Hello Milk&juice,
Although I presently own and peddle another brand of electrostat, I've also owned several pairs of Quads (though not the 988's).
Of the two amps you mention, I'd suggest the Classe'. I try to kinda specialize in amps that work well with electrostats, and among others I'm a dealer for the InnerSound amps that Denf mentions. If you find a used InnerSound for $1600, jump all over it!
The Spectron is a very nicely voiced amplifier and very enjoyable, but in my experience amps with digital switching power supplies don't have quite the liveliness of amps with a nice big conventional power supply. They seem to play plenty loud but don't quite have the impact and dynamic contrast (this is easier to discern when you listen from a room away than when you're in the sweet spot). I mention this because, if there is one area where our beloved electrostats could use a little help, it's in dynamic contrast. That being said I have not heard the latest incarnation of the Spectron, so this generalization may not apply.
You said that you were looking for "something different" to drive your Quads with. Have you considered an OTL tube amp, or do you want to stick with solid state? If OTL's are in the running, then I might have a rather "different" suggestion or two...
Best of luck to you!
Duke
Although I presently own and peddle another brand of electrostat, I've also owned several pairs of Quads (though not the 988's).
Of the two amps you mention, I'd suggest the Classe'. I try to kinda specialize in amps that work well with electrostats, and among others I'm a dealer for the InnerSound amps that Denf mentions. If you find a used InnerSound for $1600, jump all over it!
The Spectron is a very nicely voiced amplifier and very enjoyable, but in my experience amps with digital switching power supplies don't have quite the liveliness of amps with a nice big conventional power supply. They seem to play plenty loud but don't quite have the impact and dynamic contrast (this is easier to discern when you listen from a room away than when you're in the sweet spot). I mention this because, if there is one area where our beloved electrostats could use a little help, it's in dynamic contrast. That being said I have not heard the latest incarnation of the Spectron, so this generalization may not apply.
You said that you were looking for "something different" to drive your Quads with. Have you considered an OTL tube amp, or do you want to stick with solid state? If OTL's are in the running, then I might have a rather "different" suggestion or two...
Best of luck to you!
Duke