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Quad 909
Quad 909
MSRP: $

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Rating
Reviewed by:

andrew Paul

(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
October 14, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.60 of 5, 5.00 votes

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Review 1 of 5

Price Paid:  $1990.00 from CaxtonHiFi

Summary:
QUAD 909 used in a setup that includes nad c542 and marantz 65mk2 cd players, Quad 99 pre, Monitor Audio bronze 3way speakers, Thorens turntable, Chord and Quad cables, Blue Circle and Tacima power conditioners, fully shielded power cables throughout.

The 909 is brilliant. Poise, stereo imaging, speed, timing, sheer muscle, control. It has it all. My speakers are rated at 6ohms which gives me possibly as much as 160+ W RMS tp deliver the audio magic. It just delivers the music in a toe-tapping engaging way with oodles of headroom at modest volume levels.

The stepped volume control on the preamp is barely above one third total volume and it is very loud. Bass is sublime and rolls across the floor, the treble soars with terrific precision. It has been a hugh step-up from my previous NAD c270 120w power amp.

Strengths:
Sheer attack speed and grip of the music. Timing and precision without any excessive colouration.

Weaknesses:
Terribly fiddly connections. Please note that the Quad-link computer connection when used with a complementary quad pre-amp should be ditched in preference to the phono connections. The Quad-link is appears to give inferior audio as well as just too fiddly to attach/remove (Quad would be wise to redesign this feature in the next generation of 909 so that it controlled the on/off features of pre/power amp without including the audio signal)

Similar Products Used:
Technics class-A amp
Nad 3020
Nad c270 poweranp


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Rating
Reviewed by:

oracle10g

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
January 22, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

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Review 2 of 5

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Followed up on previous review. Did not expect that it sounded fantastic too on my Avantgard Duo!! The sensitivity could have have been better if it was a little lower, however, this is not a big problem since it does not have any noise issue either. So instead of turning on my CJ Premier 17LS to 30+ level, I have to tune it down to about 10-18. Awesome low level details and dynamic compared to tube amps. The only thing that this may be different when comparing this to a SE amp such as the WAVAC 811D that I owned before was the mid-range magic. However, it does not seem to bother me that much since it makes up in all other alreas. BTW, it make a big difference when you have the amp isolated with some viration feet ( I use the DH Lab ceramic cones, these are the best). Currently I'm listening to this setup and love it.


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Rating
Reviewed by:

oracle10g

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
September 27, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

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Review 3 of 5

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
Detailed yet musical. No grain, hash or muddiness. When you listen to it, you do not care if it is solid state or tube, just music clear and 3 dimensional. Sound stage wide and deep with lots of air. Bass tight and clear albeit a little lacking compared to tubes, but I guess because tube amps tend to have floated bass and I'm used to them, however, I still like the bass of the Quad too. Voices are terrific through the 909. The unit styling is beautiful and unique. This is one of these stereo items that you want to keep forever. So far so good with my Quad ESL63. When I have time I'll try it on my other speakers later.

Strengths:
As mentioned above. This amp is a steal at the used price offered on Audiogon. If I knew how good it sounded, I'd be also happy to pay full price for it. There are much worse amps out there costing much more and a pain to maintain (some tube amps...)

Weaknesses:
The cable binding posts are not the standard 5-way but require either banana plugs or bare wires and they're difficult to access. I would replace them with Edison Price or Cardas posts when I can. Bass is a litlle light, however, as I mentioned above, this might stem from the fact that I've been used to tube bass.

Similar Products Used:
Atma spheres, music reference, VTL, Manley, InnerSound, McComack, Wavac, Melos, Audio Research, Classe


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Rating
Reviewed by:

audiomarc1

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
April 28, 2006

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.83 of 5, 6.00 votes

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Review 4 of 5

Price Paid:  $900.00 from Jeffs Sound Values

Summary:
140 watt amp that weighs in at a hefty 32 lbs. despite it's small size. uses "Current Dumping" technology which is similar to the Nelson Pass Stasis circuitry with Threshold. Very well made and drives most loudspeakers.

Strengths:
Great midrange with good bass and good top end. Sounds very smooth like tubes without the tube hassles. Very 3 dimensional presentation. Excellent build quality. There are no openings/vents or heatsinks anywhere on the 909 for dust to penetrate...the whole aluminum chasis acts as a heatsink which provides a lot of surface area to dissipate heat. Never gets hot - only warm even when running hard for several hours. At $1500, it is in a competitive league but very few of its competitors can match its magical midrange presentation.

All aluminum chassis lends to great looks and superb build quality. Quad is now owned by a pair of very wealthy Chinese "audiophile" brothers who pump capital into Quad without blinking an eye. All design, parts, chassis are UK built or sourced but the construction is accomplished in China. The build quality, fit and finish on Asian - built equipment is as good if not better than the rest of the world. However, the cost of human resources is very low allowing for costs to be kept low. This $1500 amp would cost quite a bit more if built in Europe or in the US. This qualifies as huge bang for the buck.

Weaknesses:
12" width on all Quad electronics makes it look puny in a full sized rack - if this is a weakness...not to me.

On-Off switch located in back of unit...so you have to fiddle around to find it unless you leave it on a power conditioner to switch on and off.

That is it.

Similar Products Used:
Shanling, NAD Silverline, Classe, Unison Research, Bel Canto


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Rating
Reviewed by:

mdunjic

(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
August 22, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.26 of 5, 50.00 votes

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Review 5 of 5

Price Paid:  $900.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
It is an excellent amp. The best midrange in the price range from up to 5000$.

Strengths:
Spectacular midrange, excellent bass, good highs

Weaknesses:
None I can think of

Similar Products Used:
Quad 306, Rotel RC1070 + RB1050


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