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Quad 12L vs Canton GLE 403

RunOutGroove

RunOutGroove

Addicted Member
I have a pair of the Quad 12L speakers in my office (as remotes off of my main system). I like them OK, but I just came across a deal on what seems to be a very good condition pair of Canton GLE 403 speakers and I wonder if I might like these better than my Quads. I wonder if I might like the Cantons a bit better? The Quads are smooth and detailed but seem to lack something as far as dynamics. The Cantons go down a bit lower too and I wouldn’t say no to a bit of extra bass. The Cantons are also a bit more efficient than the Quads I tend to use these speakers pretty low volume so if one sounds better at lower volumes that would be key. What might I be giving up/gaining by going from the Quads to the Cantons? Any speakers I get for this particular spot have to be small bookshelf models and they both fir that bill. I’ll be driving these things with a Marantz 2270…

Should I swap out my speakers here or am I probably doing as well as I can (without spending gobs of cash) with the Quads? I believe that the Quads were more expensive speakers than the Cantons when they were new, though of course that doesn’t necessarily mean much.
 
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No one has heard these Canton GLE 403s? I can imagine that maybe there aren't many who have heard both of these speakers. I have read good things about the Canton brand, though there isn't a lot of info that I was able to find about this model...

I swore off upgrading for a while but the Quads that I use for extension speakers still seem like a bit of a weak link (not terrible, just not quite inspiring). The Cantons are cheap enough that I might just have to buy them. If I like 'em I can almost surely sell them for at least what the Cantons cost.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
The Cantons are most likely 4 ohms, not recommended to drive on the same amplifier as Quad anything.
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Well.... I wouldn't have the Quads in the system as they'd be replaced by the Cantons, if I were to buy them. I have two sets hooked up to the amp and mostly listen to just one or the other, but sometimes listen to them together, but I do have everything routed through a speaker switcher which has a speaker protection switch that I always make sure to have activated when both speakers are playing. Everything that I've read about these things shows a rating of 4-8 ohms, though I'm not sure how to read that. Does that mean 6 ohms because that's in the middle or 4...?

botrytis said:
I think your Marantz is the culprit. Has it been recapped? The Quads are 6 ohm and probably dip to 3-4 ohms at time. The Cantons are 4 ohm and will rip your Marantz apart, even if recapped.

Sorry wrong speakers for your receiver.
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No, I haven't gotten a recap on that thing, but I have had it worked on for some other issues by a pretty well regarded local tech and he said that when he tested the thing that everything was working to spec, which seems to suggest to me that even as old as it is, maybe it doesn't really need anything like major work done.

As for as the ohm rating, see above...

I don't really need these speakers so if they really aren't a great match for what I have, I'm happy to pass on them. That's why this forum is useful - to have folks tell me what not to buy!

I tried the Quads in my main room where I have a bi-wire hookup and they sounded to me far better, which was weird as these small speakers would seem to be a better for the smaller room I originally had them in, but maybe the bi-wire setup is the key? I do remember reading that these speakers are ones that really benefit from the bi-wire treatment. I have the stuff for running a set of bi-wires to the room that they're in and maybe once I do, I'll like them so much better that I won't even be thinking of an upgrade... who knows?
 
RunOutGroove said:
I have a pair of the Quad 12L speakers in my office (as remotes off of my main system). I like them OK, but I just came across a deal on what seems to be a very good condition pair of Canton GLE 403 speakers and I wonder if I might like these better than my Quads. I wonder if I might like the Cantons a bit better? The Quads are smooth and detailed but seem to lack something as far as dynamics. The Cantons go down a bit lower too and I wouldn’t say no to a bit of extra bass. The Cantons are also a bit more efficient than the Quads I tend to use these speakers pretty low volume so if one sounds better at lower volumes that would be key. What might I be giving up/gaining by going from the Quads to the Cantons? Any speakers I get for this particular spot have to be small bookshelf models and they both fir that bill. I’ll be driving these things with a Marantz 2270…

Should I swap out my speakers here or am I probably doing as well as I can (without spending gobs of cash) with the Quads? I believe that the Quads were more expensive speakers than the Cantons when they were new, though of course that doesn’t necessarily mean much.
Click to expand...

I ran the Quads for a number of years before I sold them off. Went to some QLN Model 1s. Haven’t listened to the canton 403s. My brother in law swears by the brand. The few sets I’ve listened to of his sounded good.

The quads are beautiful speakers but they do require proper placement to get them dilated in.

my suggestion, try to listen to the 403s if you can prior to making the deal. Your ears won’t fail you, you should know if they will best the Quads. I don’t think they will but I’ve been wrong many times and sound is subjective. I say keep the Quads.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Other thing to note, the Canton loudspeakers are a very reactive 4 ohm load, which drops as low as 2.7 ohms. Very not recommended for that Marantz.
Click to expand...
I guess I dodged a bullet by not getting these things! They were cheap enough that it wouldn't have been all that big a deal as long as I didn't blow something in my amp by trying them out... I'm glad I didn't bother though and really this just gives me the chance to mess with some other speakers at a later date. If we had 100% perfect gear, what fun would that be, right? It's always nice to leave maybe one thing, however small as something that could be a future improvement.
 
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