eBay amps

[dave2010]

I noticed some Quad amps on bay - typically Quad 306 for £100 - £150. Look a bit chunky, but would they sound better than new T-amps or class D amps?

I have a Bantam Gold, and I note that others like the HLLY 90s.

If not Quad, what other amps are worth looking out for on eBay?

Personally, since I've already got a few moderately decent amps, I'm now looking for something with high sound quality, rather than merely good. I can live with what I've got, but if I could find better stuff by trading (e.g. on eBay), then I might be willing to give that a shot.

[Barry]

I noticed some Quad amps on bay - typically Quad 306 for £100 - £150. Look a bit chunky, but would they sound better than new T-amps or class D amps?
I have a Bantam Gold, and I note that others like the HLLY 90s.

If not Quad, what other amps are worth looking out for on eBay?

Personally, since I've already got a few moderately decent amps, I'm now looking for something with high sound quality, rather than merely good. I can live with what I've got, but if I could find better stuff by trading (e.g. on eBay), then I might be willing to give that a shot.

Quite likely, yes they would - but then I'm the forum's resident Quad fanatic. The 306 was a development of the 405-2 and is generally considered to be a good all-round 50W/ channel power amp.

£100 seems like good value for money. In general Quad gear is very well made and, as such, reliable.

What speakers are you using?

I'm not too familiar with a lot of other amps but it seems that Onix are well regarded as is the Naim NAIT. These would be worth looking out for.

Regards

[Pete The Cat]

Ebay yields underpriced, underrated Creek amps every now and again, also other old gems like Quantum, Crimson and early NVAs that bidders don't seem to appreciate.

Quads are solid and reliable as Barry says. Worth asking about hum (possible transformer issue) and age / service history since some have been rocking for decades and may need recapping.

Pete

[DSJR]

Creeks did have some issues, certainly the old 4040/4140, but probably nothing a good fettling with modern components/op-amps wouldn't sort.

The 306 was my least favourite power amp from Quad. I think a 303 could well be better as long as it likes the load it's driving. HOWEVER, dada's update kits apparently improve it no end - and a 306 will need some work now due to age..

Barry, you're not the only Quad fan here. I think I sort of qualify, owning a 33/FM2/FM3/303 and re-built II's as I do...:)

[Barry]

Creeks did have some issues, certainly the old 4040/4140, but probably nothing a good fettling with modern components/op-amps wouldn't sort.

The 306 was my least favourite power amp from Quad. I think a 303 could well be better as long as it likes the load it's driving. HOWEVER, dada's update kits apparently improve it no end - and a 306 will need some work now due to age..

Barry, you're not the only Quad fan here. I think I sort of qualify, owning a 33/FM2/FM3/303 and re-built II's as I do...:)

Hello Dave,

You might be a Quad fan, but I'm the fanatic: I have 14 (and possibly soon, 15) Quad items.

I do however bow to your knowledge of the 306, a design with which I have had no direct experience, or come to that, any of the Quad designs after the 405-2. I have heard the ELS 63s fed by the Series 6 electronics on a couple of occasions, but not for any extended period of listening.

Regards

[jandl100]

I noticed some Quad amps on bay - typically Quad 306 for £100 - £150. Look a bit chunky, but would they sound better than new T-amps or class D amps?I have a Bantam Gold, and I note that others like the HLLY 90s.

If not Quad, what other amps are worth looking out for on eBay?


No way!

I had a Quad 77 integrated powering my 2nd system Usher x719 speakers.
A Muse TA2020 class D amp totally stomped it, imho.

Just more dynamic and transparent and musically involving, imo.

The Muse costs about £40 on eBay .... I then sold my Quad 77 amp for £165. :eyebrows: :cool:

... having said that, some folks prefer a more laidback "pipe & slippers" sound, and the Quad certainly delivered that!

[WAD62]

No way!

I had a Quad 77 integrated powering my 2nd system Usher x719 speakers.
A Muse TA2020 class D amp totally stomped it, imho.

Just more dynamic and transparent and musically involving, imo.

The Muse costs about £40 on eBay .... I then sold my Quad 77 amp for £165. :eyebrows: :cool:

... having said that, some folks prefer a more laidback "pipe & slippers" sound, and the Quad certainly delivered that!

Hi Jerry.

Another muse user!!!

I've had an Muse M21 EX for about 3 months now, and paired up with the extra power supply it's incredible for the cost.

I also have a Bantam Classic & a Gold which I'm running in, eventually it will be a Christmas present, shame as I'd like to keep it over the classic...

The one thing I've found, and this may be the problem for the original poster is that T-Amps seem to take ages to burn in (they sound flat as a witch's tit to start off with), why is beyond me, up to 100 hours in my experience...and it's not my ears getting used to the sound!!!! before anyone chimes in with that old chestnut

[jandl100]

The one thing I've found, and this may be the problem for the original poster is that T-Amps seem to take ages to burn in (they sound flat as a witch's tit to start off with), why is beyond me, up to 100 hours in my experience...and it's not my ears getting used to the sound!!!! before anyone chimes in with that old chestnut

Hi Will

I've recently tried TA2020 and TA2022 chip amps (Muse and Mini-T TA2020 & HLLY Tamp-90 TA2022). I must admit that I much prefer the faster and more detailed sound of the TA2020 amps. I also found the Mini-T amp to be a worthwhile improvement over the Muse.

No, I've not found running in to be a great issue - I've found the TA2020 amps to be great from the get-go. The HLLY TA2022 amp was already well run in - it was a loaner from Hamish on AOS. :cool:

[WAD62]

I certainly found that burn in was required with the Bantam Gold (it's lacking in Bass response initially), although that's not technically a T-Amp, the Classic is actually advertised as having 20 hours on it before they send it out.

With regards to the Muse, I think I had too many variable going on when I used it initially, as I mentioned in my mail.