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Tube Amp recommendation for Quad 988

I am in the market for a tube amp to match the following systems:

Conrad Johnson CT6 Preamp (planning to purchase a used one)
Quad ESL 988

I prefer to go with monoblocks, so I can use 1M length speaker cable and 1M interconnect, but I am open. My budget is around $2 to 4K, and open to buying used equipment. Based on my limited research so far, I have considered the following:

Hyperion HT-88 Monoblock: good review from Stereophile
Meixing Ming Da MC805-A Monoblocks: recommended from the QuadESL.Org website.

I listen mostly to Jazz, and Classical.
128x128stik
stik's avatar
stik OP
17 posts
 
Thanks all for very helpful posts.

I ended up going with conrad-johnson MV60.
Will try to report back on my experience.

BTW, here is a link that I found with additional info on matching Quads.
http://www.avguide.com/forums/amp-matching-quad-esls
stik's avatar
stik OP
17 posts
 
Reporting back on my experience with the conrad-johnson MV60. I purchased a used one which came with the following tubes:

E34L -- output tubes (newer version of EL34)
6SN7GTA Philco -- driver tubes
12AX7A -- input tubes

Once I got the MV60, I was not able to immediately experience the FULL potential of it because I had a 10 maybe 20 year old crappy AudioQuest Ruby 2 IC that was waiting to be replace by Cardas Golden Reference. By the look and sound of it, you could tell Ruby was way past retirement age.

The result? I would describe my system as powerful and full range of response across the spectrum. (Please keep in my that I had used Rotel Integrated prior to the MV60). Occasionally, even in moderate volumes, I thought I had too much bass. Now, based on what I had read about Quads, I am thinking this must be due to my room acoustics. No matter, I may need some bass traps, and diffusors -- and I should be set for a long time. Happy listening!
stik's avatar
stik OP
17 posts
 
Sounds like I spoke too soon. Apparently the robust bass that I am hearing is from the Soundstring Power Cables that my buddy sent me to try. When I put the stock cords back into the Quads, bass became much leaner. With the Soundstring PCs, I definitely will not need any subwoofers. Hmmm... it appears I will be spending next few weeks researching Power Cables.
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