Original Quads (57) - the perfect amp


I am feeding my 57s with a Quad 303 and love the musicality of the pair. What’s an upgrade with more detail, air, instrument separation, yet same musicality?

Berning EA-230? Pass Labs Aleph 3? Others?

 

kracher

I ran super tweets with my 57s back in the day-- Deccas, which I still have and Sequerras, which were a good substitute (also used ribbons).

It gave the Quad a broader sweet spot, given how beamy the original tweeter panel is- but it wasn’t a substitute for the stock tweeter. It was fun putting it together even with the subs available at the time (this was before subwoofers were as common as they are today- which I attribute to the home theatre boom of the ’90s). Sort of a mini-HQD system.

These days, I just run my Quads without add-ons, no aftermarket stands, etc. They serve well in a small parlor as part of a vintage system.

If I wanted to get serious about Quads as a main speaker-- I still know a few people who run them as such-- I would definitely look at a stacked/double pair.

Quads are sort of a perennial favorite- I’ve known people who got rid of them, only to buy another pair. As long as they are in good condition, and have been gone over (E Solutions added a protection circuit and more conventional connectors), you can enjoy them without worry. Classic speaker, despite its obvious limitations.

PS: I also had Crosby modded '63s, and though a better all-arounder, it did not have the magic of the '57 in the mids in my estimation. 

Futterman OTL- best I’ve owned or heard

Heathkit UA2s, Eico HF14 or other 6BQ5 amp with good iron 

EL34, 6L6 or 7591 tube amp (see above) like ST70, Eico HF87, MC225 or Klimt Kent and 8B if you’re well heeled

Scott 222s, Fisher X100s and other vintage integrateds can be wonderful, too

I prefer tubes, clearly, and feedback is necessary in my experience— I’ve had several pairs over the past 30 years-:)