I am using Quad 34 & 606 II amplification with a Marantz CD40, Denon TU260L,
and Epos ES11 speakers. While I am happy with the performance of the
amplification, I am having problems with the volume settings. Most of my
listening is done with the volume control set at 1 or 2, and with some newer
recordings, which seem to be recorded at ever higher levels, 1 is too loud.

The CD input is the standard 300mV version - Assuming I could find one,
would it be worth getting the 500mV option? Or should I use in-line
attenuators or attenuated interconnects between CD player and pre-amp, and
if so, where can I get such items? Is it preferable to use attenuation
between source and pre rather then pre and power?

Any other suggestions?

TIA.

"kake" wrote in message
...
I am using Quad 34 & 606 II amplification with a Marantz CD40, Denon
TU260L,
and Epos ES11 speakers. While I am happy with the performance of the
amplification, I am having problems with the volume settings. Most of
my
listening is done with the volume control set at 1 or 2, and with some
newer
recordings, which seem to be recorded at ever higher levels, 1 is too
loud.

The CD input is the standard 300mV version - Assuming I could find
one,
would it be worth getting the 500mV option? Or should I use in-line
attenuators or attenuated interconnects between CD player and pre-amp,
and
if so, where can I get such items? Is it preferable to use attenuation
between source and pre rather then pre and power?

Any other suggestions?

TIA.


I used a Marantz CD-63 mkII for years with a Quad 34/306/FM4 and had no
problems.

The output of the CDP is 2V RMS (200 Ohms impedance) according to the
book of words and I was using the standard 300mV CD input.

What is the output of your CDP?


--
RobH
The future's dim, the future's mono.

"kake" wrote in message
...
I am using Quad 34 & 606 II amplification with a Marantz CD40, Denon
TU260L,
and Epos ES11 speakers. While I am happy with the performance of the
amplification, I am having problems with the volume settings.

SNIP

Since posting my query, I found a copy of the 34 manual on the net, and it
mentions increasing or decreasing the output of the pre-amp; I suspect that
the unit I have has had its output increased. As far as I know, the 34 I
have has never been serviced, and as I am totally useless with a soldering
iron, I think I may return it to Quad for servicing (and confirmation of the
current output), then getting them to adjust it as necessary - seems like a
better way of spending some money!! (£113 for a cable!!!!).

BTW, Is the current Quad service department as good as it was reputed to be
under Walker ownership?

Also, on average (if there is such a thing), how often should electronics
require servicing?

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond with such detailed
suggestions - very much appreciated.

"kake" wrote

"kake" wrote in message
news:

BTW, Is the current Quad service department as good as it was reputed to
be
under Walker ownership?


The service department is very good, but understaffed so it can take
sometime to get kit serviced.

The cost is £40 per item ie one pre amp power amp tuner.

You also have to pay for parts, if you call and book in advance, you can
then at a later date turn up leave your kit, and collect it at the end of
the day.

This is ok if it just need a service and the odd small part, but if it needs
major bits, they might not be able to get kit serviced. Quad like other
companies do not carry a large spares, supply.


Dave xxx

In article ,
Dave xxxxxxxxx wrote:
This is ok if it just need a service and the odd small part, but if it
needs major bits, they might not be able to get kit serviced. Quad like
other companies do not carry a large spares, supply.

At one time they prided themselves in keeping every single part in stock.

I remember repairing a 33 which had been used as part of a mobile disco
and had been dropped and bashed several times. They supplied a new front
panel switch buttons and knobs by return of post - and at reasonable
prices.

--
*Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional *

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

In article , kake
wrote:

"kake" wrote in message
...
I am using Quad 34 & 606 II amplification with a Marantz CD40, Denon
TU260L,
and Epos ES11 speakers. While I am happy with the performance of the
amplification, I am having problems with the volume settings.

SNIP

Since posting my query, I found a copy of the 34 manual on the net, and
it mentions increasing or decreasing the output of the pre-amp; I
suspect that the unit I have has had its output increased. As far as I
know, the 34 I have has never been serviced, and as I am totally useless
with a soldering iron, I think I may return it to Quad for servicing
(and confirmation of the current output), then getting them to adjust it
as necessary - seems like a better way of spending some money!! (£113
for a cable!!!!).

Not going to comment on the cable... ;-

OK. If you are not confident with a soldering iron and suspect the output
level has been altered, then sending it back to Quad may well be best.

Above said, my understanding is that, by default, 34's were sold with their
(internal) output attenuator set to be what Quad felt is suitable for their
own poweramps (0.5V standard). If your 34 is to this, I am not certain they
would alter it to give a *lower* output. Might be worth your while phoning
them before sending the 34 back and discussing the situation with them,
describing the symptoms of your problem.

It is possible to buy in-line attenuators which you can simply plug in as
extensions to your cables. However I can't suggest one as I can't find an
example in the data I have to hand. These may do the trick for you, though,
and should only cost a few pounds.

BTW, Is the current Quad service department as good as it was reputed to
be under Walker ownership?

Can't comment on that. I sent a 67 back for a service a couple of year ago,
and that was done promptly and effectively. However they may have changed
since for all I know. In one way they are *not* as good as they used to in
that they no longer are happy to send out copies of the service manual to
users. Big change from the old days when Quad user manuals always came with
the circuit diagrams! Then, any Quad user was assumed to either be
technically literate, or would find such info interesting/comforting. Now
they assume users should not be 'trusted' with such info.

Also, on average (if there is such a thing), how often should
electronics require servicing?

I would say there isn't really an average. Depends too much on what unit,
how it was built, and how it has been used. For an amplifier like a 34 I'd
expect it to work cheerfully for decades unless it develops a specific
fault or is dropped on its head. Hence if your 34 sounds fine, it is
doubtful it would need a 'check up'. Some components do slowly degrade with
time, but one of the main culprits in the past has been mechanical
switches, and the 34 avoids that problem to a large extent by using
'electronic' signal switching.

FWIW I have two 34's. One being an early 'DIN socketed' version. I've
modified them in various ways, but the original components all seem OK to
me, and I'd suspect this is fairly typical for the 34.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond with such detailed
suggestions - very much appreciated.

Happy to be of some help. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html

"kake" wrote in message
...

"kake" wrote in message
...
I am using Quad 34 & 606 II amplification with a Marantz CD40, Denon
TU260L,
and Epos ES11 speakers. While I am happy with the performance of the
amplification, I am having problems with the volume settings.

SNIP

Since posting my query, I found a copy of the 34 manual on the net,
and it
mentions increasing or decreasing the output of the pre-amp; I
suspect that
the unit I have has had its output increased.

You should be able to check this by taking the sleeve off the pre-amp
and checking the values of the R118, R121, R119 and R122 resistors
against the colour codes

http://xtronics.com/kits/rcode.htm

If you post the values on-line somebody will be able to tell you if it
has been tweaked or you could ask Quad directly.

Their email address is on the service page
http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/service.htm

They're very helpful but don't expect an instant response.


As far as I know, the 34 I
have has never been serviced, and as I am totally useless with a
soldering
iron, I think I may return it to Quad for servicing (and confirmation
of the
current output), then getting them to adjust it as necessary - seems
like a
better way of spending some money!! (£113 for a cable!!!!).

Definitely a more sensible spend.


BTW, Is the current Quad service department as good as it was reputed
to be
under Walker ownership?

It is, if my experience over the last few years is anything to go by.


Also, on average (if there is such a thing), how often should
electronics
require servicing?

I only get my Quad kit serviced/repaired when something stops working.


--
RobH
The future's dim, the future's mono.

In message , kake
writes

"kake" wrote in message
...
I am using Quad 34 & 606 II amplification with a Marantz CD40, Denon
TU260L,
and Epos ES11 speakers. While I am happy with the performance of the
amplification, I am having problems with the volume settings.

SNIP

Since posting my query, I found a copy of the 34 manual on the net, and it
mentions increasing or decreasing the output of the pre-amp; I suspect that
the unit I have has had its output increased. As far as I know, the 34 I
have has never been serviced, and as I am totally useless with a soldering
iron, I think I may return it to Quad for servicing (and confirmation of the
current output), then getting them to adjust it as necessary - seems like a
better way of spending some money!! (£113 for a cable!!!!).

BTW, Is the current Quad service department as good as it was reputed to be
under Walker ownership?

Also, on average (if there is such a thing), how often should electronics
require servicing?

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond with such detailed
suggestions - very much appreciated.



I have made up a couple of 12dB attenuators to go between my CD67 and
Quad 34. (Actually it could do with another 6dB loss).

Have you got a turntable? If so, try the phono input and empirically
build the attenuator to give the same volume setting at the same control
knob position on the CD setting.

The problem is likely to be at the input. The Quad output should be OK
for your power-amp. (The old DIN input 34s and 44s had very sensitive
tuner and aux inputs. I think the later phono ones with a 'CD' input
had a bit less gain.
--
Chris Morriss

"kak wrote in
I am using Quad 34 & 606 II amplification with a Marantz CD40, Denon
TU260L,
and Epos ES11 speakers. While I am happy with the performance of the
amplification, I am having problems with the volume settings. Most of my
listening is done with the volume control set at 1 or 2, and with some
newer
recordings, which seem to be recorded at ever higher levels, 1 is too
loud.

The CD input is the standard 300mV version - Assuming I could find one,
would it be worth getting the 500mV option? Or should I use in-line
attenuators or attenuated interconnects between CD player and pre-amp, and
if so, where can I get such items? Is it preferable to use attenuation
between source and pre rather then pre and power?

Any other suggestions?

TIA.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

I have a couple of Quad 34's I had the output increased on one so I could
use it with Quad II amps, this was done by decreasing the value of resistors
R118 & R121 and increasing R119 & R122


To reduce output Connect additional resistors in paralle with resistors R119
& R122

470 ohm for 9db .18v
180 15db .09v
100 20db .05v


outputs
1.6v 1.1v 0.775v
R118/R121 shorted 1k 1.5k
R119/R122 3.3k 2.2k 1.5k




I have copies of most service manuals, of Quad kit in psf format, have not
looked but I think it would have a lot more information


regards

Dave xxxx