Qed amp

[Jelly Tussle]

Yesterday a mate of mine got his old QED amp and B&W speakers out of the loft after they had lived up there for many years.

We firstly tried the B&W's out on the end of his rather nasty Technics mini system and they are a clear improvement on the systems own speakers. There is no model number that I could see on the speaker other than the letters 'B&W DM' near the single set of speaker terminals.

When I went to hook up the amp; I noticed that the the two line inputs (Tape and Tuner) were DIN inputs and so I rummaged through my box of leads and found the required the DIN > Phono adaptors. There is a third input 'DISC' which is presumably the phono input?

After powering the amp up and trying to play some music through it there are four problems:

1) Left hand channel is dead

2) Right hand channel is very noisy

3) Volume pot is noisy

4) I tried the source (CD) through both TAPE and Tuner inputs to see if the noise was an input problem. The gain through the Tuner input was much higher than through TAPE (not sure if that is a problem though...) but the TUNER input cannot be deselected - the source still plays when the input selecor button is out. The input lead has to be pulled out of the input socket to stop play!

So my questions are:

1) The amp was bought in the mid 80's and there is no visible model number on it. I've looked on Hi-Fi Engine and it only shows the QED A 230 which looks similar but is not the same. The QED A 230 has a CD input which my friends amp lacks; so his amp must pre date the A 230. Does anyone know which amp he has? Sorry; I don't have a photo of the amp :doh:

2) If I can identify the the amp; is there a source of technical info for it? I can't see anything on Hi-Fi Engine.

3) Is it worth fixing or is it a dustbin job? My mate won't spend a lot of money to resurrect the amp.

4) Is there anyone who could fix it? If yes; who?

Note: I took the lid off for a quick look and couldn't see anything obviously faulty (leaky Caps etc) and the input selector mechanically looks ok. I could only get to see the top of the PCB though; not the underside.

Any thoughts or opinions as to what my mate should do are appreciated. :^

 

[russ abbott - royds broth]

- - - Updated - - -

Had one years and it is a good little amp.

Around the same time as the A&R A 60.

Guessing the pre 1983 one had no cd whereas post 83 did.

- - - Updated - - -

Getting it fixed may cost a bit more than amp is worth.

 

[Jelly Tussle]

Yes; that looks like the one - although my mates one does not have a wooden sleeve and the lettering is black and not green. :^

Getting it fixed may cost a bit more than amp is worth.

I think you may be right.

 

[jon]

Maybe one to pass on if you know a friend who enjoys fixing these things, or have a local charity/non-profit who fix and sell electricals? If you're paying for labour, these things often cost more to fix than replace So unless your friend's attached to it...

Sure you could find a company who'll fix it - and would likely leave you with a very serviceable amp! - but may not make economic sense.

 

[russ abbott - royds broth]

They used to sell for between £40-£50 so if you can get it fixed for that maybe worth it.

If not buy one off eBay or the A60.

 

[Jelly Tussle]

Jon, Russ thanks for your replies :^

They used to sell for between £40-£50 so if you can get it fixed for that maybe worth it.If not buy one off eBay or the A60.

I think my friend paid £250 for it :shock:

At least he says he paid £400 for the amp and speakers and thinks that £250 went toward the amp and £150 toward the speakers.

I dunno whether he was ripped off or whether he has a different but similar looking amp..... :?

 

[russ abbott - royds broth]

Jon, Russ thanks for your replies :^ I think my friend paid £250 for it :shock:

At least he says he paid £400 for the amp and speakers and thinks that £250 went toward the amp and £150 toward the speakers.

I dunno whether he was ripped off or whether he has a different but similar looking amp..... :?

Should say £40 to £50 off eBay not new.

That was a couple of years ago.

 

[Jelly Tussle]

Should say £40 to £50 off eBay not new.That was a couple of years ago.

Ah; ok! I understand you now :doh:

 

[jon]

Keeping an eye on this (a different model, but similar vintage) might give him an idea of the value of a serviced one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QED-A240SA-Integrated-Amplifier-1980s-Fully-Serviced-/200942742626?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item2ec91eec6

If it goes cheap it could be cheaper than getting current amp serviced (if he likes QED!) though plenty of other options for buying budget-ish amps of course.

 

[Jelly Tussle]

Keeping an eye on this (a different model, but similar vintage) might give him an idea of the value of a serviced one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QED-A240SA-Integrated-Amplifier-1980s-Fully-Serviced-/200942742626?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item2ec91eec6If it goes cheap it could be cheaper than getting current amp serviced (if he likes QED!) though plenty of other options for buying budget-ish amps of course.

Thanks for that link Jon; I've passed it on to my mate for him to mull over. I'm not sure that he's a particular fan of QED; it's just what the Hi-Fi shop suggested to him years ago. He was certainly happy with it when it was in use.

 

[SergeAuckland]

The QED A230 amplifier, followed a little later by the A240 were stalwarts of the budget starter system in the mid '80s. QED did a lovely little rack which held the amp and tuner, with a platform on the top for the turntable, which if I recall correctly, was made for them by Rega. A pair of budget B&W DM100s or 110s, Mordaunt-Short MS10s or MS20s, Mission 70s or KEF Codas and they graced many a student bedroom. Very decent performance for not a lot of money more than the more usual Dual 505/2, NAD3020 + 'speakers starter system but rather better looking domestically.

Worth getting refurbished if this can be done at minimal cost, but as others have said above, not worth spending any real money as working examples are available on eBay for less than the cost of a repair.

S.

 

[Jelly Tussle]

The QED A230 amplifier, followed a little later by the A240 were stalwarts of the budget starter system in the mid '80s. QED did a lovely little rack which held the amp and tuner, with a platform on the top for the turntable, which if I recall correctly, was made for them by Rega. A pair of budget B&W DM100s or 110s, Mordaunt-Short MS10s or MS20s, Mission 70s or KEF Codas and they graced many a student bedroom. Very decent performance for not a lot of money more than the more usual Dual 505/2, NAD3020 + 'speakers starter system but rather better looking domestically.Worth getting refurbished if this can be done at minimal cost, but as others have said above, not worth spending any real money as working examples are available on eBay for less than the cost of a repair.

S.

Hi Serge

Thanks for that.

I'm guessing that my mate has an early version of the A230 as Googling around seems to bring up version with and without a CD input. My friends version lacks the CD input, any visible model number and has no wooden sleeve. The fit and finish is a bit sloppy as well; it looks as if it may have been a very early production model.

I've passed on everybodys advice to him :^

 

[jon]

If looking to replace with a cheap-ish 2nd hand amp and not committed to QED, it's also worth considering pre-HDMI AV amps. You can get what used to be pretty high-end integrateds of a slightly more recent vintage than the QED - with the build quality, specs and finish you'd expect in a high-end product - for around the £100 mark, and mid-range products for well under what a repair would be likely to cost...

 

[SCIDB]

The QED A230 amplifier, followed a little later by the A240 were stalwarts of the budget starter system in the mid '80s. QED did a lovely little rack which held the amp and tuner, with a platform on the top for the turntable, which if I recall correctly, was made for them by Rega. A pair of budget B&W DM100s or 110s, Mordaunt-Short MS10s or MS20s, Mission 70s or KEF Codas and they graced many a student bedroom. Very decent performance for not a lot of money more than the more usual Dual 505/2, NAD3020 + 'speakers starter system but rather better looking domestically.Worth getting refurbished if this can be done at minimal cost, but as others have said above, not worth spending any real money as working examples are available on eBay for less than the cost of a repair.

S.

HI,

I had one of these amps in the 80s. I bought mine in 1984. The A230 came out in 83 or 84. It was QED's effort in the budget amp stakes. Following the success of the NAD 3020, a number of companies hit the market with amps around the £100 to £130 point. The A230 was £99 or £119 with the wood surround.

When it first came out, it had a built in phono stage and had DIN sockets for the line inputs. Around 84, the more powerful A240 came out. It also looked better built. Also the A230 came out with the option of a phonostage or not. This was due to the growing CD market. Later A230 had all phono sockets. This was called the A230S. The build quallity was also better.

A230S

QED A240

SCIDB

 

[Jelly Tussle]

Hi jon; that's a good idea regarding A/V amplifiers - I shall pass it on :^

Hi SCIDB; thanks for the info :^

My friends amp must be an early version of the A 230 as the line inputs are DIN. It resembles your first pic; though it lacks the model number on the front and the CD input and the printing is all black and not yellow/orange.

 

[Beobloke]

...with a platform on the top for the turntable, which if I recall correctly, was made for them by Rega...

Interestingly I recently bought an old New Hi-Fi Sound magazine which had a feature on the then-new QED system (it was supposed to have been a review but none of the components were ready!). As mentioned, Rega had a significant amount of input into the turntable but it was actually assembled at QED's HQ. The arm was made by Helius and there were also some matching speakers as well, but these seem to have faded into historical obscurity. Interestingly, the article shows examples of all the units in their optional white and red finishes but I've never seen any of these!

As everyone else has already said, a very nice little system but not worth spending a huge amount of money on.

 

[Beobloke]

As an update on this, over the weekend, I stumbled upon the very magazine I mentioned above. As suspected, the amp and tuner were designed in-house by QED and they also assembled the turntable, but most bits were made by Rega. The arm was a Helius and the cartridge was a Goldring.

The speakers were called the L234, were built by Castle and were based on the Clydes. The actual design of the speakers, though, was carried out by an independent consultant - a gentleman by the name of Russ Andrews!

 

[Jelly Tussle]

Thanks for that extra info :^

I think my mate has exhausted all possible sources of getting it fixed on the cheap; so it will almost certainly be a new amp.

 

[rcook]

The QED A230 amplifier, followed a little later by the A240 were stalwarts of the budget starter system in the mid '80s. QED did a lovely little rack which held the amp and tuner, with a platform on the top for the turntable, which if I recall correctly, was made for them by Rega. A pair of budget B&W DM100s or 110s, Mordaunt-Short MS10s or MS20s, Mission 70s or KEF Codas and they graced many a student bedroom. Very decent performance for not a lot of money more than the more usual Dual 505/2, NAD3020 + 'speakers starter system but rather better looking domestically.Worth getting refurbished if this can be done at minimal cost, but as others have said above, not worth spending any real money as working examples are available on eBay for less than the cost of a repair.

S.

QED amps were great. I have owned a couple of A240CDs in the old and the new style case. My brother also owned an A240SA (The A240SA had a top quality MM/MC phono stage, as opposed to the 'ok' MM-only one in the A240CD). They also did a properly fantastic pre/power amp combo (I forget the model names, though P270 for the power amp seems to ring bells), my brother had one of these too.