On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 19:30:45 GMT, Alex wrote:

For those audiophiles who'd like to own a Quad 988 but lack the budget,
or the room, or both, which of the non-ES speakers come closest to that
magical electrostatic sound? [Answers from friends have ranged from
well known current brands (Dynaudio) to discontinued models I didn't
know about (DCM Time Window).]

None, unfortunately. I've had an adulterous relationship with Quads.
Some types of speaker do some things so compellingly I have at times
been temporarily charmed away from Quads. Horns and transmission lines
come to mind. But nothing else sounds like Quad--not even other
electrostatics. If the asking price of Quads is your main concern and
you are able to work around the space requirements, look into second-
hand 63s.

I heard the DCM Time Window speaker many years ago. Aside from looking
a bit like a Quad, that was it really.

I understand Quad have their own box speakers now. You'd expect them to
produce the family sound, but do they?

No--if by 'family sound' you mean do they sound like Quad
electrostats.

How do they do against Proacs, Dynaudios, Spendors?

Much better.

(I don't have a Quad dealer near me to check them
out myself.)

Please nominate your candidates for a poor man's 988, poor in money but
more importantlly poor in square feet.

Make room and get some used 63s. :-)

--
td

The Devil wrote:

: If the asking price of Quads is your main concern and you are able to work
: around the space requirements, look into second-hand 63s.

Price for 988 but space as well. Otherwise I could afford a used
ESL-63. The Quads are too wide for my room. A narrower speaker (could
be taller) is what I need.

: I heard the DCM Time Window speaker many years ago. Aside from looking
: a bit like a Quad, that was it really.

Thanks. No experience myself. I understand it is no longer made. It was
recommended and I remebered the catchy name. That's about it.

: I understand Quad have their own box speakers now. You'd expect
: them to produce the family sound, but do they?
:
: No--if by 'family sound' you mean do they sound like Quad electrostats.

Yes that's what I had meant/hoped. :-(
:
: How do they do against Proacs, Dynaudios, Spendors?
:
: Much better.

Interesting. Considering that Proac, Dynaudio, and Spendor are 3 of the
very best. Are the Quads your favorite "tower" speakers (small in floor
area, as tall as need be)? There was at least one post that put them
down as "Chinese" speakers having nothing to do with Quad.

: Make room and get some used 63s. :-)

I have thought of that and not quite given up yet. However, it does run
into hard limitations, like my wife's opinion, room size, why we must
live in an urban situation, etc.

In article , alex wrote:

The Devil wrote:

: If the asking price of Quads is your main concern and you are able to work
: around the space requirements, look into second-hand 63s.

Price for 988 but space as well. Otherwise I could afford a used
ESL-63. The Quads are too wide for my room. A narrower speaker (could
be taller) is what I need.

Did we say Magnaplanar 1.6 already?

: I heard the DCM Time Window speaker many years ago. Aside from looking
: a bit like a Quad, that was it really.

Thanks. No experience myself. I understand it is no longer made. It was
recommended and I remebered the catchy name. That's about it.

Old Dahlquists look like Quads, too.

: I understand Quad have their own box speakers now. You'd expect
: them to produce the family sound, but do they?
:
: No--if by 'family sound' you mean do they sound like Quad electrostats.

Yes that's what I had meant/hoped. :-(
:
: How do they do against Proacs, Dynaudios, Spendors?
:
: Much better.

Interesting. Considering that Proac, Dynaudio, and Spendor are 3 of the
very best. Are the Quads your favorite "tower" speakers (small in floor
area, as tall as need be)? There was at least one post that put them
down as "Chinese" speakers having nothing to do with Quad.

http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/lseriesworks.htm

According to Quad, all parts are designed "in-house". Other than that,
they seem up to audiophile standards for build quality and nice wood and
all that stuff if pictures and reviews are any indication. Even if they
were rebadged, like Music Hall, would that be so bad?

Plus, you can get deals for them on Audiogon, etc.

I wish I could tell you more about them, but that would require an
hour's drive each way to the nearest dealer!

: Make room and get some used 63s. :-)

I have thought of that and not quite given up yet. However, it does run
into hard limitations, like my wife's opinion, room size, why we must
live in an urban situation, etc.

I do okay with 63s in a room approximately 12 by 20. Fortunately, my
girlfriend likes vocal-friendly speakers.

Stephen

MINe 109 said:

Price for 988 but space as well. Otherwise I could afford a used
ESL-63. The Quads are too wide for my room. A narrower speaker (could
be taller) is what I need.

Did we say Magnaplanar 1.6 already?

No comparison other than that both are dipoles.

--
Sander de Waal
" SOA of a KT88? Sufficient. "

In article ,
Sander deWaal wrote:

MINe 109 said:

Price for 988 but space as well. Otherwise I could afford a used
ESL-63. The Quads are too wide for my room. A narrower speaker (could
be taller) is what I need.

Did we say Magnaplanar 1.6 already?

No comparison other than that both are dipoles.

They have 'taller' and 'narrower' in their favor but, no, they won't
sound the same as Quads.

Stephen

"MINe 109"

There was at least one post that put them
down as "Chinese" speakers having nothing to do with Quad.

http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/lseriesworks.htm

According to Quad, all parts are designed "in-house".


** Yep - "in house" means in Shenzhen, China - where the Chang
brothers factory is located.

The Changs own IAG ( International Audio Group ) which also owns the
Wharfedale brand - guess where they are made now.





.............. Phil

On Sat, 6 Nov 2004 09:23:04 +1100, "Phil Allison"
wrote:


"MINe 109"

There was at least one post that put them
down as "Chinese" speakers having nothing to do with Quad.

http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/lseriesworks.htm

According to Quad, all parts are designed "in-house".


** Yep - "in house" means in Shenzhen, China - where the Chang
brothers factory is located.

The Changs own IAG ( International Audio Group ) which also owns the
Wharfedale brand - guess where they are made now.

Try not to be such a **** here as you are in RAT. When Quad say they
are designed 'in house', that means in the UK, where the R&D
facilities are situated. Yes, they are *manufactured* in China, but to
a UK design suited to UK ears and rooms.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 19:32:47 GMT, alex wrote:

The Devil wrote:

: If the asking price of Quads is your main concern and you are able to work
: around the space requirements, look into second-hand 63s.

Price for 988 but space as well. Otherwise I could afford a used
ESL-63. The Quads are too wide for my room. A narrower speaker (could
be taller) is what I need.

Not to rain on your parade, but basically, forget it. The
characteristic sound of Quads and other large planars can *only* be
obtained by the use of a large planar dipole in a room large enough to
give the speaker lots of 'breathing room'. If your room size is such
that you don't have the space for Quads, then you don't have the space
to place *any* speaker far enough from the walls to avoid problems
with early reflections. There is one rather unusual solution, but it
*only* works with planar dipoles that have the tweeter down one edge,
such as Magneplanars or the old Apogees. See my page at
http://www.lurcher.org/ukra/ for how this is done.

OTOH, you can certainly obtain good, but different, sound in a small
room if you choose speakers that were *designed* to work close to a
wall, such as the classic Naim SBL.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

: If your room size is such that you don't have the space for Quads,
: then you don't have the space to place *any* speaker far enough from
: the walls...

Walls are not the problem, even for Quads. The back wall can be several
feet away. Their width is problematic but because of the passage space
to a window and to another room, not because of walls. Placing slim
speakers and surrounding them w/plenty of air should be no problem.

On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 08:33:36 GMT, Alex wrote:

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

: If your room size is such that you don't have the space for Quads,
: then you don't have the space to place *any* speaker far enough from
: the walls...

Walls are not the problem, even for Quads. The back wall can be several
feet away. Their width is problematic but because of the passage space
to a window and to another room, not because of walls. Placing slim
speakers and surrounding them w/plenty of air should be no problem.

If you want the Quad sound, you'll need to be using a dipole. To get
any bass from a dipole, it needs to be wide.
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering