The Quad 9AS thread

[James7]

The 11L weren't and aren't 'bloody awful'. They need great care with partnering but, get it right, and they can be wonderful - entertaining as well as 'technically competent'. What they don't do, which many affordable speakers do, is over-emphasise the bass and extreme treble to make things sound artificially more exciting. Too many people (including me at times) partnered them with inadequate amplification that just couldn't do them justice.

I would imagine these new actives will take the same road but without he matching issues between amp and speaker.

Agreed. And I think it worth adding that often the solution to finding the right amplification was to stick with Quad - the 909 power and 99 integrated, for example, both seemed to have been designed specifically with the L series in mind, or more likely the other way round. I never heard the 11L or 12L Actives but I would have thought that assuming the built in amps were derived from the 99 series, they should have been a very effective solution. The 9AS I would have thought well worth auditioning, in other words, given the pedigree, and I hope they might be followed by a new 11L and 12L Active -preferably I think with ergonomics closer to the old Quad look rather than this latest product, though I am bemused by the 'ugly' comments - I can well imagine the ruby version looking more than presentable in the flesh.

 

[JamesMellor]

They look a lot less offensive with the grilles on. And when in situ doubt the funny looking grooved sides won't really be an issue.

Agreed on both counts:

I think they look a little odd sitting on...something...but where I would put them if I were to (above the TV on a bookshelf flanked by, well, books) I think they'd be OK, the heatsinks wouldn't be visible.

I think they look alright, especially in black. If you put them on a desk either side of a computer screen the amplifier base wouldn't look out of place either.

Are they that small ? , can't find the size online , that you can use them on a desk with a PC , my PC room is 6x9 feet aka as a box room , just thinking

James

 

[chebby]

Are they that small ? , can't find the size online...

302 x 152 x 215 (mm)

 

[jcbrum]

I think they have 4" woofers, which is very small.

JC

 

[JamesMellor]

Not tiny then , the room is tiny , it would be really close listening , trying to re use some old speakers but not thinking that will be happening any amp is going to cost 500.600 quid and they are rear ported so space becomes an issue , if not these then what ? I can also go amp plus speakers , lets say 400 to 600 quid

Any ideas ?

James

 

[jcbrum]

Not tiny then , the room is tiny , it would be really close listening // if not these then what ? I can also go amp plus speakers , lets say 400 to 600 quid

Any ideas ?

James

AVI DM5 actives are about an inch and a half smaller, and have 5 inch drivers rather than 4 inch ones. They cost £699 irrc.

JC

 

[altruistic.lemon]

But they lack the dac, inputs, and class AB amps. Try the Nubert Nupro series, they've the lot and DSP - www.nubert.de .

See you guys later, off to the Airport now!

 

[jcbrum]

Hmmm, the Nuberts are not really in the same quality range though. They cost around £165, and seem to be mostly used by computer gamers.

JC

(Price from Amazon.de)

 

[andyjm]

They look a lot less offensive with the grilles on. And when in situ doubt the funny looking grooved sides won't really be an issue.

Agreed on both counts:

I think they look a little odd sitting on...something...but where I would put them if I were to (above the TV on a bookshelf flanked by, well, books) I think they'd be OK, the heatsinks wouldn't be visible.

I think they look alright, especially in black. If you put them on a desk either side of a computer screen the amplifier base wouldn't look out of place either.

While working at the research and designs group of a well known broadcaster 30 years ago, our standard lab 'monitoring loudspeaker' was a Rogers LS3/5a mounted on top of a Quad amp. The mounting consisted of a relatively crude angle iron frame that held the speaker and amp together. The overall appearence was very similar to the 9AS (absent the angle iron).

We had a number of these kicking around, and to be honest never gave them a second thought. I recall using one as a bookend to stop a stack of manuals from sliding off the end of the desk.

 

[davedotco]

They look a lot less offensive with the grilles on. And when in situ doubt the funny looking grooved sides won't really be an issue.

Agreed on both counts:

I think they look a little odd sitting on...something...but where I would put them if I were to (above the TV on a bookshelf flanked by, well, books) I think they'd be OK, the heatsinks wouldn't be visible.

I think they look alright, especially in black. If you put them on a desk either side of a computer screen the amplifier base wouldn't look out of place either.

While working at the research and designs group of a well known broadcaster 30 years ago, our standard lab 'monitoring loudspeaker' was a Rogers LS3/5a mounted on top of a Quad amp. The mounting consisted of a relatively crude angle iron frame that held the speaker and amp together. The overall appearence was very similar to the 9AS (absent the angle iron).

We had a number of these kicking around, and to be honest never gave them a second thought. I recall using one as a bookend to stop a stack of manuals from sliding off the end of the desk.

Quite normal.

I recall one of the last times I was in Abbey Road, they had been sent the latest Studer multitrack to try, they didn't like it much and it was mostly brought into use holding the door open.

A £20k + doorstop....... :doh:

 

[davedotco]

Hmmm, the Nuberts are not really in the same quality range though. They cost around £165, and seem to be mostly used by computer gamers.

JC

(Price from Amazon.de)

The Nubert A-100 is the smallest model in the new range, aimed primarily for music use, full function digital preamp with remote, 5 inch bass driver and 2 x 60 watt amplifiers.

They cost €285 each, so a little over £500 shipped to the UK.

Details here.

 

[jcbrum]

It seems to me that Nubert have produced a revised model, with a different DAC chip, and aimed it at the 'Audiophile HiFi' market, rather than the computer gamer.

I suspect that the consequent manufacturers published price hike reflects the much greater dealer and distribution markups which are prevalent in the HiFi business compared to the computer and gamer arena.

JC

 

[davedotco]

It seems to me that Nubert have produced a revised model, with a different DAC chip, and aimed it at the 'Audiophile HiFi' market, rather than the computer gamer.

I suspect that the consequent manufacturers published price hike reflects the much greater dealer and distribution markups which are prevalent in the HiFi business compared to the computer and gamer arena.

JC

The A-100 series is a big step up from the older A-10 series in terms of performance (according to Nubert) and funtionality, including a full remote control digital/analogue pre-amp with display for the first time. The price has risen from €199 to €285 per speaker for the entry level models.

The speakers are only available direct online or from their own store, they have 2 I believe. There are no distributer or dealer markups as they have no distributers or dealers.

The A-200 model offers comparable functionality to the ADM9, a 6 inch driver in a similarly sized box but adds a display and some limited DSP. At a price that is around a half of the ADMs I would expect cheaper drive units, amplifiers etc and a more modest level of performance.

That said, the A-200 and the smaller less expensive A-100 offer a very interesting package.

 

[EvPa]

The price has risen from €199 to €285 per speaker for the entry level models.

The A-10 price was actually 235€ per speaker (so 50€ less than the new A-100), the current 199€ is their stock clearance price.

On an unrelated but still active note, my ADAM ARTist 6s have arrived, I saw them this morning at the central parcel post office but will have to wait until Friday to get them (they are closed tomorrow and January 1st/2nd are public holidays)...

At least I came back home with my ADAM Sub7.

 

[davedotco]

The price has risen from €199 to €285 per speaker for the entry level models.

The A-10 price was actually 235€ per speaker (so 50€ less than the new A-100), the current 199€ is their stock clearance price.

On an unrelated but still active note, my ADAM ARTist 6s have arrived, I saw them this morning at the central parcel post office but will have to wait until Friday to get them (they are closed tomorrow and January 1st/2nd are public holidays)...

At least I came back home with my ADAM Sub7.

Quite correct, I miss-read the pricing...... :doh:

Regarding your Artist 6s, have you considered burglary.......?

Do let us know how you get on when they arrive...... :rockout:

 

[richardw42]

Are they available to listen to ?

Has anybody heard them ?

id be reluctant to book a demo, as I'd have no real intention to buy.

 

[byakuya83]

Chubby, have you heard them yet? They look a great option to put either side of the TV.

 

[stevepg1975]

Hi, I tried the other week actually, but my local dealer ordered them a while back but are still waiting. I was also in contact with quad directly with questions about the 9AS, whilst in contact I asked when they would be available and was told they havent been able to supply as yet, as they haven’t received deliveries from their factory. This is related to the fact that they have recently built a new factory which has caused some delays.

 

[NHL]

So, noone have actually heard them yet?

oke:

 

[Richard Allen]

Tell you what they *should* do, and that's put the preamp/crossover into a separate, one-plug box, and have the crossover-less speakers connected to it with bi-wire cable...

JD. Been thinking about this a lot.

Are you saying that all of the 'gubbins' in each loudspeaker should be put into 1 box, that is to say the DAC, USB, Coax and Toslink, 4 power amps and 2 crossovers ( left and right obviously ) and that box be connected to both of the loudspeakers by 4 core umbilical cables?.

Have I got this right because if I have then surely that defeats the object of the active concept. That is to say one box less ( amplifier ) but you seem to be suggesting another box albeit a dedicated stereo active power amp array. Have I got you right or have I misinterpreted what you mean??.

 

[John Duncan]

That's exactly what I mean, yes. It would mean that you could centralise the electrical bit (possibly out of the way) and only have to have thin speaker wire to feed to the speakers instead of (electrical) plugs and coax.

It would also mean that speaker manufacturers would have the opportunity to offer crossover-less versions of their speakers.

 

[Richard Allen]

It would also mean that speaker manufacturers would have the opportunity to offer crossover-less versions of their speakers.

Hmmm. Don't think OEMs would appreciate that John but what I will say is watch this space, ok??? :shhh:

 

[John Duncan]

Why not?

 

[Richard Allen]

Why not?

There is a school of thought that especially from the dealers point of view, you are denying the customer their choice of power amp. This is one of the reasons that, up till now, has stopped me going down the active route but, as I said. Hmmmm. :silenced:

 

[Richard Allen]

John.

Done some digging. What you're talking about is already out there. Check out www.audiovector.com. It's all there.