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Post by bencat on Mar 26, 2024 14:51:05 GMT
I always had a relevant for this power amplifier since I heard one many years ago . Bought one and had Alan check it over . Then while reading about it found out that you can bridge them and get 80 watt mono,s . After being patient found a really nice condition second one worthiness manual and original box and just bought it . Today I was a bit brave and set them up to drive my Quad ESL 57 . Everything went well and straight from cold they sounded very good . So from the off they are not awful in fact the opposite they were sounding better than my NVA S300 . I have left them playing for a few hours and things just got better . Then sound the volume up and then they turned off and then connected again . It seems they have a quite sensitive speaker protection circuit fitted and with the Quads going almost full short in the treble they are cutting out . Trouble is they sound so good with the Quads I would really like to use them . So has anyone got any suggestions ? Would a One Thing Widget help ? Can the protection circuit be adjusted to make it a little more sensitive ? I can get very decent volumes and things play nicely but then you get a recording that is much lower and you adjust then when the next track kicks in it triggers the protection . All advice and help is appreciated .
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Post by macca on Mar 26, 2024 18:44:27 GMT
you tried them with other speakers, see if they do the same thing?
You're right the ESL goes low in the top end but there's not much power at all required there so pretty much anything should cope.
Might be a fault on the amps, or because you're bridging them which is going to reduce power into low loads.
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Post by alit on Mar 26, 2024 21:25:14 GMT
Bridged amps usually don't like low impedances, this is likely the problem.
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Post by bencat on Mar 27, 2024 9:08:04 GMT
Fully agree that bridged amps do not like low impedance but the Quads are 15 Ohm so should not be an issue .
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optical
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Post by optical on Mar 27, 2024 9:11:19 GMT
Fully agree that bridged amps do not like low impedance but the Quads are 15 Ohm so should not be an issue . Not in the treble they're not . . . . (ESL57's can dip to 2ohm and actually below I believe). I think macca and alit are spot on with the likely cuase. |
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Post by bencat on Mar 27, 2024 9:15:03 GMT
I knew that and pointed it out . Also when used as a stereo amp the Aurex does the same thing which leads me to the conclusion that it is very sensitive speaker protection circuit which does not like the treble dip .
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optical
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Post by optical on Mar 27, 2024 9:23:43 GMT
I knew that and pointed it out . Also when used as a stereo amp the Aurex does the same thing which leads me to the conclusion that it is very sensitive speaker protection circuit which does not like the treble dip . Okay. I've used widgets before (not becasue I required them but just as a precaution) they will certainly tame the load presented to the amplifier somewhat and as this seems the likely problem, so worth a shot I'd say. I always thought they sounded better without though, but that's my experience, you may not notice the difference, which, if it's sounding really good, would be a result. |
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Post by bencat on Mar 27, 2024 9:37:16 GMT
The other issue I have is no other passive speakers at home both my other systems are active so no good way to test them . Will keep a look out for some widgets but only if I see a used pair and they are cheap . Playing things today and not having any issues . Music is loud enough for me so will see how things go . Still showing me these are very good amplifiers when working so at the moment they are going to stay in place .
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Post by bencat on May 12, 2024 12:39:47 GMT
Well just to update this I have had to admit defeat with pairing these amplifiers with the Quad ESL . Found a pair of Widgets and they make no difference at all still sounds superb but when a song with higher recording level comes on they shut down . I have no real idea if there is any way to reduce the speaker protection and make it less sensitive so just can not relax in case it goes off again .
Still think these are wonderful amplifiers though and my memory was not wrong . They are really solid and well made and they drive real speakers to very good levels . So today decided that I would try them as replacement amplifiers in my two way active speakers which use Linn Sara 9,s . So out come the two Fidele Audio upgraded Quad 405 amps that have been in place for many years and sound really good .
Straight swap one per side split to doing Bass and Treble for each speaker (RH Channel doing Bass / LH Channel doing Treble) . Rewired it all back up and then switched on . First good sign is no pop on switch on and everything lights up as it should . Start the music and with the volume at the same level it was with the Quads it starts but is a little too loud . Turn things down a little and let it play for half hour while I have cup of tea and quick browse .
Back in and I have just confirmed what I thought when I first heard them these are great little amps . They may be only rated at 40 Watt compared with the Quads but they go way too loud for me to turn it too far up . They do not distort just get louder but too much for my ears to manage . They are very clear and articulate amplifiers with air and delicacy to the music . Then they surprise you with the slam they then deliver when it is on the recordings . So that is now decided they are not going anywhere they make this system even better than it was before and it was very good as anyone who heard it at last years Wam show can confirm .
Now I just have the job of finding out what to do with a pair of Fidele Audio upgrade Quad 405,s .
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