Price Paid:  $800.00 from Private Sale

Summary:
I've been using these original 8417 mono amps for 17 years. I listen a few hours some weeks, other weeks not at all. I alternate among several sets of 8417 tubes, whcih are not manufctured any more. These amps sound best with the 8417 tubes, which in my experience seem to last forever.

These amps produce lifelike three dimension sound images which suck you into the music. Properly fed with a pristine signal, playing through well set-up speakers, the Quicksilver 8417 monoblocks bring it home, alive. Superlative.

Strengths:
Spectacular mid-range with remarkable, lifelike reproduction of the human voice. Natural highs. These throw a deep soundstage. Very musical. Smooth.
Well built and built to last. Over 17 years of ownership, I've needed only 2 or 3 modest cost repairs.

Weaknesses:
Bass not up to the standards of the mids and highs. Bass is flabby.

Similar Products Used:
Ayre V3.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This model is the original 8417 mono amp now using Sovtek 5881 tubes. Matched with Audio Research SP9 MkII preamp and Sonus Faber Concerto Grand Piano speakers, the monoamps sound great with tight bass, natural mid and crystalline high. With minor modifications, these monoamps may accommodate a variety of tubes namely EL 34, KT 88, 6L6 and 6550. But if you can still find the rare gems of tubes, the 8417s, go get them and your effort will be highly compensated.Kudos to Quicksilver Audio!

Strengths:
Excellent sound, sturdy build and convenience afforded by separate mono amp units

Price Paid:  $2400.00 from quicksilver

Summary:
Somewhat thin with original EL34 with Quad US monitor. Boy, what a difference with 6550C! (Russian Made, requires matching eight of them, costing quite a bit.) They produce beautiful imaging and almost holographic sounds stage. I always used directly from a high-end Sony CD player without preamp.

Strengths:
Imaging and sound stage.

Weaknesses:
EL34 is not the best with them.

Summary:
I just acquired a pair of used Silver 60 monoblocks made by Quicksilver Audio. They came with Chinese EL-34 output tubes which were a little worse for wear. I replaced with the Svetlana El-34 tubes. I have about 20 hours on these tubes so far. The amp is being used with cary pre-amp, Lotus SE by Alon(4 ohm version). I have VPI Aries, ARC phone stage. For my tastes in music these amps have been terrific so far. The highs are clear and detailed. The midrange is very full and warm enough but not overly so and with the Lotus in place there is plenty of clean, tight bass. I don't measure this stuff, I just listen with favorite recordings. The low level detail is exceptional.

Strengths:
Midrange, detail

Weaknesses:
none so far

Similar Products Used:
cary, McIntosh

Summary:
Well i bought these for a thousand bucks with, el-cheapo el-34's installed....I was not happy as the majic from my system was gone, I have Lamm research mono's also, but don't use them very often as i have allot of little kids running around. Back to the QS...after re-tubing with gold aero kt-88's (about 100.00 each)....wow!! a cheap priced amp that sounds almost as good as the Lamm (12,000 give or take). The only minor complaint is the bass is a little thin...everything else is great!!! My other equipment is as follows:

Altis Reference CD
Audio Research DAC-2
Audio Research LS 15 preamp
QS Mono 60's
Joseph Audio Reference 30 Speakers
Light-Star Silver interconnects and spearker cables

Strengths:
Imaging, awesome amp the price

Weaknesses:
bass a little thin

Similar Products Used:
ARC, CJ,