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In Reply to: RE: So, what's the down side, if any? nt posted by stickler to perfection on July 04, 2009 at 08:20:50
Well the Quad has been called a 'dead horse' many times over the decades. Some how the old horse manages to keep plodding along providing a thrilling experience for their owners!
35V is a maximum value and I believe that generally Quad stated the limit at 33V. That as a practical matter is the limit because some of the original Quad produced panels will arc before 33V is hit even when new. There was WIDE variation in build quality on the Quad plant floor in those days. I can rebuild a factory type panel that will handle 35V, even greater, without arcing, without changing a thing about the panel, just careful construction.
But even if one can develop a tweeter element that will handle a 100V and play 120dB that is not of much use. The bass elements will start bottoming out and falling all over themselves way before then. On bass heavy music they will be lucky to achieve 95dB before giving up the ghost. So the limiter in terms of SPL output of the speaker is not the tweeter element but the bass elements. A stock tweeter element working correctly will easily achieve 102dB. An improved tweeter element with greater SPL capability will not change a thing with the speakers overall SPL output so what is the point? The factory tweeter in no way limits dynamic range of the speaker.
Yes the protection board inserts some small amount of distortion into the audio signal when tripped. That is the point! You have hit the wall. Time to turn things down a bit. But when the circuit is not engaged, i.e. protecting the panel, there is no sonic impact of any kind. Better a bit of benign distortion letting you know you have hit the maximum versus a flaming panel telling you the same thing don't you think? I would say that is a more than adequate trade-off.
Most folks are thrilled with the idea they can use any amplifier they wish without any fear of damaging the speaker! Count me firmly in that group. And one of the many upsides to the board is the speaker will be more muscular and dynamic since one can use a more muscular and dynamic amp versus the flea size amps that are typically recommended.
You are correct that it is time to stop fiddling with that out-of-date 1950's technology. PJW would have said the same thing. Buy an ESL63, the better speaker anway! (Tongue firmly planted in cheek.)
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