BA A200s + Quadraflex 115W Passive Sub + JBL L100S=?

[RandyMarz]

Hi all, and thank you for all of the great info you've provided in the various posts.

I have come into ownership of the above setup and have no idea what receiver, amplifier, or what was used to make this all happen. Unfortunately, the subs in the a200s will need to be repaired to get in working order, but otherwise everything else seems fairly intact. The Quadraflex reference 115W Sub also looks like it needs some love.

I have read many exciting comments about how great the BA A200s are and am super excited.

I've had a few people look at the Quadraflex sub and they can't quite understand why single enclosed Passive 15 inch sub has a left and right signal inputs and outputs. Or, the fact that it is not powered.

Any idea why and what should I do to make these all work together?

Any help will be truly appreciated. Wish me luck on this project!

 

[MaxP]

Do you need the sub? I ask only because my BA 200s aren’t lacking in the bass department in the least.

 

[Nightwisher]

The Quadraflex sub is passive and meant to run off of any receiver/amplifier. The catch is that it was probably designed to work in combination with a specific set of Quadraflex satellite/bookshelf speakers. You can use it separately with a separate amp and crossover, but the A200s (once refoamed) nor the L100s really need a sub.

 

[RandyMarz]

Do you need the sub? I ask only because my BA 200s aren’t lacking in the bass department in the least.

Hi Max, I'll let you know. I'd like to get them all running and go from there. Any suggestions on a how much power they'll all need?

 

[MaxP]

Hi Max, I'll let you know. I'd like to get them all running and go from there. Any suggestions on a how much power they'll all need?

I've powered mine with amps pushing 45 up to 125 WPC and the speakers have been happy. They don't seem to be very fussy. Right now I am powering them with a Sansui 9090DB.

 

[RandyMarz]

The Quadraflex sub is passive and meant to run off of any receiver/amplifier. The catch is that it was probably designed to work in combination with a specific set of Quadraflex satellite/bookshelf speakers. You can use it separately with a separate amp and crossover, but the A200s (once refoamed) nor the L100s really need a sub.

I agree with you, Nightwisher, it probably did have a specific set. I have searched everywhere to even try to locate the specs with no success. I didn't even realize they made 15'' subs in the pre 1985 haha.
Do you have any recos on the amp and crossover?
I couldn't believe my uncle's setup. He had the A200s in front, the quad sub, and the jbl L100s as rears.

Unfortunately, while cleaning up the house (he passed years ago, and my aunt passed on last month) I couldn't locate what was the source of power linked to all of them.
I do want to try to get it up and running with his setup just to see what he might have been thinking.
But I also agree too, it's probably overkill. and that the A200's and L100s probably would be good fronts on their own.

Now if I can just figure out what to power these badboys

 

[spicer]

The Quadraflex sub is passive and meant to run off of any receiver/amplifier. The catch is that it was probably designed to work in combination with a specific set of Quadraflex satellite/bookshelf speakers. You can use it separately with a separate amp and crossover, but the A200s (once refoamed) nor the L100s really need a sub.

It was designed for Quadraflex model 204L satellite speakers... little steel cased metal grill covered speakers that actually sounded quite good... silk dome tweeter and rubber surround four inch woofer. These are Pacific Stereo house brand products from the late 70s, early 80s. I have seen and heard the sub on the sales floor but do not feel I can offer an opinion about it's performance... subs were fairly new at the time and I preferred full sized speakers so never gave them a real listen. JBL had a similar system at the time and I believe it was Pacific Stereo offering a house brand alternative with a greatly improved margin for the store and the sales person.

 

[RandyMarz]

It was designed for Quadraflex model 204L satellite speakers... little steel cased metal grill covered speakers that actually sounded quite good... silk dome tweeter and rubber surround four inch woofer. These are Pacific Stereo house brand products from the late 70s, early 80s. I have seen and heard the sub on the sales floor but do not feel I can offer an opinion about it's performance... subs were fairly new at the time and I preferred full sized speakers so never gave them a real listen. JBL had a similar system at the time and I believe it was Pacific Stereo offering a house brand alternative with a greatly improved margin for the store and the sales person.

Amazing to think they had been paired with such a massive (passive) sub. But maybe that's my lack of knowledge from the time. I'll have to see if I could locate the 204Ls.

 

[spicer]

Amazing to think they had been paired with such a massive (passive) sub. But maybe that's my lack of knowledge from the time. I'll have to see if I could locate the 204Ls.

I forget what I knew about the sub. At the time a powered sub would have been very rare, if they existed at all. It must have a high pass crossover built into it for the satellite speakers, might look into that... replace capacitors as part of getting it up and running. Being a proprietary product the 204Ls might be difficult to locate... also, many of them lost their tweeters by users overpowering them... the tweeters weren't necessarily fragile but not tolerant of an overdriven amp... clipping. I do believe Quadraflex chose a bit of higher end sound over durability with the choice of tweeters, thinking they'd be used with the sub. Salesman sold them as high performance little speakers for the husband's desire to play loud and wife's desire not to have a box in the living room.... the eternal compromise of mutually exclusive interests.

 

[mrswakka]

Hi, yes, I’m reviving another old thread.
I picked up up one of these Quadraflex 115 W Subwoofers. I have no idea how long it sat around unused. The guy I bought it from had never used it. So I knew not to judge it until it loosened up a bit.
Wow, it’s got a beautiful sound! This thing is gigantic and extremely heavy. We put it in the only open spot in the living room. It’s hooked up to a Quadraflex 650FET R. The speakers I’m using it with are a pair of DCM QEDs.
is it Audiophile quality? Nope.
Does it sound good? Nope. It sounds amazing! I have a couple amplified subs, and musically it puts them to shame. The presence it adds is nothing short of amazing. It takes Donald Fagen to a level I never knew existed before…
And for the really GIGANTIC sized cabinet it totally disappears.
I know, I know, it doesn’t have a variable crossover. It doesn’t have a volume control. Just 2 pots to increase or decrease the amount highs from the left or right.
But it sounds simply beautiful. Smooth as silk. I want to try it with every pair of speakers I own. I know Pacific Stereo didn’t make their own equipment, and since there is no documentation any where I have no idea who is responsible for this in the slightest.
All I do know is that if I were ever to see another one, which I know is improbable, I would get it in a heartbeat.