Old Quadraspire disappointment

Posted by: hobiecat on 07 July 2001

Hi all guys,
I've recently bought a used QS table, but I suppose it is not a last specs one, infact it has aluminium vertical pillars but ferrous upper stoppers and lower legs/spikes. I'm asking if these ferrous elements are the only differences from a latest specs QS table or there are other ones, such as shelves construction. I have to point out indeed that the performance of the table do not seem to be as good as I remember from other QS tables, I am a bit disappointed infact. Is it just a matter of "ferrousness"?
Thanks.

All the best,
Paolo

Posted on: 08 July 2001 by Top Cat

You will be disappointed by QS because it is ultimately very disappointing in my experience (I have been there, done that).

Your saving grace is that there are many more gullible people out there who are swayed by the look and therefore kid themselves into believing it is some way decent. It supports your kit, yeah, but it's infinitely poorer than Mana when it comes to the sound of that kit whence supported so...

John

Posted on: 08 July 2001 by bob atherton

Hi Paolo,

I too was rather unimpressed by Quadraspire until I help set up a friends unit. Starting from the bottom tighten the aluminium columns until they are just finger tight. The degree on tightness is critical. At the point where a little resistance is felt whilst turning the column worked for Clive's stand, tighten beyond this are the stand
gets a bit 'shouty'.

Carry on till the top level. The 4 top nuts can be tuned whilst listening. again just as the allen key feels a bit of resistance is about right.

Good luck. I now have a great deal of respect for Quadraspire, but it took a while to get the hang of it.

Bob.

Posted on: 08 July 2001 by Allan Probin

John,

I regard your gullibility remark and suggesting that someone would choose Quadraspire based purely on appearance only to be quite offensive (particularly coming from someone who recently bought a canary-yellow sports car).

Here is a picture of my system:

http://www.geocities.com/cds22000/mypage.html

Allan

[This message was edited by Allan Probin on SUNDAY 08 July 2001 at 19:35.]

Posted on: 08 July 2001 by Ian Dales

At last years Manchester show, we were fortunate(?) enough to observe and listen to a quadraspire v old wobbly coffee table demo v target. Seconds after the CDX was placed on the "unispire" we were screaming (inwardly) "put it back on the Ikea please!!!"

Posted on: 08 July 2001 by Allan Probin

Ian,

I take it you're another Mana user then ?

Allan

Posted on: 09 July 2001 by hobiecat

Thank you all guys for your replies.
I already know quite well the QS tables and appreciate them despite their somehow evident drawbacks (particularly on the timbrical side).
BTW, my disappointment is on the particular tables I've bought, apparently not updated to latest specs, and my query is about the possible differences in construction respect to the new ones. Could anybody help me?

Thanks,
ciao
Paolo

Posted on: 13 July 2001 by hobiecat

Dave,
thank you for your reply. I think it should be very interesting and useful for many of the forum members if you really could post some pictures of the Larry mods, i.e. the last you mentioned but also the mods to the shelves (drilled veneer). Thanks again.

Ciao
Paolo

Posted on: 13 July 2001 by Mick P

John

This thread has said it all.

You buy Mana, a sickly yellow car which is endorsed for good taste by Mr Pig. I think you have a problem dear boy.

Regards

Mick

Posted on: 13 July 2001 by Top Cat

To top things off, I'm rejecting the M6 which I can easily afford in favour of a Contax system with Zeiss lenses. OOoooh, I am a naughty boy!

John

PS. The yellow looks a hell of a lot better than it sounds, whereas the Mana sounds a hell of a lot better than it looks. Pity you're so hung up on appearances.

PPS. Thanks for your M6 post last week, though; I decided against the M6 purely on the basis of price - both are equally as good with the lenses, but I figured a nice three week holiday with the difference would be a better option. ALl the best!

Posted on: 17 July 2001 by hobiecat

Dave,
any good news about the QS mods pictures?

All the best,
Paolo

Posted on: 17 July 2001 by ReTrO

We have all our Linn and NAIM equipment on Quadraspire stands at work, and they sound brilliant!

CDX, NAP 150, Series 5 etc.

(They were on soundstyle metal things until that!)

Richard W, The Sound Gallery
Since 1985

Work: The Sound Gallery
Home: WD A.V.

Posted on: 18 July 2001 by Frank Abela

The steel tops and base spikes make a big difference to the sound of Quadraspire.

I don't really subscribe to the 'finger-tight-only' brigade. I like them to be done up quite tightly.

I have heard the Reference a bit more now, and it does some really good things, but in some respects it's not as together as the standard rack. Having said that, I keep wanting to go back to it.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Posted on: 18 July 2001 by hobiecat

Frank,

I full agree with you, I absolutely prefer QS tighten strongly - if not they lack cohesiveness and control IMO.

Could you describe please your impressions about the Reference QS?

Ciao,
Paolo