2. amps-preamps
  3. 1041938692

Tube amps you have heard with Quad 989

I listened to Quad 989s being driven by the new Plinius SA 102 amplifier, a 125 Watt high current SS design. The combination was pretty special, and belies much of what has been written about the Quads. These speakers were astonishingly good to my ears.

I would like to find a tube amplifier that works better than the Plinius, if there is one. The 989s can sound hard and unpleasant when paired with the wrong amplifier - innersound being a case in point.

Has anyone heard the 989s with tubes and liked them?
Are atma-sphere 60 watt monoblocks a possibility?
Has anyone heard them with the Wolcott Presence?

If you have any listening experience, you could save me some steps.

Thanks
judit

Showing 3 responses by judit

judit OP
217 posts
 
Gregm,

I am not surprised by your comment about SS. I couldn't get over how well the Plinius sounded with these speakers.

Judith
judit OP
217 posts
 
Ivanj,
Emphatically not. No honky tonk forwardness in the mid piano octaves with the QUADs. And believe me, I have searched long and hard to find speakers that light my fire.

Ed Sawyer,
Thanks for the offer. I will try to listen to a pair locally.
judit OP
217 posts
 
Sbank, Interesting comment. I heard the spectral amps driving Avalon Opus speakers and they were WAY too sterile and analytical. Sounds like this characterstic holds across other speakers as well.

Ivanj, interesting comment on the pass stuff. In researching these speakers, pass labs is the amplifier that comes up the most frequently as associated electronics. The comment on bass is pertinent too - the bass I heard come out of the 989s was REALLY powerful. It seemed like overkill to even consider a sub.
More to discover