Quad Elite QMP monoblocks - any views?

[wizons]

Does anyone have any views on these new monoblocks? I can't get onto Quad's website at the moment, but a recent review in HiFi World was positive and stated they used Quad's tried and tested current dumping design. The Elite series is not Quad's top 'Platinum' range, but given that the Elite stereo amp is the slightly tweaked replacement for the 909, it seems reasonable to assume these monoblocks could be 909s on steroids. The review found them to sound a touch warm and expansive (Quad's pipe 'n' slipper trademark), which I like and want to preserve, but with the ability to drive Sonus Faber Cremonas properly. They're rated at 260W in to 8 ohms.

 

[kernow]

Not heard them but they look pretty cool. XLR connections!

as an aside the platinum range is fugly.

 

[rich46]

the circuit design hasnt really altered in 30 years ,must be right

 

[vacdac]

Hi Wiz,

Aren't your SF's a 4ohm load?? If so this is the output figure that will be relavant as to how many watts your speaks will actually be seeing from the amp. Even so 260 watts should be plenty & this will likely be a good bit more than this if into a 4ohm load. My own experience of driving inefficient speaks that are a real 4ohm load is that they do respond well to amps that can swing/sustain fairly hefty current output & they're much happier being driven by my XTZ which can sustain over 63amps rather than by my Audiolab which can swing around 40amps. The 909 is a really good amp & although I've seen it described as a high current amp I'd consider it as healthy/decently specced in this respect, rather than being a high current powerhouse. I'd see if you can get some numbers on this for the Elite mono-blocks from Quad & see if you can compare this figure to the 909 in this regard.

It seems plain from your recent foray into trying valve power amps that you'ver discussed in a couple of threads that the SF's need a powerful S/S amp that can control them properly. I know MF's M6 PRX power amp can swing a lot of current, but I'd be certainly opening the door to look at other marques too as there's certainly a choice of contenders that could be considered at that sorta price level. :^

 

[wizons]

Not heard them but they look pretty cool. XLR connections!as an aside the platinum range is fugly.

Agreed about the Platinum range.

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the circuit design hasnt really altered in 30 years ,must be right

Precisely.

 

[wizons]

Hi Wiz,Aren't your SF's a 4ohm load?? If so this is the output figure that will be relavant as to how many watts your speaks will actually be seeing from the amp. Even so 260 watts should be plenty & this will likely be a good bit more than this if into a 4ohm load. My own experience of driving inefficient speaks that are a real 4ohm load is that they do respond well to amps that can swing/sustain fairly hefty current output & they're much happier being driven by my XTZ which can sustain over 63amps rather than by my Audiolab which can swing around 40amps. The 909 is a really good amp & although I've seen it described as a high current amp I'd consider it as healthy/decently specced in this respect, rather than being a high current powerhouse. I'd see if you can get some numbers on this for the Elite mono-blocks from Quad & see if you can compare this figure to the 909 in this regard.

It seems plain from your recent foray into trying valve power amps that you'ver discussed in a couple of threads that the SF's need a powerful S/S amp that can control them properly. I know MF's M6 PRX power amp can swing a lot of current, but I'd be certainly opening the door to look at other marques too as there's certainly a choice of contenders that could be considered at that sorta price level. :^

The HiFi World review reports 324 into 4 ohms. I don't know how fast they swing from 8 to 4 ohms. The damping factor is a high 80 at 40Hz. Of course you never know until you've tried it with such demanding speakers as the SF. I once tried an Electrocompaniet AW250, which moved from 250W into 8 Ohms to about 350W into 4 Ohms, which was enough! I assume the EC is able to deliver high current into more demanding lads than the Quad Elite monoblocks, but the Quads look good enough on paper.

Having experimented with several power amps over the last couple of years, I'm just not convinced that more expensive means better, so the Quads look an interesting bet. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

 

[vacdac]

I'm sure they'll be very good & I do agree that there are always other contenders that are as you suggest more sensibly priced that offer v strong value when considered purely on SQ. :^