Quad 303 and loudspeakers. Lp recordings

Good luck with your QUAD, I had the 33-303 combination - bought from new, for many years and then passed them over to one of our daughters. They sounded and performed very well. Later I moved over to the 44 series, again excellent. But when my wife and I moved to a slightly smaller house  just over three years ago I decided to part exchange the older QUADS for the new 99 series (pre amp, CDP-2 CD player and 99 stereo power amp.) mainly because of the remote control arrangement. I also bought the QUAD 22L2 speakers because they were more compact than my previous B&W speakers and took up less room. I'm now wondering if this was daft! They were the older 801s and 802s which were very good indeed although too bulky for the current surroundings. Their sound was superb.

Overall, I've been very pleased with QUAD equipment, for me it has sounded good and if there was a problem, QUAD would rectify it. A real bonus nowadays. But as far as the speakers are concerned, I was disapointed at first with the 22L2s -- but checking comments - via the internet from owners, it seemed the speakers need very careful positioning. Now I've even replaced the spikes with castors to enable them to be moved more easily - and less chewing up the carpet too! And this has resulted in a considerable improvement. Now, incredibly, they sound good. The 801 speakers had castors. I'm still pondering on the B&W smaller and more affordable speakers though. 

At the time I  also got rid of my Garrard 301 + SME arm thinking I could easily get a good more up to date replacement - a bit stupid in hindsight but I'm wondering now, about either one of the Stanton, or Audio Techica such as AT-LP120 USB turntables as perhaps a more suitable replacement  - I still need to play a few 78s. Of course there are the SME turntables! At a price!

So, overall I'd certainly recommend QUAD, I've always been very pleased. The only extras I've got now are an excellent 'Traxdata' CD recorder, and for tape a Nakamichi RX 505E - auto reverse, reverses the casette almost by magic! The latter I've had for years. Also, much more recently, a Blu-Ray recorder is connected into the QUAD pre amp.

The whole set up works excellently. Music via the  Blu-Ray seems again. excellent. I've recorded opera,  Proms, concerts via radio3 and Classic radio, even radio plays. The great thing about Blu-Ray is the ease of being able to record anything - ideal too, if you are going away on holiday. And I've been amazed about the quality of the sound. Schubert piano sonatas recently, marvellous.

Going back to amplifiers, do the new QUAD valve amplifiers appeal? Pretty pricey but could be what you want for 'perfection'! 

Good luck in your hunting.

Marvellous. I have just caught up with the correspondence. Isn't it funny how we all had the

same kit? My Quad 33/303 was in use till a year ago, driving a paid of KEF Calindas. Before

that I had Concertos. In view of this correspondence, maybe I should have kept them (I am

itching to change the Calindas, which had given good service but ought to be retired). My

Garrard 301 with SME Mk II arm is still in service, though rarely used. The Shure V15-II has

been replaced by a Grado, which gives clearer sound but does not play 78s.

Wonderful 60s/70s sound! All this kit was state of the art when new, but today's top hi-fi kit

is astronomically expensive.

Incidentally the Quad units are for sale if any one is prepared to make a serious offer. I am

in France but can arrange delivery to UK without difficulty. Photos are available.