I just bought a pair of Quad 12L's a few weeks ago and have about 30 hours of "burn-in" time on them. What can I say? Just a great speaker with wonderful soundstage and transparency.
This is going to sound crazy, but I have 2 systems and hooked the Quad 12L's up to both and here are my listening results.
System I
*Parasound HCA-1500A amplifier (205 wpc)
*Parasound PLD/1100 pre-amp
*California Audio Tercet MKii CD player
*Chang Lightspeed 3200 line conditiioner
*Audioquest Midnight x3 speaker wires (bi-wired)
*Audioquest Quartz interconnects
System II
*Harman Kardon HK3370 Receiver (70wpc)
substituted for the Parasound amp and pre amp above.All other components were the same.
RESULTS: I hate to say it folks, but my 56 year old ears tell me that there is NOT much of a difference between the soundstage and transparency betweeen the 2 systems! The Parasound amp and preamp combined retail for about $1,800 and the HK3370 receiver retails for less than $400. I was blown away when the HK3370 receiver compared so favorably against the Parasound separates! The folks at New England HiFi in Portland, Maine said they have done comparison tests against their "lower priced high-end" separates and said they had similar results. HK was bought out by Acoustic Research and they must have incorporated some changes in the HK receivers that were used in the high-end AR products to make such a difference in the receivers. I had to find out for myself and I can honestly say that the "law of deminishing returns" applied in this case! The Quad 12"s sounded just wonderful with the HK3370 receiver! If I had it to do over again, I would dump my separates and go with the newer HK3475 receiver and get rid of the separates. I know most of you folks out there must be saying that "this guy must be deaf", but I am a VERY CRITICAL listener and my ears are the final judge. Go out and spend money on expensive separate compents if you like. I think that the line conditioner, good wires/interconnects and a great CD player made the difference in the system.
I can't wait to hear back from the "audio addicts" out there who say this guy must be kidding. Take a listen to the HK 2 channel receivers and judge for yourself. Get a hold of the fine folks at Canadian HiFi in Regina Sask. for the best price on the Quad 12 L's. Great prices and great people!!!!
This is going to sound crazy, but I have 2 systems and hooked the Quad 12L's up to both and here are my listening results.
System I
*Parasound HCA-1500A amplifier (205 wpc)
*Parasound PLD/1100 pre-amp
*California Audio Tercet MKii CD player
*Chang Lightspeed 3200 line conditiioner
*Audioquest Midnight x3 speaker wires (bi-wired)
*Audioquest Quartz interconnects
System II
*Harman Kardon HK3370 Receiver (70wpc)
substituted for the Parasound amp and pre amp above.All other components were the same.
RESULTS: I hate to say it folks, but my 56 year old ears tell me that there is NOT much of a difference between the soundstage and transparency betweeen the 2 systems! The Parasound amp and preamp combined retail for about $1,800 and the HK3370 receiver retails for less than $400. I was blown away when the HK3370 receiver compared so favorably against the Parasound separates! The folks at New England HiFi in Portland, Maine said they have done comparison tests against their "lower priced high-end" separates and said they had similar results. HK was bought out by Acoustic Research and they must have incorporated some changes in the HK receivers that were used in the high-end AR products to make such a difference in the receivers. I had to find out for myself and I can honestly say that the "law of deminishing returns" applied in this case! The Quad 12"s sounded just wonderful with the HK3370 receiver! If I had it to do over again, I would dump my separates and go with the newer HK3475 receiver and get rid of the separates. I know most of you folks out there must be saying that "this guy must be deaf", but I am a VERY CRITICAL listener and my ears are the final judge. Go out and spend money on expensive separate compents if you like. I think that the line conditioner, good wires/interconnects and a great CD player made the difference in the system.
I can't wait to hear back from the "audio addicts" out there who say this guy must be kidding. Take a listen to the HK 2 channel receivers and judge for yourself. Get a hold of the fine folks at Canadian HiFi in Regina Sask. for the best price on the Quad 12 L's. Great prices and great people!!!!