Did I hear my name? My modem was burning. Mike, I think your dad is trying to do you a big favour, clearly he loves you, but whether it turns out to be one is really up to your ears, I suppose.
I've spent a lot of time in front of De Capos, but I heard the 989s at the Quad room at CES this year. They were driven with their mid-priced 40 watt amps and their $1500 CD player (with digital inputs, by the way). I think the player was the weak link, 'cause all the inner detail you'd hear in pretty much any decent system with an MSB Platinum or Meitner DAC, or a Gamut, just wasn't there. Nonetheless, the transparency and imaging were fantastic, and there was plenty of dynamics. It was a smallish hotel room, and they played as loud as I'm usually comfortable blasting. I think the Quads have a certain rightness that just can't be beat. It's more than transparency and sweet midrange, there's a coherence that is like no other, and the speakers just disappear. I feel this way about the 57s as well, but I didn't think that the 989s were short on bass to my standards, even playing Bjork's debut album. In fact, my brief impression was that the 989s had more noticeable (maybe just faster or cleaner) bass than the De Capos. Anyway, it felt like more bass, but I was a long way from home.
As you know, all this is coming from a guy with 40" ribbons in 5'5" speakers in his smallish living room. But anyway, as much as I like the De Capos, given the choice I'd go Quad, not just for the reasons stated above, but also for the high frequency clarity and overall naturalness and realism. You have a great amp for them too.
Anthony
ps. What's yer pa going to drive the De Capos with? 400+ VTL watts? Wow.
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