Quad 606 + 44 with Wilson Watt Puppies 5.1, does anyone have any advice on this potential combination. The 606 can pump 200Watts per 8 ohm.

[Ezekiel]

Looking to buy some watt puppy 5.1s, have the Quad 606 + 44 control panel preamp to pair.

Current setup is Linn Keilidh + Majik (or have been testing Quad 606 but think too powerful for these speakers).

Massive upgrade to go straight to Wilson’s but I am a big fan and have potentially got a healthy pair for circa £3000.

Thoughts on any of the above.

My room is 40m2 ish.

Have attached photo of current setup.

 

[Steveh]

Isn't the Quad 606 140wpc into 8ohm?
http://www.hi-fi-insight.com/quad-606-power-amplifier.html

 

[Lurch]

Whilst the 606 will drive the puppies, (but let down by the Pre) if you want an amp that will really drive and grip them and that you'd never need to change, then go for this in the classifieds.
https://hifiwigwam.com/forum/threads/nord-nc500-dm-power-amp.110018/#post-2259968
Don't be fooled by the price, this amp is off the charts for SQ & VFM, 400wpc into 8 Ohm, 700/4 & 550/2.
I have the monobloc version of this amp (same wpc spec) and the monos have ousted my longterm Icon Audio MB845SEs and to my ears resoundly saw of a Krell 250S I've had here on loan.
I would then sell the 606 & 44 and get a much better Pre to far better realise the potential of the puppies and Nord.

 

[Ezekiel]

I have the monobloc version of this amp (same wpc spec) and the monos have ousted my longterm Icon Audio MB845SEs and to my ears resoundly saw of a Krell 250S I've had here on loan.

Isn't the Quad 606 140wpc into 8ohm?
http://www.hi-fi-insight.com/quad-606-power-amplifier.html

think you are correct

 

[Ezekiel]

Whilst the 606 will drive the puppies, (but let down by the Pre) if you want an amp that will really drive and grip them and that you'd never need to change, then go for this in the classifieds.
https://hifiwigwam.com/forum/threads/nord-nc500-dm-power-amp.110018/#post-2259968
Don't be fooled by the price, this amp is off the charts for SQ & VFM, 400wpc into 8 Ohm, 700/4 & 550/2.
I have the monobloc version of this amp (same wpc spec) and the monos have ousted my longterm Icon Audio MB845SEs and to my ears resoundly saw of a Krell 250S I've had here on loan.
I would then sell the 606 & 44 and get a much better Pre to far better realise the potential of the puppies and Nord.

Would the 606 + 44 not be nice?

 

[JANDL100]

If it were me I'd get the Wilson speakers, and just see (hear) how much I enjoy the Quad amp setup.
Don't change everything at once, you won't know where you are and what is influencing the sound.
Do one thing at a time. The 140wpc from the 606 will certainly be OK to get you started.

If you find it too smooth / laidback, then look to change the amps.

 

[tackleberry]

If it were me I'd get the Wilson speakers, and just see (hear) how much I enjoy the Quad amp setup.
Don't change everything at once, you won't know where you are and what is influencing the sound.
Do one thing at a time. The 140wpc from the 606 will certainly be OK to get you started.

If you find it too smooth / laidback, then look to change the amps.

+1

 

[rabski]

If it were me I'd get the Wilson speakers, and just see (hear) how much I enjoy the Quad amp setup.
Don't change everything at once, you won't know where you are and what is influencing the sound.
Do one thing at a time. The 140wpc from the 606 will certainly be OK to get you started.

If you find it too smooth / laidback, then look to change the amps.

This is sensible. Try to never change more than one thing at a time, or you can end up in a really costly mess very quickly.

If you're happy with the speakers, I'd then look at either a suitable integrated or changing the pre. The 606 isn't a bad beast by a long way, but the 44 can give a Dodo a run for its money in the lifeless stakes.

 

[Lurch]

Would the 606 + 44 not be nice?

No.
Well the 606 is good but the 44 is abismal so would drag the 606 down to its totally uninspiring level.
If keeping the 44 then you might as well spend a tenner on charity shop speakers rather than £3k on 5.1s, as the resultant sound wouldn't be dissimilar.

 

[Steveh]

If you are going hi-end with the Wilson Watt Puppies, you will need a high-end power amp to drive them. I suggest a Chord power amplifier, but then I would say that wouldn't I?

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

Are the upgrades available for the 44 any good?

Alternatively, if all the sources are line level, what about a passive pre? Won't be nothing in the signal path to degrade it, then.

 

[Jazid]

Listen to what Jerry and Richard have to say. The speakers are fantastic, the power amp plenty adequate for it. The pre looks good but, in my experience, it would make cold spaghetti sound exciting. Do you absolutely need a pre?

 

[JANDL100]

Ezekiel, if you're in the UK I'd be happy to loan you a very decent remote controlled passive preamp which would give you a comparison with the Quad 44 (which I agree with most folks here would very probably be the weakest link in your system).

Just send me a PM with your name and address if you go ahead and buy the Wilsons.

The passive pre is very transparent (which the Quad 44 isn't) with just a touch of 'zing' at high frequencies which would probably help liven up the Quad 606 a bit, which is no bad thing imo.

 

[thewestfield]

Ezekiel, if you're in the UK I'd be happy to loan you a very decent remote controlled passive preamp which would give you a comparison with the Quad 44 (which I agree with most folks here would very probably be the weakest link in your system).

Just send me a PM with your name and address if you go ahead and buy the Wilsons.

The passive pre is very transparent (which the Quad 44 isn't) with just a touch of 'zing' at high frequencies which would probably help liven up the Quad 606 a bit, which is no bad thing imo.

I replaced my Quad 34, which had been recapped, with an NVA passive pre - the difference in clarity was staggering. If you dont need the gain and have a chance to demo a passive my advice would be to give it a go.

 

[DomT]

Would the 606 + 44 not be nice?

Only you can be the judge of that. But generally speaking ‘better’ speakers need ‘better’ amps.

I used to own some ATC SCM11 and they are a very good speaker but shine even more the better the amplifier gets. At the time of ownership (have just sold them to a wammer) I had at home a Quad Artera Power amp (a better version of the 909 that I also own), an Audio Research D130 and Accuphase E380 (power amp section). Each amp was very different. The Quad was the least transparent and a warm bath of sound. This *could* be just what you need. Indeed I use my 909 in a second system with Harbeth P3ESR because that is what I want sometimes. So it just depends.

However I agree with others that the Quad preamp is a weak point. I owned a 33 and a CDP99 used as a preamp and both really let the side down.

Some of us on here recommend starting with the speakers and then work backwards. The speakers are considered great so why not give it a go but bear in mind that you should at least budget at least for a preamp of some sort.

 

[DomT]

Also agree that a passive preamp could be a good idea and as a kind wammer is offering to loan one it’s daft not to. I have a not for sale Croft OBH-22 and it’s very transparent and musical sounding. I use it with my 909. They don’t come up for sale very often but they are normally less than £200.

 

[bencat]

If you are really sold on the Wilson speakers then go for them and as has been said then sit on your hands and put them in your system . Give yourself a little time and listen for a reasonable period like two weeks . After that time if you are happy then relax and carry on . If you feel things are not quite right try and identify what the problem areas are , treble , bass , mid , soundstage , no life?

Once you know what you want to improve then I would take up @JANDL100 ,s very kind offer and try a passive . If this really makes things improve which I suspect it will as the Quad is a decent power amplifier and does work with passives well then you know at least were the problem lies. After that only you can decide if you then need to get the best passive you can for your budget (Khozomo , Music First , Townsend) or if you need to look for a decent active pre . Once you are at this point ask again for some suggestions . In my view the ideal would be to beg and borrow some examples to listen to in your system and gauge how you feel they make a difference .

The big thing is to relax and take your time and change if you can just one thing at a time (this do as I say not as I do advice as I changed lots of things but got lucky and it worked) doing it that way makes things much clearer for you as to what you find good and what you want to improve . Without knowing that and being clear what you ant to get better it is very hard not to just make things sound different but possibly not better.

 

[Ezekiel]

thank you all for your very useful info.

I now own the Puppies, I agree, the Quad is not doing them justice but nevertheless they sound rather spectacular. I suspect I am only using around 20% of their potential.

I am browsing monoblock setups and researching passive preamps, any further thoughts would be much appreciated.

I love hifi.

 

[thewestfield]

My thoughts. Listen to your current setup for a bit and then take @JANDL100 up on kind offer of a loan of a passive pre, given general consensus that the Quad pre could be bettered.

 

[Ezekiel]

funny thing is, just spent 3 hours listening and am increasingly loving it but part of that is just the fact that these things are incomparable to previous. Everything sounds so outrageously good and I know this is hardly touching the surface.