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Thread: Quad amps servicing

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: Bishops Stortford

    Posts: 1,250
    I'm Chris.

    Default Quad amps servicing

    When I look at used Quad transistor amps I am amazed at how many have been serviced before sale compared to other makes priced similarly.

    Do they go out of trim faster than amps from other manufacturers?
    Source
    SW1X Universal Music Server UMS I Signature with Power Supply Unit PSU I Signature
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    Audiolab 6000 CDT transport
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    Pre amps -- Hi fi Collective twin mono ladder stepped attenuator, with Charcroft Z-foil and silver wired. And First Watt B1 active no gain buffer.
    Power amps -- Welborne 45 SET monoblocks 1.8W / Decware Taboo 6W / Elekit 300B TU-8600SVK plus further improved components 9W / ICE Power 1000W
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    Highly modified Endorphin P17 open baffle speakers containing both vintage and modern alnico drivers and paper cones. All silver wired - 8" Cube Audio FC8 full range drivers and vintage 15" Altec VOTT 416 bass drivers. All sat on Townsend Audio Podium seismic isolation platforms.
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  2. #2
    Join Date: Apr 2009

    Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex

    Posts: 7,087
    I'm Dave.

    Default

    No, they are robust and practical amps but probably because of age they have required servicing.

    One very good selling point of Quad amps is that they have a proper service dept.

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2013

    Location: London

    Posts: 644
    I'm Peter.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hifi_dave View Post
    No, they are robust and practical amps but probably because of age they have required servicing.

    One very good selling point of Quad amps is that they have a proper service dept.
    Not to mention several independent specialists.

    I use the estimable Rob Beales at Amplabs in Worcestershire. He can also fettle older Quads to allow them to take CD line voltages and can adapt socketry to RCA etc.

    He serviced my 44 and 405.2 recently and made said adaptations. I must say that, paired with my Kef Corellis and an old Sony Biotracer, I do wonder if I’ve spent four decades on a fool’s errand upgrading my HiFi, but that’s another story for another column.

    I don’t have one, but clearly Quad tuners start wandering over time (as most do) and they need putting back on the straight and narrow, too.

    In partial answer to the OP’s question, the prevalence of serviced Quads might also be explained in that Quad stuff is high quality and has more serviceable parts/boards than many contemporary units. Quad owners may also be temperamentally disinclined to throw them away which speaks to the quality of (at least) the older units. I am not qualified to comment on modern Quad as the newest unit I have is a 99 power amp.

    Peter
    Separates Systems:

    (1) Antipodes CX and EX, Matrix Audio X-Saber DSD, Meridian DSP7000 active speakers;
    (2) Lumin D2, Cary CD-308 cdp, Quad 99 power amp, Horns 5degreeN*27 speakers;
    (3) Homebrew PC with Onkyo Wavio SE200 soundcard running Daphile, Quad 44 and 405.2 into Dali Zensor 1s;
    (4) Sooloos C15 plus storage, Braun A2, P1, CD3, C1 and T1 into Sonus Faber Concertos.

    Integrated Home System:

    Sony PS-X600, Naimnet NNT01 DAB Tuner; NS02 Server; NNP01/NNP02 room amplifiers; Netstreams switches, keypads, KEF Ci130QS/Soundlight speakers.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hifi_dave View Post
    No, they are robust and practical amps but probably because of age they have required servicing.

    One very good selling point of Quad amps is that they have a proper service dept.
    testament to them that they sold a lot over the years and that those from 1970s still in use as just as good as modern options.

    what does 'servicing' mean anyway? Usually just that some capacitors have been replaced whether they needed to be or not.

    I think the whole concept of 'servicing' started with Naim for two reasons. 1 - money-spinner 2- idiotic idea that they need to be left switched on all the time

    so amps get sent to be 'serviced' prior to sale as then this can be mentioned in the ad as a plus point to distinguish them from 'unserviced' examples and maybe fetch a premium price as a result.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Apr 2009

    Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex

    Posts: 7,087
    I'm Dave.

    Default

    I've got a pile of Quad here from the II + 22 right up to the latest Artera etc and it all works.

    Agree with the 'servicing' thing plus it's always handy to be able to say "of course it doesn't sound great, it needs servicing".

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