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Replacements for Quad 989's ??

I am looking for a replacement speaker for my pair of Quad 989’s. I love the Quads, but miss the bottom end. The lower freq of the Quads is very true, but lacks impact. Most types of music, of all forms do contain a fair amount of bottom end content. Certainty live music does. But here is the problem. I hate to give up the open nature of the Quads, their soundstage, depth, and accuracy.

Adding subs to Quads is hit and miss. I am aware of some other panel speakers that may have a better bottom end, but the price is a tad out of my range.

My Specs.

The room is 21 x 23, with a 9 foot ceiling that slopes up to 16 feet. The back wall of the 23 foot ( 16 foot high part ), is open for 16 of the 23 feet. The Quads are on the front 23 foot wall, well spaced off the walls and sides. Listening is not really near field, but the Quads are about 12 – 13 feet away from the listening position.

What make ?? model ?? of speaker will give me close to the Quads best features, but give me some increased bottom end, with out a one KW amp.

Current electronics are:

Bryston 2b-sst amp
Bryston 26 preamp, with MC and MM
Cary 303/300 CD
VPI TT
Kimber IC and Spk cables

The Bryston 2b-sst is a good match for the Quads, but may have to go.

Now the bad part. I’d like to keep the speakers under 12 grand new or used.

Any suggestion’s ??

Thanks in advance
128x128gammastrep
jafox
1,348 posts
 
The reason I mentioned the A3 and not the M1/A1 was because Gammastrep mentioned he wanted this under $12k. And it was mentioned that the 989's are doing mighty fine in the listeners room other than a lack of low-end control. The M1/A1 speakers do come up at this price and lower from time to time, but this would require an equal investment in electronics to achieve their capability. Without this, it makes no sense to consider the speaker.

As a long time Maggie owner, I loved these speakers. But anybody using Bryston electronics with these has no idea the capability that can be had.

To choose a speaker to resolve the reported problem, it will like be necessary to find an appropriate amp at the same time. To simply buy a different speaker and expect much benefit will likely result in further dissatisfaction.
ggavetti
141 posts
 
I just bought a pair of Gradient woofers (the SW63) for my ESL 57, and the combination is just stunning. The SW 63 go down to mid 20 Hz, and then we all know the uniqueness of the 57 midrange...not a bad combination at all. I think this combination is hard to beat at any price point.
ras422
182 posts
 
consider a pair of jl audio fathom 113 subs -read the review in stereophile that I believe were with quads--their web site has all the reviews---have them with my stats and are the best subs I have ever owned --? feel free to email me --rich
gammastrep's avatar
gammastrep OP
4 posts
 
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply, maybe some more will as well, and several have replied directly to me.

The larger panel speakers might do the job, and I love the big Maggie 20.1, but they just suck most amps dry. I have demo’ed them with a quite large high end amp, and they still needed more, and the store even had a sub on the system, and yes of coarse I know the little Bryston will not do the job, wouldn’t even try.

Subs are a nice way to go, but by the time you buy one or two good subs, and maybe a quality sub crossover your maybe back into the range of a very good in-closed speaker. That was the direction I was maybe thinking of going.

Always lots of trade off’s, and there are always good and bad with any type of technology.

I live in the Charlotte NC area, and we are in an audio waste land. No decent stores in this area. So selecting a new speaker will me some travel for me to listen to any possible purchase, but that’s nothing new to me.

Keep the thoughts coming in. I appreciate them.

Thanks
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
If you don't go the subwoofer route, I would recommend the the Merlin VSMs which are the most coherent dynamic driver speakers I have heard short of an electrostatic. What I like about Quads is their transparency and coherence, and I think the Merlins would give you that with a bit more bass impact and dynamics. The Merlins are a very different type of speaker but they have a lot in common with what makes the Quads great.
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