Hi
I have read Dave Oliver's review of this equipment. I own it and it is paired with Arcam CD73T CD player and B&W DM601 S3 speakers.

I have read some more reviews of this combo and everywhere reviewers say that it has sacrified the frequency extremes for midrange. I thought the same until I have changed input sensitivity of auxilary in[puts on 99 pre amp from 300mV to 100mV.

Now this combination rocks! More detail in the midrange but frequency extremes improved significantly. Big improvement.

I would like to ask Dave Oliver what sensitivity of auxilary 99 pre amp input has he used while testing the combo?

Regards

To be honest Milos, it's really been quite some time since I tried the Quad combo and I don't recall which sesnitivity I used but I should imagine it was the standard 300mV. It's interesting that you found a solution to the problem I encountered, which was never major in any case, but something Quad will no doubt be interested in.

I was listenning for 6 mnths and found it smooth (but as you and other reviewers said with no missing details) before I tried and it was noticeable difference at least for the sources I am using - Arcam CD73T (CD Player) and Kenwood KT5020 (FM Tuner).

However even with 100mV setting highs are still very civilised although more prominent than before - more air in other words. Bass is more taut as well.

Thx for your quick reply.

O also listenning 6 mnths and not found anything. How it's possible?
Sava

Well I guess everyone's preferences are different. I would imagine that with 300mv input sensitivity setting many people would be perfectly OK just their volume setting for the same loudness would need to be set higher (10 and above). With 100mv setting I get the same sound pressure level with volume settings of 5 and I think I prefer the sound more this way.

Dear Friens,

I've just purchased Quad 909 driven with ATC SCM20. This's lovely & very powerfull sound, full of bass. Now I link directly from my temporary CD Player Rotel RCD 965BX. I ask some my friend in EU concerned about Quad 99 Pre-Amp, they said that, this will led your sound poorer than direct link. Why? Because only oter higher grade Pre-Amp connnect to Quad 909 can bring sound better. So now I'm very confused about conclusion to my friends explaination. They suggest I can DIY Tube Pre-Amp can make better sound than Quad Pre 99. Pls give me your advice & experience for this.

Best regards,
Pham Quang Long
Hanoi - Vietnam

Hello Pham!
The Quadlink output is balanced, and also very neutral. Some exotic cables would maybe make the sound "better", but not necessarly in the long run. You also miss some of the functionality of the remote control.
There is a guy in Italy making custom-made Quadlink cables with better wires etc. He sometimes turns up on eBay, too.
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