2. speakers
  3. 1284257531

Quad 2805 v. Quad 57

I recently heard, at the San Francisco audio show, the Quad 2805 and I liked them very much.

How do you compare them to the Quad 57? I've read quite a bit comparing the Quad 57 to the Quad 63. Some like the 57 for its more immediacy and midrange and other like the 63 for sacrificing a smidgeon of those traits to obtain more extension of range and the ability to rock. Rebuilt 57's or 63's run quite a bit less dough than the 2805.

If you have heard this line up, I'd love to hear your assessment of the characteristics of the 2805 compared to its older 57 and 63 siblings.

Last, my amps are the Air Tight 211's. I understand they can power the older siblings, but how about the 2805? I understand the impedance load is irregular, but that a good SET does fine with the 57 or 63.

Thanks for the help.
jj2468
kentaja
25 posts
 
Don't worry about Quads and the size of the power amp. The speakers are equipped with protection circuitry to handle any issues. I personally use 280 watt/channel tube amps. Not because the Quad needs that much power, they don't by a long shot. I use that much power because I like what that kind of power does for the Quad, more specifically what the power supply will do in an amp that size.

All electrostats like power amps that have large, stable supplies. This describes the type of supply one will genrally find in large output amplifiers. Some smaller amps will have this type of supply but they are generally the exception rather than the rule.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I had one customer who damaged his 63s [several times in fact]. But he was a rock enthusiast who felt that buying the Quads would demonstrate how refined his taste was; they were entirely unsuited for his listening habits and I told him so. I once measured his listening level at 108db on the Nelson Reed 804s he was auditioning , they were perfectly happy with that level, the Quads will not do this kind of level. As long as you use a little common sense you can use a large amp, the Quads will play around 97db at 1 meter if I remember and that is fairly loud.
acoustat6
357 posts
 
Stanwal said, "97db at 1 meter"

How do you get 2 Quads three feet from your ear?

Bob

PS
I dont know either, but i guess if you ask them nicely and they are close talkers they just might.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Sound levels are taken at one meter, I thought that this was common knowledge but again I have overestimated Audiogon readers. It is easy to see that SOME distance must be specified in giving maximum speaker output, one meter is the distance that has been chosen. You are not REQUIRED to listen at that distance, but of course may do so if you choose.
jj2468 OP
280 posts
 
108db, wow. I listen at about 75 to 85db at about 8' from the speaker.
More to discover