jasee wrote:
> "Dave Plowman (News)" <dave@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:50750c013edave@davenoise.co.uk...
>> In article <eoidnfkKspGxQdDXnZ2dnUVZ8lWdnZ2d@bt.com>,
>> jasee <jasee@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>> I can't remember being particularly impressed with the original quad
>>> electrostatics particularly with full orchestras and organs, as in
>>> certain organ concertos, really almost disappeared. I really couldn't
>>> see what the fuss was about. And I remember the quad 405 amplifier I
>>> bought becoming so noisy that I sent it back.
>> You're a few years apart. The original '57 would have been driven with
>> Quad II valve amps. Or even just one. The first Quad transistor amp was
>> the 303. Early 405s used a poor op amp which was changed for a better one
>> shortly after introduction.
>>
>> The original '57 was very room sensitive. Was your room approaching a
>> cube? The bass output seemed to disappear in those. Worked best in a long
>> room with the speakers across the narrow wall. Of course it only went down
>> to about 40 Hz in the best of circumstances. And the lack of resonances
>> made it appear bass light compared to a honky cabinet speaker.
>
> I borrowed the quads for about a couple of weeks in London and they were
> with valve amps and yes the room was more of less square and the particular
> organ had a low 32cycle (IIRC) note which you simply couldn't hear at all.
> The 405 I bought myself later but changed for a Raford transistor amp which
> was simply worlds better. Never did like valves anyway.
>
>
The Radford WAS good, from distant hazy memory.

These days, with FET outputs and as long as you are prepared fr an amp
that runs fairly hot, you can beat bipolars hands down really, and knock
valves into the middle of the last century, where they belong ;-)

But there is no incentive to do that. People Want Valves, and a tranny
amp handbuilt and tuned costing £700 is simply not there marketing wise
when it come to the pure red glow of a few EL34's..

I liked the ELS for classical at modest volume, but they were hopeless
for jazz or rock. My favorites were horns..good horns, with either bass
reflex for the bottom, or infinite baffle. Never did build any concrete
bass horns..