managed to reach what may be nirvana, from a HiFi Perspective.
QUAD II-80 valve amplifiers, QUAD 2912 ELS units, connected by Chord's finest Signature interconnects. They provided a big step up in detail and speed.

The source is very modern, a Linn Selekt DSM, streaming QoBuz or LP12, or Tube Technology CD player.
QoBuz High Res streaming is simply amazing.
As the ELS radiates sound equally, front and rear, there is quite a depth of sound stage.

Colouration: What is that?

So, a modern take on a 1950s valve amplifier and ELS, but with the best of Scotland's audio.

Perversely, Naim is only 4 miles from my home, but I have never fallen for their sound.

Nick, I once saw a documentary about the late Vladimir Horowitz on his concert tours. His most important man was his piano tuner. And before he started tuning, the piano was moved back and forth millimeter by millimeter...until Horowitz was satisfied. I can imagine that your activity as a piano tuner has a massive positive effect on your hearing and your acquired listening experience.

Now it is "expected" that a hi-fi system "completely neutrally" reproduces what, for example, Mr. Horowitz subjectively wishes for as the ideal for a concert evening...and that in our living room, not in the concert hall...

Peter, it would be a great pleasure to listen to your quad system once in a lifetime. Unfortunately, I have never heard the ESL 63 or even your newer ESL 2912, which probably also works on the principle of the central point with sound velocity simulation to the outside?
That would be great, after the Corona time (I just invite myself, oh dear, that is rude .

I have restored old Quad II power amplifiers (with new capacitors etc. according to instructions) I had a 33/405 combination in use with the old HPD295 Tannoy for a very long time from 1982 to 1995. I love Quad. I still have the old original ESL in my collection, two pairs, which I had one above the other in a rack.

Despite all efforts to be objective about the different manufacturers and their respective technical concepts, I must honestly say that such a thing does not really exist, maybe there are good approximations.

My very subjective examples:
I've never heard classical guitar music better than on BBC LS systems.
String quartets never better than with the old Quad ESL (single placement, each side just one speaker).
Jazz Trio to Sextet, Bigband Brass, Drums, Vibraphone Double Bass etc. never better than with the current Tannoy
Female voices never more beautiful than with the small LS3/5.
Unfortunately I haven't heard the Klipsch Cornwall (not the Corner Horn!) yet, but many people on the Klipsch forum say that this is the best speaker for hard rock, even e.g. old Deep Purple recordings - with its directly radiating 15" bass...as dirty as a guitar amp.

Perhaps the oversized Klipsch Jubilee are still best able (from what I know) to reproduce all of the above similarly well with the same speaker but just as a good compromise. The specials strengths of the Jubilees is that unbelievably room filling but precise sound reproduction even of biggest orchestras.

Now I've established the big Tannoy, and if I want nice silky 3D sound every now and then, I put the small LS3/5 in front of them

What I mean to say is that even the most neutral or best hi-fi system has strengths and weaknesses in relation to the program material.

I started out with a pair of 57s and 33/405 amplification. 63s arrived later, then the 2912s recently. The 2912s came alive once I'd sold the AECAM P1s and installed the II-80s. As you say, the use a delay system to that the flat membrane seems to be a point source. They also deliver a controlled yet powerful bass, unlike any other QUAD speaker I've had before.

I'f you find yourself over here when "they" tell us it is safe, of course you are welcome to come and listen....

Peter

Heinz, I've several stories about the gentleman you mention. Just to give you a taste....tuned a little sharp so that it sounded more brilliant than the orchestra!
Extremely hard hammers. That's enough, I'll get into trouble.
Nick

And more...
A year later....

I have added a Linn Klimax DSM3 to replace the Arcam amplifier and I have started to feel for musicians, they put their all into composing and performing music, then recording it, knowing that the vast majority of listeners will never hear the full glory of their work.

Why do I say this?
Since 2019 we have not listened to music in a public place, and it seems to me that it will be next year before the concert programs are fully back to normal. But we have been listening to much recorded music: HiFi has been part of my life for the last 55 years, music captivates me.

The result is simply amazing, I hear detail and sounds that I had no idea were on the CDs, LPs and yes, 1960s 45s I’ve listened to: there are hours of music exploration and pleasure to come! Radio, even 128kbps sources, are improved and streaming from Qobuz and TuneIn shows that much of their content has enjoyable surprises as well as occasional unexpected noise and distortion: this system hides nothing and can expose flaws.

My conclusions? If you love music then you need a reproduction system that works together, not just a collection of well-reviewed components. Listen and be honest with yourself: you want music, not HiFi. A good dealer helps, as do objective friends!

Remember, it is about MUSIC, not equipment and as soon as possible, support your local musicians!


PS: Heinz, the invitation stands!!

Peter, thank you very much for the repeated invitation. I hope we can make it back to the UK next year or the year after and maybe we can get together for an afternoon of listening to music.
I remember you had Quad tube amps a few years ago. Do you still use them or is it mainly the Linn now?

The Linn feeds the QUAD amps, which feed the speakers...
Feeding the Linn are a CD player, an LP12 and Qobuz and TuneIn streaming sources!

Ah, thanks Peter for making this clear, because I read „amplifier“ I was not thinking of a pre for a moment.