Quad 303 and loudspeakers. Lp recordings

An interesting idea. Nothing wrong with a good old amplifier & turntable, overhauled if necessary, the Thorens/SME combination should be ideal (although I would go then as now for valve amplification & valve phono stage). Loudspeakers can though be a different matter being electromechanical devices containing natural materials such as paper (pulp cones) and rubber (suspensions) and it is quite possible these may have deteriorated and/or changed their characteristics over time.

I still use in one system a Rogers valve amp and Lenco turntable I've had for over 40 years with a Shure cartridge almost as old and they are superb. I put new drivers (8 inch + soft dome tweeter and new crossovers) in the old Wharfedale boxes many years ago after a tweeter failed but they were really not up to modern standards and I replaced them with new 'speakers a year ago and I don't think the old system has ever sounded better.

You may also need to bear in mind the possibility of styli dimensions if you have many old mono LPs as in theory they should have a slightly larger stylus than stereo LPs although if memory serves me correctly the usual (stereo) Shure 0.0007 x 0.0002 inch elliptical should be OK for mono LPs.

As you can see from their web site, KEF have tended to use various configurations of tried-and-tested drive units in many of their products. Cabinet design varied according to target market and projected usage, from a no-holds-barred top of the line model like the 105, on downwards. So compromises would involve size, number of units, pehaps intricacy of cabinet design, but not quality. I've never heard the Concerto but if that's the speaker that suits your budget and space, it'll probably be a serious contender. I'd give it a listen.

My first choice would that ultimate 1960's and 70's speaker, the Quad ELS 57 (I have only just upgraded to the 2805). If this is not what you like, or if you do not have the room for it, I would suggest the Spendor BC-1 (as sweet as the LS3/5a, but with more bass extension). Speakers of a significantly older vintage than these two would be disappointing.

Willem

I strongly advise you NOT to go down your chosen path!

When I was a student, I saved long and hard to buy the Quad33/303. My dealer delivered and installed it (it was a very new model then). I was surprised how much 'tweaking' it needed. The dealer came to my home and installed alongside the Quad a Radford STA 15 (valves) SC 22 preamp (much cheaper). The Quad was just dire by comparison. I wrote to the late John Crabbe, editor then of Hi-Fi- News. I submitted the output curves of the 2 amplifiers when fed with square waves. The Radford produced a nearly perfect sqaure wave, but the Quad had no resemblance to any wave I had ever seen. John Crabbe absolutely refused to publish my comments. I never want to hear a Quad 33/303 again- however this is not to denigrate other Quad equipment in any way. I owned ESL 63s for some years but the Quad 606 could not drive them. Unfortunately, a fantastic American amplifier could and did - but at the cost of needing new panels for the Quads on a regular basis.

Analogue sounds best to my ears but not LPs as their pitch stability and 101 other problems are best left unheard. Digital is the least worst method of recording especially the bluray mastered discs. I suggest a valve amplifier - or a Sugden (UK made). Tannoy dual concentric served me well for years - sensitive and accurate and excellent with a modest input.

There is a way of removing the edginess of CDs. Please reply if you want to know how, but you will be £750 the poorer!! I have no financial interest in this whatever and am a retired doctor. My piano gives an indisputable live source to compare various 'kit'.

'mckenz'

Peter

Oxford UK

Look up Whest DAP 10 on-line. Also comments by satisfied customers: -http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/91039/whest-active-analog-processor 

Down the page for a very lengthy description. I guessed the price as I own one. The story of its invention should still be on the Whest website. I own one and would not willingly do without it. It makes Cds sound analogue-like. The fact that the inventor can give a full explanation of how it functions in a objective manner is most reassuring. I suggest you borrow one and see whether you want to return it! I consider it improves a CD-based system by a lot more than its cost. If your proposed system is NOT based around CDs then I would say I it does nothing I can hear - which, of course, is precisely what the inventor would say. I am very pitch sensitive and LPs are out for me. I understand why people like them but do try a good CD player plus DAP 10. As I said previously I have incentive to recommend this equipment other that is makes CDs sound good. Recent experience with Bluray discs may make this whole debate irrelevant! I have quite few classical issues and they draw me into the music better than anything I have heard before. However, I would say you need really good amplification and best a carefully setup 5.1 system with identical amplification, cables and speakers (not necessarily high end) on every channel. As a bonus you get a superb HDTV signal. Beware being overcharged for the discs! I have seen one of my favourite discs (I was at the concert - BPO Barenboim) range from £14-15 on line to £37-8 in a local retailer. Good luck to all.

mckenz