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In Reply to: would you trade a nearly new Quad 909 for a Threshold 400A? posted by centaurus3200 on April 5, 2007 at 09:52:44:
he had it serviced a few years ago. but you are right. these amps get hotter than a stove. and its 30 years old. the 909 does sound nice, but just doesn't have that pizzazz. but it's non-fatiguing and you can listen forever.
Follow Ups:
You can sell the Quad fairly easily or go with more efficient speakers. Another option is using the Quad on the tweeters in a bi-amping setup.
well, my speakers are pretty efficient. the quad certainly isn't strained (KEF Calinda, KEF 104/2 or janszen Z-200).the quad actually sounds pretty nice and does a great disappearing act. I'm just used to tube amps imparting their own inflections on the sound. you get used to that, you know?
the guy was bummed, he was going to trade me his threshold for the quad. but i took your advice. you make sense. no sense in trading a virtually new amp for a 30 year old one that's notoriously known for cooking the piss out of the internals.
he couldn't find documentation about being upgraded to stasis 3. i believe him though. nice chap. but, as of this point. the 909 is a no fuss, no muss amp. i have enough needy amps with the 405-2 and my McIntosh MC60s. i don't need more projects. and the fact that the threshold is so old, I'd be tempted to blow more money to mod it.
Also the 400A no longer has good resale value, even updated. And yes, they built an oven and put circuitry inside!
My factory updated "400A" had a metallic sticker affixed to the back.
I believe the guy was honorable too, but if he was disappointed, he probably knew the 909 is better, all things considered.
I've been back and forth between solid state and tubes a few times. I could never seem to get "live" dynamic realism even from very expensive, high current power amps. I'm using a Krell KSA250 (16 years old) with Maggie 1.6QRs (2 years old) in my main living room system. My office/lab system has Tannoy DC3s powered by Quicksilver Mini Mite Monos at 25 watts per channel. I swear the little monos have more slam and convincing dynamics than the Krell. Hard to believe but true.
I call it the Audio Paradox!
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