Post by jon on Jan 17, 2021 5:38:43 GMT 12
Hi
Many years ago, a much younger self was asked by his good friend, Nik the Hat, whether I would like a pair of Quad 405-IIs. The amps were being torn out of a pub refit. Of course, I said “Yes!!” Some time later the pair were duly delivered and found to be working.
I had many happy years with these amps, and eventually I decided that I would upgrade them using one of the many after-market upgrades that were available at that time. I selected the Net Audio Mark III boards from David Pritchard. They were installed and my troubles began… over the course of the ensuing year the boards blew up on a regular basis and no one could figure out why. Not even David! Sadly, I put the amps away on the top shelf and used others I had.
Over the course of time I ended up going fully active, with three amplifiers to drive my World Audio Design KLS3 Mark IIIs loudspeakers. I was using 3 Topping Class D amplifiers and they were good. Not as good as the Quads, but still good.
From time to time I would cast around and look at amplifiers to upgrade to, however the ones I wanted usually had prices with lots of zeros on the end. I would sigh, wistfully, and move on. I must point out that, to a degree, I envy the vast majority of systems with their passive crossovers and single amps – much cheaper. For me, once I went active, there was no going back.
Anyway, one day, I came across www.reelaudio.co.uk/default.shtml, intrigued I moused around and came across the products page and saw that the proprietor was advertising the above-mentioned 405C amp. The price was within my miniscule budget – you know the drill, I have champagne ears on a beer budget wallet with high-maintenance kids. Not only was the amp within my budget, I could afford three of them!!! OOOH!!!
So, of course, I did nothing for some time. I paused, I pondered, I procrastinated… Dang, the proprietor must have known and constructed his page to be as enticing as possible, ‘cause I kept coming back. I did research on the proprietor and his products, I hummed and hawed and did more procrastinating! Just before Christmas I sent him an email detailing my system and what I wanted and got a quick response back from him.
The proprietor, Paul, has been extremely professional and supportive throughout this journey, he deserves a gold star for his customer focus!
I duly placed an order for three (3) of the amps. Since they were never going to be visible, I mentioned the VU meters and not really needing them! He replied back in the positive and so I placed the order for three meterless amps.
Four days later, he informed me, they had been built and were undergoing a soak-test. Wow! Fast work.
They were duly shipped and arrived safely in three separate boxes. They were unpacked and admired (by me)!
I was surprised to see some extras in the shape of some nice pens, business cards and most importantly spare fuses – a nice touch. He sent enough pens that I did not mind when my kids stole some!
Installation
Installing the amps was somewhat tedious, I had to rejig the rack I use (built by me) to accommodate the extra height of these amps. Eventually they were installed successfully, and after zeroing the volume on everything I turned the power on.
“Houston, we have a problem!” crossed my mind as I realised that one of the power LEDs was not lit on the treble amp. The first thought I had was, is the power gone or is it the LED? Thankfully, it was just the LED, confirmed by some sage advice from Paul (my new Best Friend Forever at that moment). Extracting the PSU and running a multi-meter over it provided the proof. Paul has promised to send me a replacement LED.
After checking I turned the volume up and found that all was well. I did a final check by swapping the treble PSU with the bass one and the bass duly appeared. At the end of the day a minor issue, dealt with promptly and professionally by Paul!
The System
Sources:
Custom Lenco PTP Turntable
Origin Live Illustrious Mark IV arm
EAT Jo #5
London Decca Gold with Wesley Pod
Sparky Raspberry Pi streamer.
Amplifiers
Beeman’s Denon Phono Stage
Audio Note M3 Line Amp
Behringer CX3400 Crossover
3XBaldwin Hifi 405C (replacing the Topping D-Amps)
Loudspeakers
Crossoverless World Audio Design KLS3 Mk III
The Sound
I have been listening to these amps for some time… well, four or five days, every day. A lot. I like them. I have the Quad 405 sound back, particularly the fabulous mid-range I had when the Net Audio Quads were working.
I will list the complete play list at the end.
Starting at the bottom end, I found a tighter and more controlled bass, the Audax bass driver clearly liking what the amp was delivering. Leading edges, particularly on plucked strings, are much more clearly defined. Listening to Yo-Yo Ma playing the Bach Cello Suites really showed that, as did the Dvorak Wind Serenade piece where I was able to differentiate between the Cello and Bass more easily. Cake’s ‘I will Survive’ with its fabulous bass line was also cleaner and with more space round the instruments; as was true with every piece I played!
The mid-range was startling, exceptionally clear, well defined and with good leading edges! Eartha Kitt’s album Thursday’s Child showed this spectacularly! As did the Oistrakh’s rendition of the Bach Violin Concertos (Deutsche Grammaphon). Joe Henry playing Bloom was equally good.
The treble showed these same qualities: cleaner, better, more well-defined. Laura Marling’s voice on Semper Femina was beguiling and so good was the presentation I threw on Joan Sutherland. I was delighted to hear the flute very clearly on Casta Diva from Norma by Bellini. Joan’s voice on my recording also came across very clearly!
I have played music much more extensively than previously as these amps play music and present it in a non-fatiguing manner. They are a joy and a serious upgrade for me.
Recommendation
Paul clearly enjoys what he is doing and has the right attitude with his focus on the customer and delivering what they want. His advice has been good and honest throughout. For these qualities alone I would recommend him.
The 405C amps are really good, and if you are in the market for a good amp at reasonable prices then you would be well-advised to give these a go!
The combination of the qualities of the amplifier and his customer-focused approach make this amp a winner.
Playlist
Personal Playlist - Spotify
Joe Henry – Gospel According to Water
Justine Townes Earle – Saint of Lost Causes
Laura Marling – Semper Femina
Eartha Kitt – Thursday’s Child
Oistrakh – Bach Violin Concerto (Deutsche Grammaphon)
Dvorak – Wind and Violin Serenade
Yo-Yo Ma – Inspired by Bach (Cello Suites)
Joan Sutherland – Bellini’s Norma
Rachmaninoff – 1st & 3rd Piano Concerto
Blue Nile – A Walk Across the Rooftops
Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones & Blue Valentine
Uncle Tupelo – Anodyne
Miles Davis – Bitches Brew & Sketches from Spain
Michael Hedges – Breakfast in the Field & Torched
Calexico – Algiers
Man – Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics
Fiona Apple – Fetch the Boltcutters
Pat Travers – Putting it Straight
Gong – Gazeuze
Harvey Mandel – Shangrenade and Baby Batter
Chick Corea – Return to Forever
Al di Meola – Land of the Midnight Sun & Hotel Splendido
Gerald Garcia – Villa Lobos and the Music of Brazil & Latin American Music
Hamish Imlach – The Definitive Transatlantic Collection.
Manufacturer's Comments.
Many years ago, a much younger self was asked by his good friend, Nik the Hat, whether I would like a pair of Quad 405-IIs. The amps were being torn out of a pub refit. Of course, I said “Yes!!” Some time later the pair were duly delivered and found to be working.
I had many happy years with these amps, and eventually I decided that I would upgrade them using one of the many after-market upgrades that were available at that time. I selected the Net Audio Mark III boards from David Pritchard. They were installed and my troubles began… over the course of the ensuing year the boards blew up on a regular basis and no one could figure out why. Not even David! Sadly, I put the amps away on the top shelf and used others I had.
Over the course of time I ended up going fully active, with three amplifiers to drive my World Audio Design KLS3 Mark IIIs loudspeakers. I was using 3 Topping Class D amplifiers and they were good. Not as good as the Quads, but still good.
From time to time I would cast around and look at amplifiers to upgrade to, however the ones I wanted usually had prices with lots of zeros on the end. I would sigh, wistfully, and move on. I must point out that, to a degree, I envy the vast majority of systems with their passive crossovers and single amps – much cheaper. For me, once I went active, there was no going back.
Anyway, one day, I came across www.reelaudio.co.uk/default.shtml, intrigued I moused around and came across the products page and saw that the proprietor was advertising the above-mentioned 405C amp. The price was within my miniscule budget – you know the drill, I have champagne ears on a beer budget wallet with high-maintenance kids. Not only was the amp within my budget, I could afford three of them!!! OOOH!!!
So, of course, I did nothing for some time. I paused, I pondered, I procrastinated… Dang, the proprietor must have known and constructed his page to be as enticing as possible, ‘cause I kept coming back. I did research on the proprietor and his products, I hummed and hawed and did more procrastinating! Just before Christmas I sent him an email detailing my system and what I wanted and got a quick response back from him.
The proprietor, Paul, has been extremely professional and supportive throughout this journey, he deserves a gold star for his customer focus!
I duly placed an order for three (3) of the amps. Since they were never going to be visible, I mentioned the VU meters and not really needing them! He replied back in the positive and so I placed the order for three meterless amps.
Four days later, he informed me, they had been built and were undergoing a soak-test. Wow! Fast work.
They were duly shipped and arrived safely in three separate boxes. They were unpacked and admired (by me)!
I was surprised to see some extras in the shape of some nice pens, business cards and most importantly spare fuses – a nice touch. He sent enough pens that I did not mind when my kids stole some!
Installation
Installing the amps was somewhat tedious, I had to rejig the rack I use (built by me) to accommodate the extra height of these amps. Eventually they were installed successfully, and after zeroing the volume on everything I turned the power on.
“Houston, we have a problem!” crossed my mind as I realised that one of the power LEDs was not lit on the treble amp. The first thought I had was, is the power gone or is it the LED? Thankfully, it was just the LED, confirmed by some sage advice from Paul (my new Best Friend Forever at that moment). Extracting the PSU and running a multi-meter over it provided the proof. Paul has promised to send me a replacement LED.
After checking I turned the volume up and found that all was well. I did a final check by swapping the treble PSU with the bass one and the bass duly appeared. At the end of the day a minor issue, dealt with promptly and professionally by Paul!
The System
Sources:
Custom Lenco PTP Turntable
Origin Live Illustrious Mark IV arm
EAT Jo #5
London Decca Gold with Wesley Pod
Sparky Raspberry Pi streamer.
Amplifiers
Beeman’s Denon Phono Stage
Audio Note M3 Line Amp
Behringer CX3400 Crossover
3XBaldwin Hifi 405C (replacing the Topping D-Amps)
Loudspeakers
Crossoverless World Audio Design KLS3 Mk III
The Sound
I have been listening to these amps for some time… well, four or five days, every day. A lot. I like them. I have the Quad 405 sound back, particularly the fabulous mid-range I had when the Net Audio Quads were working.
I will list the complete play list at the end.
Starting at the bottom end, I found a tighter and more controlled bass, the Audax bass driver clearly liking what the amp was delivering. Leading edges, particularly on plucked strings, are much more clearly defined. Listening to Yo-Yo Ma playing the Bach Cello Suites really showed that, as did the Dvorak Wind Serenade piece where I was able to differentiate between the Cello and Bass more easily. Cake’s ‘I will Survive’ with its fabulous bass line was also cleaner and with more space round the instruments; as was true with every piece I played!
The mid-range was startling, exceptionally clear, well defined and with good leading edges! Eartha Kitt’s album Thursday’s Child showed this spectacularly! As did the Oistrakh’s rendition of the Bach Violin Concertos (Deutsche Grammaphon). Joe Henry playing Bloom was equally good.
The treble showed these same qualities: cleaner, better, more well-defined. Laura Marling’s voice on Semper Femina was beguiling and so good was the presentation I threw on Joan Sutherland. I was delighted to hear the flute very clearly on Casta Diva from Norma by Bellini. Joan’s voice on my recording also came across very clearly!
I have played music much more extensively than previously as these amps play music and present it in a non-fatiguing manner. They are a joy and a serious upgrade for me.
Recommendation
Paul clearly enjoys what he is doing and has the right attitude with his focus on the customer and delivering what they want. His advice has been good and honest throughout. For these qualities alone I would recommend him.
The 405C amps are really good, and if you are in the market for a good amp at reasonable prices then you would be well-advised to give these a go!
The combination of the qualities of the amplifier and his customer-focused approach make this amp a winner.
Playlist
Personal Playlist - Spotify
Joe Henry – Gospel According to Water
Justine Townes Earle – Saint of Lost Causes
Laura Marling – Semper Femina
Eartha Kitt – Thursday’s Child
Oistrakh – Bach Violin Concerto (Deutsche Grammaphon)
Dvorak – Wind and Violin Serenade
Yo-Yo Ma – Inspired by Bach (Cello Suites)
Joan Sutherland – Bellini’s Norma
Rachmaninoff – 1st & 3rd Piano Concerto
Blue Nile – A Walk Across the Rooftops
Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones & Blue Valentine
Uncle Tupelo – Anodyne
Miles Davis – Bitches Brew & Sketches from Spain
Michael Hedges – Breakfast in the Field & Torched
Calexico – Algiers
Man – Rhinos, Winos and Lunatics
Fiona Apple – Fetch the Boltcutters
Pat Travers – Putting it Straight
Gong – Gazeuze
Harvey Mandel – Shangrenade and Baby Batter
Chick Corea – Return to Forever
Al di Meola – Land of the Midnight Sun & Hotel Splendido
Gerald Garcia – Villa Lobos and the Music of Brazil & Latin American Music
Hamish Imlach – The Definitive Transatlantic Collection.
Manufacturer's Comments.
