Croft modified Quad II's with Tannoy 12" Monitor golds in Lancasters

[The Black Adder]

Hello people.

Recently got a new system, gone more retro too...

I picked up some Quad II's modified by Glen Croft (from Classique Sounds) to go with my other latest purchase, some Tannoy 12" Monitor Golds in lancaster cabs.

The sound is.....S.U.P.E.R.B

I'm really quite astonished with how this system sounds.... The Tannoys have been updated with a new cross over whilst the amps have been fettled about with and use KT88's with a valve rectifier.

The pre amp is also great, using a GZ34 rectifier and a decent high output that the Quads seem to love over a passive setup.

I've never heard a set of Quad II's sound like these.

Pics will follow. :eyebrows:

[DSJR]

I'm using Croft modified Quad II's right now, and bloomin' good they are too, running hot but quietly :) and with no attitude I can hear. I play at very low levels these days so don't need shedloads more power either and Glenn's preamps old and new love 'em :)

Here they are at hifi dave's place. The tap adds damping factor :lolsign:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/DSJR_photos/DSCF0571.jpg

Don't get me wound up on how well Tannoys go with them. If Cheviots were still cheap, I'd probably have gone that route via Lockwoods and a revamped crossover.....

[The Black Adder]

Hi Dave.

Here are some pics of the amps in my system. I think this version differs from yours as these amps use a 85A2 valve as a voltage regualtor together with ECC88.

Other valves are x2 EF86's , x2 KT88's and x1 6A57F

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04898.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04892.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04886.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04885.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04909.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04907.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04904.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04903.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04902.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04900.jpg

[Marco]

Great pictures, Joe (in fact, bloody wonderful)! Your Tannoys look fab (as does everything else) :)

Could we see a nice loving close-up of the Tannoys themselves?

Incidentally, you might like to take a nice shot of your TD124 playing some tunes, and enter it into Dave Brook's T/T photo competition in Analogue Art - in fact, I insist! ;)

Btw, sorry it's taken me so long to reply to your PM - I will later today (if it's not too late :doh:). I've just been mega busy.

Anyway, enjoy, and keep the updates coming! :cool:

Marco.

[The Black Adder]

Cheers Marco, very nice of you to say... I need to get a decent cabinet now..

I'll get some better pics done later. I'll look at entering the Analogue art competition too.

[Marco]

Please do. The quality of your photos is superb, and the gear you use is great, so it's a fairly heady combination! :cool:

Marco.

[Techno Commander]

If you are taking more pictures, please can we see more of that gorgeous reel to reel? :)

[keiths]

:drool:

[The Black Adder]

It would be interesting to know what modifications Mr. Croft has done to these amps... Can anyone shed any light on the internals?

Will take some of the RT when I get chance... :)

[jantheman]

How do you rate the gold lions...thought of trying them in my II/40s but dont want to buy blind..so to speak....

[Marco]

It would be interesting to know what modifications Mr. Croft has done to these amps... Can anyone shed any light on the internals?


I think they've been re-capped, for starters :)


Will take some of the RT when I get chance...

Don't forget the Tannoys!

Marco.

[chris@panteg]

I wonder if its similar to what Doug Dunlop did with the Quads ? He modified the circuit to give 25 watts !

[hifi_dave]

To my knowledge, Glenn never mod'd to increase the output as that is not a good idea if you want to keep the transformers healthy. I've seen quite a few transformers leaking gunk because of over heating.

[The Black Adder]

I'm not sure what the output is to be honest.

[hifi_dave]

Adequate..:)

[The Black Adder]

Adequate..:)

In a nutshell... :lol: Cheers matey.

[DSJR]

here be the innards of mine - the valve regulator takes the output DOWN to around 12W I believe from our (hifi dave and me back then) engineer who checked them out some years ago

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q8/DSJR_photos/QuadIIcropped.jpg

I do appreciate that these may not be worth too much as they've been modified, but my Gawd do they sound lovely, their colorations charming the ears so beautifully :)

[Marco]

I can see similar cap upgrades as Joe's.... :)

Marco.

[Jonboy]

very nice Joe, you don't need a cabinet they look too good to hide,

some serious caps fitted there, i had a pair of Quads in for a service the other ( not by me but by my valve legend mate ) week running 6L6 and GZ34 valves, the problem was that some of the original caps were still in place and the valves were cooking big time as the caps had failed, the voltage just kept going up and up and ther valves were getting brighter and brighter resulting in 3 of them being cooked, i watched the master at his work and after a few hours of testing and changing components they are running fine now and have been returned to the owner, not sure about all the mods that Mr Croft has done though, he did a few mods to the stereo 20 using extra valves that messed them up as well according to some,

sometimes things are best left alone:sofa:

[chris@panteg]

Well i heard a pair of Concordant Quads at Scalford last year, and they seemed fine!
Must be at least 18 years since the mod was done! Interesting?

[Spur07]

i don't wish to stir up a hornets nest, but are there some people out there of the opinion that the OP's system would sound even better if the Quad's had been of original spec?

I've heard neither tbf, but original Quads seem to be much more sought after on ebay. Isn't it important to use vintage gear as it was originally intended? - many vintage speakers were 'voiced/developed' to be used with the top-line amplifiers of the day.

[Alex_UK]

Hi Joe - superb system... But this has also given me the biggest laugh this weekend (and trust me, I was in need of it! ;))

Do you remember posting this in your Harbeth sale?




Due to new family and downsizing my system.

I simply don't use the speakers enough to justify them sitting here.

<snip>

A week or so later we had twins so everything grinded to a halt in terms to listening to long hifi sessions.

Kids ey! :)


In what way, pray tell, is Quad II's and Tannoy Lancaster's "Downsizing your system"! :D :D :D :D :D

Jesting aside, the Tannoy Lancaster's that Jerry was using at Scalford this year where in my opinion part of the best sounding system of the day - I thought they were wonderful, and would happily live with them... If they weren't so big, and easy for kids to mess with! :doh: :lol: ;)

Quad IIs are on my "bucket list" too - so I am just a little green with envy... Enjoy, and please excuse my teasing! :)

[Rare Bird]

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/musical_submarine/QUAD/DSC04900.jpg

Bootifull, looks really good

:cool:

[The Black Adder]

Hi Joe - superb system... But this has also given me the biggest laugh this weekend (and trust me, I was in need of it! ;))

Do you remember posting this in your Harbeth sale?



In what way, pray tell, is Quad II's and Tannoy Lancaster's "Downsizing your system"! :D :D :D :D :D

Jesting aside, the Tannoy Lancaster's that Jerry was using at Scalford this year where in my opinion part of the best sounding system of the day - I thought they were wonderful, and would happily live with them... If they weren't so big, and easy for kids to mess with! :doh: :lol: ;)

Quad IIs are on my "bucket list" too - so I am just a little green with envy... Enjoy, and please excuse my teasing! :)

LOL... well... I have now got a plan... lol

Thing is, the Tannoys are more stable than the Harbs on stands so that was a good move.. Also, we are in the process of getting a bigger place and so I'm going to have me self a music room with some other recording gear that I've got stashed so all of this will be in there.

This is a downsize as I've no longer got 2 systems any more.

Knowing me I'll have something else in a few months time... I get figitty, lol but I'm not a another Jerry...well, I hope not.. saying that it's all good fun innit!

[The Black Adder]

Bootifull, looks really good

:cool:

Cheers matey!

[jantheman]

I have always wondered why Quad dont make their valve amps in bookmatched pairs. There can't be any real issue with regard to extra cost except that they would have to have opposite handed cases with holes and transformer covers in different positions...no big deal I would have thought...all the internals would be exactly the same.

[hifi_dave]

You should have raised that 50 years ago.

When the Quad 11's were designed there was no stereo, so no need of two amps, just the one purposeful block of electronics.

[DSJR]

Original Quad II's probably won't be working these days unless they've been truly cossetted for decades. The caps all need looking at and the sound of a stock set with 22 preamp is hugely veiled by todays standards. Glenn's updates are in my opinion entirely sympathetic (mine retain the original choke and don't have the two supply valves poking out where this was mounted) and the sound by comparison with originals is entirely similar, just better imo.

My pair of amps have the horrible grey-green cases and original GEC KT66's (well, three of them anyway) and I wonder if this other pair have been re-sprayed? I really wouldn't use these once the twins start toddling, as these amps get rather hot and there's no heat-guard, in addition to the lethal voltages flying around not too far beneath the surface. Maybe they could go on display for a few years while the kids are growing up?????

By the way, these improved II's drive SHL5's superbly too, although I admit that vintage Tannoys with an average 11 Ohm load (or higher) will suit them even better. The damping on the drivers' suspension was higher too I think, to make up for the transformer coupling.

[The Black Adder]

Maybe they could go on display for a few years while the kids are growing up?????.

The plan is for them to go in to a cabinet... but if not I'd have to sell them on before they start to crawl. I aint messing with that stuff with kids about.

The way the wife is looking at me I think that might be sooner than planned to be honest.

[jantheman]

You should have raised that 50 years ago.

When the Quad 11's were designed there was no stereo, so no need of two amps, just the one purposeful block of electronics.
Fair point..;)..50 (well not quite 50 but getting on there) years ago I could only look at these things in awe and dream about ...maybe...one day being able to afford to have one. Ambition accomplished.
However even the new II/40's and 80's are not matched and they are a relatively recent inclusion into the range.

[DSJR]

Actually, did Glenn do ALL the work on them? Mine could almost be put back to standard but yours have had loads more done, including raising the output valves (or special "plinths" placed around them), the cases must have been re-sprayed if so and the mains lead has been re-located to an admittedly better place, whereas mine use the original two-prong plugs which at least locate the plugs tightly enough.

Anyway, I hope you can keep them and maybe get something safe and sweet for the Tannoys - Naim Nait mk1? You know, a ton-up rejuvenated Quad 33/303 is one heck of a great amp, once the 303 is set up right and the preamp updated sympathetically and with uprated power board, which makes the biggest difference of all I feel. Any limitations in the 303 are totally irrelevant into a vintage Tannoy load as you'll be deafened before any current-limiting comes into effect.

[Rare Bird]

I'd love another pair of Leak 'TL12+' amps.. :whistle:

[The Black Adder]

How do you rate the gold lions...thought of trying them in my II/40s but dont want to buy blind..so to speak....

Very good indeed... Nice fat bass, big sound.

I'm after a set of original GEC 88's but I think I'd have to sell my foot or something. Anyone know what feet are going for these days?

[The Black Adder]

I'm just posting a few awnsers from Glenn himself regarding these upgrades to my Quad II's.

Are these amps ok running the KT88 valves?

"I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating – they were modded over 20 years ago and they are still working. The bias current was adjusted to be the same as the KT66’s. The heater current is very similar and the transformer has plenty of spare capacity to run the pre-amp and tuner – which they no longer has to do. Quad’s run just as hot in standard form – they are a compact Class A amplifier."

What is the output on these amplifiers?

"Maximum power will be dependent on the quality of the KT88’s – with GEC’s it would be over 20W – with modern dross it would be less than 20W."

Apparently these amps have previously been used juicing a stacked pair of Electrostatics of which would have killed the amps within hours if they had not been done right.

If ya got some Quad II's... get em Crofted!