Thanks for the responses.
First impressions. The Quads are beautiful. Love the finish and the base assembly. The base is really classic looking and solid and just absolutely anchors to the speaker to my hardwood floor. Makes the Focal’s base look like something from Wal-Marts.
My sourcesProject TT Sumiko Cartridge
Rogue Audio RP-1 with Mullard TubesBlue Jean interconnectsPS Audio entry level power cablesEntry level Audio Quest Cable (need recommendation here for $300 budget)cheapo sony CD player digital out to Wadia 321.
The Focals fill up the room with a blooming warm sound when I switch to the Quads the sound stage shrinks but man does it get accurate, the bass is reserved but tight as dick’s hat band, transients are distinct. For example Dire Straits Wild West End, the striking of the wood block is right out front , right in the room. With the Focals the block is more in the back and mildly vague but smooth. On the Quads when Knopfler made the first few string plucks on that song the hair on my neck was up . " Stepping out to Angellucci’s for my coffee beans... " On the song In The Gallery Knoplfer grunts and growls out the lyrics. The way the Quads delivered the nuances of his voice had me giggling.
Steely Dan’s, Turn that Heartbeat over again. The Quads delivered the bass line on the song so nice and clear. But when Fagan shot his voice into the higher register the Quads seem to shreek where the Focals kept that in total control.
Where are my alligator clips!
Miles Davis Sketches of Spain from Mofi Vinyl. Similar experience, more warmth with the Focals. But right at the beginning is some rattling of wooden objects like wooden sleigh bells, barely audible on the Focals but just perfect with the Quads. Miles trumpet more edgy with the Quads and a bit to much up higher for my taste. But the Quads resonating the strings and reeds beautifully. Then about half way through Concierto De Aranjuez Miles plays a minute or so of low notes and the Quads made it sound like he was right in the room.
John Cougar Scarecrow. I like the engineering on this album. Kenny Aronoff whacking the snare throughout. This is where I like the Focals better and probably why I picked them over the Sonus Faber when I demoed them side by side in my system. I guess maybe the Focals are better overall for my listening habits. Do they take the edge of R&R ?. But the Quads did a saweet job layering in Ricky Lee Jones voice on tune Between a Laugh and a Tear.
CD’s
Television, Elevation from Marquee Moon although I loved the way the Quads made Verlaine’s Jazz Master sound they made his voice almost unbearably shrill a certain points. Where the Focals mask that. But then on the following tune, Guiding Light, His voice sounded really nice and I could turn my attention to the nice bass line coming through.
Miles Davis Black Satin from One the Corner
This album is really wild with almost of cacophony of sounds (sax,trumpet,tabla, electric sitar. The Quads again very precise with the Tabla sounds and the reed resonance but with this type of music of wonder if I would fatigue. Again the Focals get the nod.
If I was primarily listening to classical and maybe jazz the Quads would get the nod. I like @roberjerman’s idea of keeping them both. Which leads me to the reason I have the Quads at all. One pair is going to end up at my sisters house. I expect the Quads will eventually end up there so I now need to search for an integrated amp around the $500 to $600 range to push these things.
