[jsjwilson]

Hi All,

Having had to give my old Quad 34/306 system back to my dad, i'm currently using a Quad 33/303 system with one channel blown on the preamp. I'm using mission 773e speakers, which to me are honest, verging on slightly clinical, but with tight punchy bass and great for voices.

I've saved up a few pennies and could do with your advice. I would like to get a new amp system either by renovating the Quad 33/303 with the well known net-audio products (for the preamp this is £251 and for the power amp MKII this is £220 or MKIII, which is a redesign of the power amp, £350), which apparently brings the Quad right up to modern scratch, or buy a cyrus 8vs2. The upgradeability of the Cyrus really appeals, and while I realise the sound might be quite clinical with my speakers, I like what I've heard it produce. However, the Quad has a phono stage, while the cyrus doesn't, which is something i'd need to deal with after a little while to run my Project Debut LP deck.

Does anyone have experience of both these systems? How does / would an upgraded Quad 33/303 compare to an intergrated Cyrus 8vs2. Given, that in a few years I might change speaker, would I be better going for a Cyrus? Or would i be better taking a risk on the Quad upgrades?

What other options are there? My budget is really a maximum of £800.

Advice greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Jamie

[jsjwilson]

Can no one help? If not with my particular question, can anyone suggest a better way of spending my £800? I have wide ranging eclectic musical tastes: including big romantic era symphonies (Mahler & Bruckner), English choral music ancient to modern (Tallis, Croft, Wood, Harris, Finzi), quartets (Shostakovich), lieder (Schubert), English folk song (Ireland, Butterworth), 70s rock (pink floyd, led zep) and traditional / folk music (Sandy Denny, Niamh Parsons, through to modern folk instrumentalists such as Michael McGoldrick, John McCuscker). However, my favourite genre is English choral music in big acoustics! I like detail, and honesty, but not overly clinical or harsh sounding systems. A degree of warmth is nice if it doesn't compromise detail too much.

Thanks,

Jamie

[karkus30]

Its a funny thing you are asking. The Missions are pretty much at home with the music you like and powering them by the Quad setup is OK too, not much to criticise really. The Mission would probably spoil things in that it will likely show the speakers up and give a degree of detail and attack that would probably annoy you.

It's a case of improving both the amp and speakers, although I cant help feeling that if you like the Quad sound then it might be worth tracking down a pair of the older Quad electrostatics the 57 or 63s refurbished. Some light mods and replacement electonics and you would have a great system for classical music. Detailed, smooth and spacious. Of course it's not so good with rock, but then the Missions pretty much struggle in that department.