What do you think I should do- Quad or MM De Capo I? Vote!

mcrespo71 · « **on:** 3 Mar 2004, 11:50 pm »

Ok, I just got a call from my crazy audiophile Dad who is trying to get rid of gear. Long story short, he wants to trade me his Quad ESL 63 US Monitors that have been upgraded by QS&D to be the same as a Quad 988 except for the more rigid structural mods. He gets around this by using the Arcici stands which essentially clamp the Quads in the air and make them extremely rigid. In return, he wants my MM De Capo I's with Osiris stands. Sounds like a good deal for me, BUT the Quad's are huge 27 inches wide vs. 11 inches wide for the Reference 3a's. Further, I have a small studio, so I'm going to look even more insane having Quad's in a room that is 16 X 13 that doubles as my living area.

I'd be giving up a more dynamic speaker that can be driven by just about any amplifier and does many things well. In return, I would get an idiosyncratic speaker that's huge, has dynamic limitations- can't really play too far above 95db without arcing, but can lay claim to doing one thing better than just about any other speaker- the midrange! This is a tough one- I love my MM De Capo's, but Quads, man- QUADS! One positive is that both speakers can provide full resolution at extremely low listening levels.

Michael

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 12:37 am »

How about you just do a 3-6 month swap?

He is your dad afterall....

George

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 12:41 am »

Good point. I could try that and just see how they work in small ass apartment. It would certainly be interesting. He is also getting rid of an ORIGINAL Rogers LS 3/5A, which should get him some coinage on ebay if the Brit collectors come out for the auction. The dude has just too much gear and a ton of room for it- such problems.

If I do this, I should have a before and after Rave gathering to help me judge what works better in my room- I'd bet it's the Reference 3a, but who knows.

Michael

JoshK · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 12:52 am »

From what I understand about the Quads they are a bitch to drive. KeithR (from the LA group, formerly of the HD.com NYC group) had a VERY similar setup in gear to me (I copied at the time) with different speakers. The Cary V12i pushed his Dyn 1.3SEs with very little heat. My VMPS RM40s made the V12i cause my room to rise 15º every time I flipped it on for more than 5 minutes. I can see your VTL monos cooking your room with the Quad speakers. Something to think about.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 12:58 am »

Good point, Josh. I'd definitely need to run my monoblocks in tetrode increasing the watts to 125, but I don't know how happy they will be with the Quad impedance dips. My father runs them fine with VTL MB 450's run in triode with 200 watts. This is still very tempting, but I don't know how much distance I'll get between the speakers- it may just be a wall of Quad's in front of my gear, which would suck- how the heck am I supposed to remotely change CD tracks with a Quad sitting in front of my CD player?

Michael

zybar · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 12:59 am »

RF remote sensor...

Where there is a will, there is a way.

George

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 01:05 am »

Quote

RF remote sensor...

Where there is a will, there is a way.

George

Ah, what audiophiles will do to get gear in their space. Thank God I'm not married yet! I can't wait to see the grimace on my girlfriends face when I mention this swap.

Michael

zybar · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 01:07 am »

Yup,

I remember bringing women over for the first time and saying "Please be careful stepping over that garden hose called speaker cable." and "No, I am not an audio dealer, just an addict."

Now I just have the whole basement.

George

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 01:17 am »

We should start calling our monthly meetings NY "AA" cause we've all got the addiction bad!

Michael

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 08:09 am »

Quote

From what I understand about the Quads they are a bitch to drive

Actually, the more I research Quads, the more I realize I'll be fine with my amp. Quad has never recommended amplifiers more than 100 watts for any of their stats (57,63,988,989) and my father has overdriven the Quads with too much power from his VTL monoblocks. A lot of Quad owners seem to be driving them with medium powered tube amps, especially the CJ MV 60SE and Atmashpere 60 watt OTL. 55 triode watts from my VTL should be fine apparently.

Michael

zybar · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 02:45 pm »

I vote for the Quads because I have never heard them, and this will give me the chance to.

G

JoshK · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 02:46 pm »

Quote from: zybar

I vote for the Quads because I have never heard them, and this will give me the chance to.

G

Actually I was just going to say that!

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 04:44 pm »

^^Yeah, well just don't expect full frequency response. Ridiculous midrange transparency and great inner detail is what you will get! Oh, and the coherency of a single electrostatic driver.^^

Michael

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 06:41 pm »

Quad in a heartbeat.

Just the chance to own a legend is enough for me. Resale is probably better as well if things don't work out. And hey, you're dad can't live forever, can he? Sorry, didn't mean to be offensive.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 06:48 pm »

Hey! My Dad's still healthy! I'm not offended, but I'm still kind of freaking out having a huge speaker such as the Quads in my apartment. At least I'll legitimately be able to tell just about anyone I know, "yeah the midrange on your multi-buck speaker is good, but it's not quite to the Quad level." That's kind of cool- I will have a world class speaker, at least in the midrange.

cyounkman · « **Reply #15 on:** 4 Mar 2004, 11:56 pm »

Quote from: mcrespo71

...it may just be a wall of Quad's in front of my gear, which would suck- how the heck am I supposed to remotely change CD tracks with a Quad sitting in front of my CD player?

A big, long, curved stick.

I can relate to the allure of the Quads... They have magical quality, and what they do right, they do incredibly. There's also just the raw appeal of 'new speakers'.

As to whether or not they will make your space uninhabitable... only you (and very likely your SO) can answer that.

Anyway, if you give your DC's to your dad you have to get him to join the circle so we don't (sniff

) lose a member.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #16 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 12:11 am »

Chris,

I actually had no intention to change the MM De Capo I's, as I'm quite satisfied with them. Moreover, the only speaker I'd ever consider changing to would be a Quad, which should tell many about my musical preferences. De Capo lovers and Quad lovers do go hand in hand. This just seems like too good an offer and if it doesn't work out, I'll sell the Quads and rebuy the De Capo I's- I won't fool around with anything else. For me, change is only good when you are making important steps up- I think the Quad can be considered that. I personally don't want to pay the stiff price it would cost to improve on the De Capo I performance, so this gives me it for free. My father wouldn't necessarily trade his Quads for any speakers, but he wants some monitors and like me, LOVES the De Capo's. I'll still contribute to the forum- God knows Anthony does and he is not a De Capo owner!

wongstein · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 09:22 am »

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.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #18 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 03:37 pm »

Anthony,

Yes, my Dad, as an audiophile for 35 years, felt I need to spend time with the Quads to understand what a coherent speaker sounds like. I think the ESL 63 US Monitors are just getting swallowed up in his gigantic room and he wants a monitor that can image like crazy, has a good midrange, and can play loud without strain- hence his desire for the De Capo I's. And yes he will be running them with VTL MB 450's with Jadis JP 80 MC II full function preamp!!

That's a lot of expensive gear in front of the De Capo I's, but I think they will do fine.

Thanks for the recommendation. It makes this easier- let's just hope my dad doesn't re-hook up the Quads and change his mind

Honestly, though, how many 40 + year old speaker designs are still spoken about with as much reverence than the Quads? I wonder how many of the super speakers we are listening to today will still be receiving adulation 40 years from now? Peter Walker is a God IMO.

Michael

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #19 on:** 5 Mar 2004, 05:14 pm »

damn I'm jealous!

Poll

Which speaker should I choose?

What do you think I should do- Quad or MM De Capo I? Vote!