First time running my Quad IIs

[saskataper]

So after about 8 long years of sitting packed away waiting to be restored I finally found someone locally that I could trust to properly restore my Quad IIs.
I get them back tomorrow or Wednesday and am more than just a little excited to hear them sing.
I'm hoping to get some tips from you tube guys as to how to proper run them as I've never had tube gear before. I plan on using my counterpoint SA-1000 hybrid pre with them as from what I know it is superior to the Quad 22 pre and try them with both my Klipsch RF-82s (my home theater speakers) and my Mirage SM-2s.
What do I need to know about break in and warm up for these gems? Is there anything else I should know?


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[Tube Sound]

Congrats on bringing the Quad II's out of storage. I would imagine you'll like them, most do. I love mine. I run a tube tuner with volume control straight into them, as I listen mostly to FM. I don't know your pre or speakers. Low wattage tube gear works well with high efficiency speakers. Are your tubes new or older? This is part of the factor in break-in. My output tubes were new and needed 100+ hours to really open up. When I turn the amps on, I usually wait about 5 min before turning up volume. This is a personal thing, people vary on it. Quads are beautiful lit up and can warm a small room. I keep mine in the coolest part of the house. Enjoy those and post a pic.

TS

 

[saskataper]

Thanks. Yeah I got all new tubes. From what I remember tung-sol for the outputs a mesa rectifier and gold dragon inputs. I think. I forget what was in it before. Not the originals anyway.
I think they should work well with the klipsch as they are rated at 98dB. I'm hunting for an affordable pair of 57s but that might take a while.


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[peterh]

If you have a quad 22-pre , do test it. Chances are that you end up selling the sa-1000

 

[saskataper]

If you have a quad 22-pre , do test it. Chances are that you end up selling the sa-1000

Yeah I plan to. The IIs are staying original with the exception of the binding posts so I'll be able to switch between the counterpoint and the 22 just using adapters for the jones plug to rca.
What's the phono stage on the 22 like? I know the counterpoints is really nice. I do love the look of the 22 and if I run the counterpoint I'll have to use a powerbar or something to turn the IIs on as they have no power switch.


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[peterh]

The phono was ( as i remember ) a clear lift from a braun csv-500, which might not say much, but i used it for a while.
I finally replaced it for a KF-1 from audioprodukter that has it's built-in powersupply.

 

[saskataper]

So I got my Quad IIs back and they sound amazing. I finally understand what the hype about the warm tube sound is all about.
Now how do I make sure I am not overdriving them? I am using my counterpoint SA-1000 pre with a denon 105r into the denon step up as well as a DAC Magic for sources. Speakers are mirage SM-2s (going to try them with my Klipsch RF-82s from my home theater)
At half way on the volume control it's a quite reasonable listening level, I didn't want to go past that yet but I put on Katy Perry to make the wife happy (we have very different musical tastes) then when I wasn't looking she turned it to about 3/4 and it was LOUD and sounded awesome. I promptly turned it back down as the last thing I want to do is cook these beauties. I know they aren't powerhouses by any means only being 15w but I would listen to them turned up once in a while if i knew they could handle it. I'm used to my 405s which at 100w will max out the little mirages long before the amp is maxed.


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[j beede]

"...cook these beauties"

Are you referring to the amps? You are not likely to hurt the amps by playing them loud. You might damage your tweeters or blow out your woofers if the amps were to become unstable due to driving an odd load.

As you know the original ESLs are not at their best playing loud, compressed music. Loud, compressed music is better handled by Magnepan's QR products.

 

[saskataper]

"...cook these beauties"

Are you referring to the amps? You are not likely to hurt the amps by playing them loud. You might damage your tweeters or blow out your woofers if the amps were to become unstable due to driving an odd load.

As you know the original ESLs are not at their best playing loud, compressed music. Loud, compressed music is better handled by Magnepan's QR products.

Thanks that's good to know. Man these run hot but sound pretty sweet.


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[Audiovet]

I have restored a number of Quad IIs and 22s. The design was quite ahead of its time - but you did not ask about that.

Not sure whether this is timeous, but a few caveats. Folks will forever try to "roll" tubes, particularly those without exact knowledge of what they might be doing (no offence meant). Kindly do NOT be tempted to use EL34s (6CA7) as output tubes. They are pentodes in contrast to KT66 being a beam tetrode - there is a difference. The EL34 also draws a higher heater current than KT66; not advisable. Also if genuine KT66s are scarce as they are down here, one may replace with 6L6GCs. Those are within 10% of KT66s, with lower heater current to boot to lower the load on the often hot power transformer. (Russian "KT66"s often have 6L6GC innards - but cost 40% more!)

Regarding the Quad 22, the design is superior. But one caveat I found with every model: Certain styrene capacitors used in the tone controls (6 of them/channel) have for some unknown reason changed their values over the years by up to 80%! This is often the main reason for poor performance (and low reputation) of these control units. Do have your unit checked by someone with the necessary knowledge or ability to ckeck values - or simply replace outright. The cost is low.

Apology for unsolicited advice; hopefully of value.

 

[saskataper]

I have restored a number of Quad IIs and 22s. The design was quite ahead of its time - but you did not ask about that.

Not sure whether this is timeous, but a few caveats. Folks will forever try to "roll" tubes, particularly those without exact knowledge of what they might be doing (no offence meant). Kindly do NOT be tempted to use EL34s (6CA7) as output tubes. They are pentodes in contrast to KT66 being a beam tetrode - there is a difference. The EL34 also draws a higher heater current than KT66; not advisable. Also if genuine KT66s are scarce as they are down here, one may replace with 6L6GCs. Those are within 10% of KT66s, with lower heater current to boot to lower the load on the often hot power transformer. (Russian "KT66"s often have 6L6GC innards - but cost 40% more!)

Regarding the Quad 22, the design is superior. But one caveat I found with every model: Certain styrene capacitors used in the tone controls (6 of them/channel) have for some unknown reason changed their values over the years by up to 80%! This is often the main reason for poor performance (and low reputation) of these control units. Do have your unit checked by someone with the necessary knowledge or ability to ckeck values - or simply replace outright. The cost is low.

Apology for unsolicited advice; hopefully of value.

Thanks for the advice!
The reason they were out of service for so long was that when I got them, for free!, one had had a serious meltdown. Almost half the tar had melted out of the choke and run over and into the amp as well a small amount from the output transformer. Luckily they were still good. I don't want to have a repeat of this failure, the guy who put it back together blamed the PS capacitor.
The output tubes I put in are tung-sol KT-66's so being Russian they could be the 6L6GCs you mentioned.
Im holding off on restoring the 22 as I quite like the counterpoint and I'm not sure I completely trust the guy who fixed the quads.


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