Are Hifi Reviews Flawed?

[DSJR]

How long would the KT66 last in the GEC circuit? I can't argue with your viewpoint (and even PW said that he did the best he could at the time with the stuff then available), but three of the GEC KT66's in my Quad II's are from 1962 - I don't know how old the fourth one is.. and everything's been stable it seems since the fourth valve was replaced in recent years.

[anthonyTD]

How long would the KT66 last in the GEC circuit? I can't argue with your viewpoint (and even PW said that he did the best he could at the time with the stuff then available), but three of the GEC KT66's in my Quad II's are from 1962 - I don't know how old the fourth one is.. and everything's been stable it seems since the fourth valve was replaced in recent years.

Hi Dave,
I would think that there wouldnt be much in it between the two circuits as far as valve longevity, My point was, [IMHO] the main reason behind the Quad 2 circuit was to produce an amplifier using the least amount of parts count, that could produce an acceptable sonic performance that would satisfy a large audience at the time of manufacture.
Good quality parts back then were expensive including the valves themselves, so it is quite clear to me why an amplifier producing the kind of performance the Quad 2 was capable off [at the time] soon became widely acceptable as a winning design.
Anthony,TD...

[DSJR]

Even in the 70's, the likes of 1% resistors which we take for granted now were very expensive I seem to remember. Anyway, my Quads, which would have been junked after one went bad and took a '57 with it, now have close tolerance parts, decent caps where it counts and a little regulated valve power supply - for good or bad - and the Quad magic is enhanced if anything. I just love them for what they are and the way they have with good vocal recordings and I know full well that they're totally outclassed these days...

By the way, next time I get to hear a Stereo 20 I'll think of you, 'cos the sample I heard (before one EL84? gave out) sure was funky

[MartinT]

Stereo 20s are simply fabulous, and I'm a SS guy!

[Reid Malenfant]

and I'm a SS guy!

images.jpg

You might like to employ a lightning conductor Martin

Don't worry, i'm off to hit the sack soon

[MartinT]

[synsei]

I stumbled upon this wonderful editorial from Issue 69 of Canadian magazine Ultra High Fidelity (UHF) from 2004 whilst 'Gurgling' for reviews of an Avon Audiomat (don't ask ).
The coincidence was far too delicious to pass up and is also relevant to the subject matter of the thread, so I thought I'd share it here for your delectation



(C) Copyright 2011 Broadcast Canada

[MartinT]

Excellent, Dave, and sums things up nicely. The kind of equipment that we like listening to is still bountiful and improving every year.

[SPS]

my view is slightly different, in that there always has been good, and not so good in both amps and speakers, and times have changed but good kit is good kit.
i have quite a collection of vintage hi fi, 20+amps some working and others not, about the same in speakers,decks, lots of drivers, and nearly every audio valve.

my first valve amp was out of a german radiogram, it sounded ok.. but it got the full treatment over a few months,
changing the volume control and shorting out the tone controls, took away the vintage 'cloudy grey' sound,
changing the coupling caps then transformed the clarity,
then lastly i replaced all the carbon resistors for modern quality components,
that gave the modern sound... clean and detailed

i never went back to solid state amps after that amp.
vintage warmth.. not for me.. thats about old components
pete walker knew his stuff, but he had a product.. esl57's and quad 11's they work very well together, and made a very nice sound
i have peter walkers earlier speakers and have owned a good pair of 57's and quad 11's,
and i must say i really liked them both, but prefered the earlier speakers (which where nearly double the price).

as stated, shop bought hifi is made for a profit.

with all the amps i own,some really good ones, i still use diy amps,
but to be fair, the bits used to make them, cost much more than many bought amps.
the trouble with hi fi is there is no right, what may seem an fantastic sound for one person is ok for another. the only way is extending listening to lots of kit, the differences then are apparent.. sometimes.. for some folks

steve

[anthonyTD]

my view is slightly different, in that there always has been good, and not so good in both amps and speakers, and times have changed but good kit is good kit.
i have quite a collection of vintage hi fi, 20+amps some working and others not, about the same in speakers,decks, lots of drivers, and nearly every audio valve.

my first valve amp was out of a german radiogram, it sounded ok.. but it got the full treatment over a few months,
changing the volume control and shorting out the tone controls, took away the vintage 'cloudy grey' sound,
changing the coupling caps then transformed the clarity,
then lastly i replaced all the carbon resistors for modern quality components,
that gave the modern sound... clean and detailed

i never went back to solid state amps after that amp.
vintage warmth.. not for me.. thats about old components
pete walker knew his stuff, but he had a product.. esl57's and quad 11's they work very well together, and made a very nice sound
i have peter walkers earlier speakers and have owned a good pair of 57's and quad 11's,
and i must say i really liked them both, but prefered the earlier speakers (which where nearly double the price).

as stated, shop bought hifi is made for a profit.

with all the amps i own,some really good ones, i still use diy amps,
but to be fair, the bits used to make them, cost much more than many bought amps.
the trouble with hi fi is there is no right, what may seem an fantastic sound for one person is ok for another. the only way is extending listening to lots of kit, the differences then are apparent.. sometimes.. for some folks

steve

Hi Steve,
Good post!
And i also agree with your findings on the Quad 2 and 57 Electrostatic combination.
Anthony,TD...