i personally don't think you should try to better the Quads. Many a man has failed, unless you are thinking of STAX F81 or F83 but then you've got an amplification nightmare. If I was in your position I would start with my amplification. Quads can take a hell of a lot more power than you are feeding them and they sound great with a lot of power. Best I've heard with the Quads were ARC Ref amps. Just fantastic. Also maybe switch your paradigm with your vinyl front end and look at a Shindo 301. I think what you'll find is that you need to shift your balance of warmth to dynamics. That's the fun part of Quads in my experience, finding that sweet spot.
Quad ESL 57 system upgrade help requested
Happy Holidays Everyone:
I am looking to you for guidance and wisdom regarding a system upgrade that I am embarking on.
I have a quasi Mark Levinson HQD System. I love my stacked Quad ESL 57’s but I am looking to upgrade some or all of the following components to take my system to the next level.
I hope that you can help.
I am open to tube or solid state electronics but it will be hard for me to part with my Bedini amps that drive my stacked Quads. I have heard great things about modified idler drive turntable, but I am open to all suggestions. Since my system is old, whatever I don’t change will probably need new internal components and/or modifications. I would welcome recommendations regarding this as well.
Here’s the rest of my system:
-A Forsell Air Force One Turntable with a Forsell Tangent tracking tonearm which I definitely want to change
-A Koetsu Onyx long body cartridge - retipped
-A pair of Bedini 25/25 1mg amps in bridged mono mode driving my stacked Quads
-A third Bedini 25/25 1mg driving a pair of modified Decca ribbon tweeters
-A Mark Levinson ML3 amp driving dual Fried 10” woofers in a single transmission line cabinet – I need very fast, detailed subs to keep up with my stacked Quads
-A Convergent Audio Technologies SL1 Mk 2 Reference preamp –I don’t listen to any digital sources. Vinyl playback is critical. I’ve heard great things about Shindo, Nagra, Aesthetix, VAC and Jadis but am open to all suggestions
-A Symmetry ASC1 crossover
-A Symmetry ASC2 crossover – ideally looking for one crossover to replace the two Symmetries
-A Yamaha T2 tuner – quality FM is very important to me. Considering Marantz 10B or a McIntosh MR 71 – again, very open to suggestions.
-A pair of STAX Lambda headphones
-A Stax SR-12 headphone energizer/preamplifier – love Stax, but open to alternatives
-A Revox A77 Reel-to-Reel tape recorder – ½ and ¼ track recording and playback are key. I have heard good things about the Technics 1500 or Otari 5050 B Mk.2 but welcome your recommendations.
-Mark Levinson speaker and interconnect cables – they have to go.
-A VPI 16 Record Cleaner – looking for simultaneous dual–sided cleaning
I also own a SOTA Star Sapphire turntable with a Sumiko 800 "The Arm" tone arm which is not being used along with a Stax SR 7 headphone energizer and a rebuilt Janis W1 subwoofer.
I listen to rock, jazz and large scale classical.
My room is 14’ by 20’ by 9’.
Budget is wide open. I could go as high as $50,000 but I am open to great used equipment as well as new. Bottom line - I am looking for the best possible sound from reliable manufacturers that provide great customer care. My spending hours of constantly tweeking and adjusting my system are long behind me. I want a wonderful system that I can spend my time listening to that won’t put me to in the poor house.
I look forward to your timely replies.
Enjoy and happy listening.
Thanks in advance.
Rich
I am looking to you for guidance and wisdom regarding a system upgrade that I am embarking on.
I have a quasi Mark Levinson HQD System. I love my stacked Quad ESL 57’s but I am looking to upgrade some or all of the following components to take my system to the next level.
I hope that you can help.
I am open to tube or solid state electronics but it will be hard for me to part with my Bedini amps that drive my stacked Quads. I have heard great things about modified idler drive turntable, but I am open to all suggestions. Since my system is old, whatever I don’t change will probably need new internal components and/or modifications. I would welcome recommendations regarding this as well.
Here’s the rest of my system:
-A Forsell Air Force One Turntable with a Forsell Tangent tracking tonearm which I definitely want to change
-A Koetsu Onyx long body cartridge - retipped
-A pair of Bedini 25/25 1mg amps in bridged mono mode driving my stacked Quads
-A third Bedini 25/25 1mg driving a pair of modified Decca ribbon tweeters
-A Mark Levinson ML3 amp driving dual Fried 10” woofers in a single transmission line cabinet – I need very fast, detailed subs to keep up with my stacked Quads
-A Convergent Audio Technologies SL1 Mk 2 Reference preamp –I don’t listen to any digital sources. Vinyl playback is critical. I’ve heard great things about Shindo, Nagra, Aesthetix, VAC and Jadis but am open to all suggestions
-A Symmetry ASC1 crossover
-A Symmetry ASC2 crossover – ideally looking for one crossover to replace the two Symmetries
-A Yamaha T2 tuner – quality FM is very important to me. Considering Marantz 10B or a McIntosh MR 71 – again, very open to suggestions.
-A pair of STAX Lambda headphones
-A Stax SR-12 headphone energizer/preamplifier – love Stax, but open to alternatives
-A Revox A77 Reel-to-Reel tape recorder – ½ and ¼ track recording and playback are key. I have heard good things about the Technics 1500 or Otari 5050 B Mk.2 but welcome your recommendations.
-Mark Levinson speaker and interconnect cables – they have to go.
-A VPI 16 Record Cleaner – looking for simultaneous dual–sided cleaning
I also own a SOTA Star Sapphire turntable with a Sumiko 800 "The Arm" tone arm which is not being used along with a Stax SR 7 headphone energizer and a rebuilt Janis W1 subwoofer.
I listen to rock, jazz and large scale classical.
My room is 14’ by 20’ by 9’.
Budget is wide open. I could go as high as $50,000 but I am open to great used equipment as well as new. Bottom line - I am looking for the best possible sound from reliable manufacturers that provide great customer care. My spending hours of constantly tweeking and adjusting my system are long behind me. I want a wonderful system that I can spend my time listening to that won’t put me to in the poor house.
I look forward to your timely replies.
Enjoy and happy listening.
Thanks in advance.
Rich
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- 6 posts total
- 6 posts total