Quad 606

S. Basu · Sep 21, 2016

Hiiii Friends,

I am Soumyajit from India. Yesterday I bought a Quad Power Amplifier 606 MK I from other state of India. After received the said amp I connected with power suddenly i notice that a humming sound appear from the amp and amp little vibrate. I checked various site regarding this amp some of people given information that Quad 606 have this issue from the begining and it has the manufacturing defect of earlier series. My question is it true? If yes then I think It's not hurm for my Focal 706 speaker. But my friend have a same amp, he has not facing this experience. Please advice me it's a really big problem or i can easily ignore this issue.

Further, many people advice to upgrade to this amp as MK II. Should i go for upgrade. If i do it can i get remarkable better preformance from earlier version.

Please suggest me.

Your suggestion regarding this matter is valuable to me.

Al ears · Sep 21, 2016

S. Basu said:
Hiiii Friends,

I am using Focal Chorus 706s with amp of NAD 326BEE CD player Marantz CD 5005 DAC Maverick Tube Magic. Recently I have sold my amplifier and planing to upgrade sound with higher quality amplifier. Recently i have offered some highgrade used amplifier with my budget listed below;

1. Naim Nait 5i.

2. Exposure 2010 (Power amp)

3. Arcam FMJ 19

4. Denon 1510 AE

5. NAD 356 BEE.

But i have no option to audition of the abovemention amplifier. So request you to if u have any experience what will be the best matching amplifier for my set up, please share me. According to your experience i can go ahed with upgradation.

Thanks S. Basu

Hi,

Not too sure what the Exposure power amp is doing on the list.

I think thhat if you liked the presentation of your last NAD then you only have one choice out of those on your list. I would be interested to know what you found lacking with the 326BEE.

The Naim Nait 5i is good but if you cannot audition I would disregard it as it's presentation is somewhat different to any NAD.

The Arcam and Denon are pretty much 'middle of the road average', neither of which would be tricky to introduce to your current set-up.

If you can also get a matching Exposure pre-amp, I would go with that as a good upgrade. Most of the others are a sort of sideways move in my opinion.

Personally I'd buy the Naim if it is available for a very good price because, although presentation is not to everyone's taste, it should suit your sysyem well and, if you don't get on with it, you should be able to sell it on easily enough and get your money back. Only if you can get it cheap mind you.

rainsoothe · Sep 21, 2016

Hi. The Chorus range from Focal can be bright if partnered wrong, so that leaves the Nait 5i out (imo), which is a pretty bright one. Arcam A19 is a very good match for them, and would be my prefered choice, besides the obvious Nad 356 (if you like the Nad sound).

Personally, though, I'd try to get an audition, even if it means a 2 hour drive. And also, I'd wait for the new Nads to come out, since the middle of their new range (C368) seems VERY attractive - it has digital inputs, mm phono input, wireless streaming, and can be equipped with a Bluesound powered streaming module. Check this page: http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/C-368-Hybrid-Digital-DAC-Amplifier

With this, you can do a lot of cleanup in your system - sell the Maverick Audio, and replace the Marantz CD player and use a cheap CD transport with digital out into the Nad's DAC (something like a Sony blu-ray player) if you're still using CDs.

matthewpiano · Sep 21, 2016

Arcam and Focal pair together very well and so this would be my inclination. The A19 won't be a dramatic day and night difference from your NAD C326BEE, but you will find it a cleaner, more refined sound and it may be a worthwhile change to your ears. If you can find a higher Arcam model such as a second hand A85 or A38 you will hear a more dramatic change.

If you can find any way at all to audition before parting with your hard-earned money, I would strongly recommend it.

Blackdawn · Sep 21, 2016

I don't expect many here would agree with me but i would look at the upgrade money in a different way. Although the NAD 326BEE is a budget amp in reality it is quite powerful so i would be tempted to maybe upgrade the speakers to begin with and then look for an amp to drive your favourite pair. For example, for a similar price to the amps you mention you could instead upgrade the speakers to the Aria range 906.

S. Basu · Sep 22, 2016

Thnaks for your rply and suggestion. Your question was why i selling my NAD 326BEE amp. To be very frankly this perticular model have solid power and sound but some what i missing detaling of sound and lack of music. So i decided sold my amp. After that i take a Power amp Quad 606 from my friend it is marvelus exellent detail, low and mid is outstanding high is little bit lack. But overall is amezing.

Unfortunately Quad 606 is not available in India so i have decided to take other amp. If u have any suggestion regarding good amp please let me know.

Thanks.

S. Basu · Sep 22, 2016

Thanks for your suggestion. NAD sound is solid back somewhat i feel that my perticular model have lack of detail of some perticular songs. So I want to change this amp.

Blackdawn · Sep 22, 2016

If you have already sold the amp then the Arcam range would be good with the Focals even if you decide to upgrade the speakers to the Aria range. I still think changes to speaker have a bigger diff. than amp, imo.

S. Basu · Sep 24, 2016