Planar Speaker Asylum

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Planar Speaker Asylum

Generosity beyond expectation.

122.60.174.151

As recently as two weeks ago, I was working on my mid-term plan for getting some Quads to listen to. Hopefully to refurbish, somewhere down the line.

The Audio Gods have delivered. Big time. Today, I collected a pair of stacked Quads that were given to me.

Given to me.

I've got them home but I'm still in shock that, as a result of a chance conversation in the staff room bar, overheard by another staff member, I now have a pair of these vintage beauties to play with.

I even received a spare treble panel. And I simply don't know where to start...

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."

Follow Ups:

Generosity beyond expectation. - Steelhead 14:22:20 10/29/14 (1)
Wow, that is a score and a half.

You should have a ball with them.

Glad for you!!!!!!!!
- Thanks! -t - jusbe 02:46:08 10/30/14 (0)
  Big J
  
  "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - c1ferrari 07:41:23 10/26/14 (1)
Very lovely gesture.

Vbr,
Sam
- RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - jusbe 22:58:42 10/29/14 (0)
  Very.
  Big J
  
  "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
Cables? - jusbe 04:42:17 10/14/14 (4)
Anyone have any advice on cables? I currently have DNM though these have light, 4mm ('leaf') banana plugs. Should I be using something else?

Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
- RE: Cables? - Satie 06:23:59 10/14/14 (3)
  Those are fine cables.. Listen with them and identify what you would want to sound different and we might be able to help with addressing it with cables - to the extent they can affect what you are looking for.
  - Groundwork. - jusbe 23:58:19 10/17/14 (2)
    Thanks for your reply.
    
    It's clear that, despite their great first impression, I have some work to do on 'opening up' the sound on these stacks. Cables could perhaps wait a while as I'm fairly used to these across a range of systems.
    
    Maybe, now, I could usefully turn my mind (and funds) to panels, EHTs, clamp boards and so on.
    
    Big J
    
    "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
    - RE: Groundwork. - A.Wayne 13:19:31 10/25/14 (1)
      Hello ,
      
      Stacked quads are sensitive to amplification, if your amp cannot deliver stability and power into a low Z load there will be no top end. If the speaker has not been serviced over the decades, this is also the first thing to go.
      
      If not updated and serviced, arching will also be an issue..
      
      Regards...
      - Updates. - jusbe 02:48:29 10/30/14 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Groundwork. posted by A.Wayne on October 25, 2014 at 13:19:31
        
        Yes - agreed. The amp is fine. Mullard 5-20 designs (Beam Echo DL7-35) with fresh tubes.
        
        The panels all look past it and the electronics have not seen 'daylight' since they were made, it seems. They all need updating. Still, the essence of the design is there and music is still enjoyable, if not high-fidelity.
        
        I have a plan. I now need to raise the cash!
        
        Big J
        
        "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - Eddieh 05:15:02 10/13/14 (1)
Eames and Quads. Nice pairing. :)
- RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - jusbe 10:54:42 10/13/14 (0)
  Thanks. Replicas, naturally.
  
  The room is a bit of a mess right now as we only recently moved here. The Quads will certainly change arrangements!
  
  Big J
  
  "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - Sondek 16:00:56 10/11/14 (3)
Be sure to send the responsible party a Christmas card! A genuine dream come true. Good for you! Can only imagine how delighted you must be. Yes, it isn't until you get electrostats home and experience them for yourself, that you truly realize just how weak your weakest link is. They can be VERY, VERY revealing.

Enjoy them.
- RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - jusbe 16:43:20 10/11/14 (0)
  Yes, I've been dreaming of this arrangement for some time. Even my wife is not put off by them! We're happy with out analogue (Garrard 401) and digital source at present (Lite Audio LT-1/DAC 83). Preamps are Audio Innovations L2 and P2 (for the Garrard). Amps will be Beam Echo DL7-35s.
  
  Sadly, the donor, to whom I spoke for the first (and likely only time) last week, is in a local hospice. Apparently his friend and namesake had been charged with finding a good home for his Quads, and an overheard conversation at work, that I was having with someone else, identified me as that person. I had no idea.
  
  We spoke about my musical education (violin, chorister, Royal Academy) and my love of vintage gear and its restoration.
  
  I'll be making donations to some cancer charities on his behalf shortly.
  
  Big J
  
  "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
- RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - Norman M 16:14:57 10/11/14 (1)
  Generosity even beyond the wildest imagination. Happy and healthy listening!
  - Thanks! Am delighted. -t - jusbe 16:43:47 10/11/14 (0)
    Big J
    
    "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - Satie 07:37:18 10/11/14 (3)
Well then, really really congrats!!! Stacked quads a really terrific and were the heart of the legendary HQD system.

You are so lucky.

I think you would want to take the speakers further into the room and clear out the chair ottoman and excess speakers.
- Yes. - jusbe 16:28:58 10/11/14 (0)
  Yes - when I snapped that yesterday, I had just delivered the speakers home. Not time to rearrange yet but will start this week.
  
  First off, I'll be making up some fresh power leads for the Bulgin plugs as the leads I have are rather decrepit. I may also seek some spare ones (Bulgin plugs) as they seem quite hard to replace and it may pay to have a few spare while they're still some around.
  
  I notice some of the rivets in the bass panels have some 'white blooming' around them, suggesting they've oxidised in Auckland's humidity. Also, one of the bass panel's dust covers has a tear in it, somehow, despite the good frame design and mesh backing. Hmmm.
  
  Big J
  
  "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
- RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - mcdonald43 13:10:45 10/11/14 (1)
  They are ruthlessly revealing of everything in the path upstream. The best amp I have ever heard drive my Quads are the Atma-Sphere OTL's.
  - Amps - jusbe 16:37:00 10/11/14 (0)
    The amps I'll be starting with (stacks wired in series) are a pair of mint Beam Echo DL7-35s. True Mullard 5-20 amps, probably using reissue KT-77s to start (and spare the Mullards they came with).
    If I decide I need four amps, I'd certainly be interested in sourcing some OTLs.
    
    Big J
    
    "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."
    
    Edits: 10/11/14
RE: Generosity beyond expectation. - digda_beat 03:41:31 10/11/14 (1)
wow, Im in shock too- what a great gift!
- :^) -t - jusbe 03:59:51 11/02/14 (0)
  Big J
  
  "... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."

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