All hail the Quad Midrange!!!!!

mcrespo71 · « **on:** 3 Dec 2003, 06:14 pm »

I just got back from my father's this past thanksgiving weekend and was able to hear the Quad ESL 988 hooked up to a Jadis and VTL tube gear and can I just say that NOTHING, and I do truly mean NOTHING, is as good as the Quad's midrange. He normally has a pair of Magnepan 3.6's hooked up, which are really nice speakers, so I kind of forgot the Quad sound. I've grown up with Quads, so I remember them fondly- just haven't heard a pair for about a year and a half.

Peter Walker is a GOD! Having a design from the 1950's being changed just twice and still blowing away other speakers in the midrange is unbelievable to me.

My MM De Capo I's have a lovely midrange, but this is just another stratosphere.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #1 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 06:28 pm »

BTW, has anyone heard the Quad 989's? I saw it won component of the year in $phile, but have yet to listen to them. I wonder if anyone in NYC has them set up for listening......

Mathew_M · « **Reply #2 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 08:14 pm »

The VTL's were not by any chance the tiny triodes? I've read about the 'mystical' sound that these two components combined can make. I've heard maggies before but was not wholly impressed. I would love though to hear the quads on some tube gear. I'm guessing bass is non-existint though

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #3 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 08:32 pm »

No, they were run by VTL MB 450's in triode. Bass was good maybe down to 40 HZ or so, but he had two REL Stentor #'s in stereo mode to fill in the bottom end. I turned off the subs to hear the Quads full range and they were not bad at all in the bass. The mid bass on the Quads is killer.

I think some of the midrange magic may be attributed to the Jadis JP80 MK 2 tube preamp. This has a glorious midrange on any speaker I've heard it with. Anyway, the Quad's aren't for everyone (i.e., even my father has another speaker that can get it up for the large scale dynamics of orchestral), but if you listen to jazz, vocals, and chamber music, then I can't imagine someone not being ridiculously happy with the 988's.

Carlman · « **Reply #4 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 10:06 pm »

I've always heard how great the mids are but, never anything about the highs on quads. Are they OK, good, bad????

rkapadia@ROOP · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 10:13 pm »

Hey mcrespo71,

Where are you in the city? We need to recruit some more people onto AC so we can start taking over.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 10:19 pm »

Actually, the highs are pretty natural sounding. The extension is actually there, but it sounds so pure it can sound too tame or dull for some. The whole speaker just sounds like a piece (or displaying a seamless sound), if that makes any sense. Really, really transparent and no cabinet colorations, etc.

If you have a chance, try to hear them. If I could fit them into my small NYC listening room, I'd buy em outright. Alas, I have to be happy with my minimonitors, which still fill me with joy, so I am fine.

Michael

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Dec 2003, 10:20 pm »

Hey Roop,

I live in Battery Park. I don't have Quads, but wish I did