The lack of "sweetness" of your Quad ESL speakers could be contributed by the type of amp you are using. I have tried many amps with ESL 63. The sweetest of the ones I have tired are the Marantz 8B and the Jadis JA30. The OTL's are also very good with Quad, very accurate, clean and lots of bass but not as sweet and musical. The Quads need the right amp to realize their potential and distinct characters. They are full of details and information with the right amps. They don't need a lot of power, 35-80 watts is all you need. All the Quads have the same personalities. I wouldn't just change to 988. I would try to get the right amp for them. With the right amps, they are one of the very best ever made. I don't listen to CD, just records because I find records so much more musical than CD. Hope this helps.
Comments on Quad ESL 988?
Just wonder what peoples' experience has been. I owned a pair of 989s for about 2 years. Now I'm thinking of trying the 988, which some people say is more musical, more like a perfected ESL 63, which I loved. The 989, despite startling transparency and detail, seemed to be lacking the "sweetness" well known to Quad lovers since the beginning.
Thanks,
Jeffrey
Thanks,
Jeffrey