Quantum 2s coming my way.

[Kencat]

Man, I'm still pinching myself and looking the Ebay invoice. Just got a pair of Quantum 2s for 128 $CDN. Not a thrift store (or Value Village in these parts) score, but I hope still a very good deal. Sounds like the woofers need a refoam. The auction didn't have pictures with the grill off. These are a one owner pair. Kind of took a chance on them, just seemed like the thing to do.

These'll be the best speakers I've ever had, so I'm quite excited right now. I'll post pics as soon as I get these beasts home, hopefully without landing in the hospital in the process. I'm sure I'll be calling on the group here for some help, depending on what else may need fixing. Hope that's not too many things though.

(anyone else having trouble getting smilies to work ?)

[Charivari]

You got 'em!?! Alright! This calls for the banana http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c301/jpvanson/Smileys/bananamuggler.png and friends ... :banana: http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c301/jpvanson/Smileys/bananaguitar.gifhttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c301/jpvanson/Smileys/bananadance.gifhttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c301/jpvanson/Smileys/bananar.gifhttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c301/jpvanson/Smileys/spdr.gif

I've seen a pair of those midrange domes go for nearly twice that price, so you've an excellent score. Fortunately, with a little effort, all the known issues with these speakers can be fixed -- foam rotted Watkins, broken tinsel midranges, worn out potentiometers, and burnt EMITs.

Be sure to post some pics when you get them home. It is most certainly going to be nice to have another Q2 owner around these boards to spread the good word.
- JP

[Kencat]

Yup :D

Hey, wait a minute, what's with the all the fixing business ? Are these things a little on the buggy side ? Not very reliable? a few design problems ?

Good. Lots of new stuff to learn. Sounds like a 5 yr project.

Seriously, I'm pretty happy. This was one wierd auction. I'm very surprised they went this low. But, I'll take it. I hope they are in good shape. The owner said they haven't been run in a few years. He thinks all the drivers other than the holeey woofers are in working order.

I'll certainly break out the digi cam when they get home. Should be fun.

(love that bloody monkey....that's probably what I looked like when the auction ended :) ).

[Charivari]

Hey, wait a minute, what's with the all the fixing business ? Are these things a little on the buggy side ? Not very reliable? a few design problems ?
Well, you're dealing with speakers built around the bicentennial, things do have a tendency of going bad with age. Most all of the issues I listed are due to abuse, such as knocking stuff against the midrange tinsels forcing them to break and under-powering them resulting in EMIT failure. That the owner believes that the other drivers work (and if they were stored carefully) then you shouldn't have to deal with these. If you do, well, I once typed up some instructions on how to repair the domes here (http://audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=407666&postcount=13) and Bobby Shred has some instructions for fixing the EMITs (http://www.bobbyshred.com/emit.html) or you can use the services of Army's friend who does this work. The only issues that come no matter what are the woofer surrounds, duh, and the three pots on the back going bad (or maybe just very, very dirty -- haven't figured that one out yet). The first can be handled by the Orange County boys (http://www.speakerrepair.com) and the second just needs 5 ohm 25 watt pots or maybe the AR pot cleaning instructions posted around here will work.

(love that bloody monkey....that's probably what I looked like when the auction ended :) ).
Yeah, I like that energetic little bugger, too. Just so happy and goofy, he seemed apt for your score.

- JP

[Kencat]

and under-powering them resulting in EMIT failure.

- JP

The owner was selling this set-up at the same time - Mitsubishi Pre/Power Amp set !! (DA-A15DC, DA-P20) - assuming that was his rig for powering the Q2's , I don't think they were underpowered.

The 2 mitsu's went for 203 $ CDN total, btw. He also had the Mitsu tuner. Would have been nice to have gotten all of it.

I'll be needing a score on a major power amp now, before trying the Q2's out. I have a Denon 1604 AVR and a HK AVR45 on hand. Hope those are ok for some low volume test sessions. The HK may be the better one ?? Although, I've been driving two sets of 8 Ohm speakers (A + B) on the Denon, and it doesn't seem to mind at all.
:scratch2:

[Charivari]

Can't understand why you'd need more power, the Q2s are only 84 dB inefficient with the killer Watkins woofers that present a regular sub-2 ohm load. :D For testing, you can use a regular amp alright, just don't clip it. I actually ran mine for a while off of a 40 wpc Pioneer SX-838 and loved the sound. Granted, I couldn't go too loud without throwing the receiver into protection, but it sounded marvelous at spoken voice or lower levels. So, you should be alright, just avoid the temptation to knock some photos off the walls (although the Watkins can do that).

- JP

[Kencat]

Ah heck, I'll just get a couple of these KWs...that'll solve any problems eh?

(For anyone that hasn't perused this, have a look - http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53734&highlight=weighs
)

If anyone bumps into a set at the thrifts for 50 $, let me know huh ? :deal: :bigok:

[Kencat]

Can't understand why you'd need more power, the Q2s are only 84 dB inefficient with the killer Watkins woofers that present a regular sub-2 ohm load.

- JP

Why would Infinity do that? Was this a mistake ? The brochure from Bobbyshred's site mentions using amps from 45 thru 350 WPC but no mention of the amp having to be rated at 2 ohms. Were these so expensive they assumed any buyer would have ball busting amps as a matter of coarse?

Must be an interesting story behind this methinks.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll pick them up I think.

[Charivari]

Why would Infinity do that? Was this a mistake ? The brochure from Bobbyshred's site mentions using amps from 45 thru 350 WPC but no mention of the amp having to be rated at 2 ohms. Were these so expensive they assumed any buyer would have ball busting amps as a matter of coarse?

Must be an interesting story behind this methinks.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll pick them up I think.
No mistake that I'm aware of. It's just the way the Watkins woofer is. Infinity chose sound quality and frequency range over everything else (efficiency, impedance, ease to drive, etc). To overcome the problems inherent with woofer design and good bass response, Watkins invented his woofer using the dual voice coils that solved these problems, though at the expense of being difficult to drive and dipping down low for brief transients. The brochure and like literature available at Bobby Shred's and Infinity-Classics covers this. I should think that for the typical buyer, the low efficiency and the 4 ohm rating would've automatically meant a bigger amp, which in turn should've meant a ball buster, as you called it, capable of handling lower. Besides, these were $1500 speakers back in 1976, not exactly something to be picked up by college kid wanting a rock speaker that went loud easily who wouldn't have sense enough to understand the need for a good amp.

- JP

[SicMan]

Hey Kencat
great score! I'm sure you'll enjoy those babies. I have 4 of the Q3's I'm reconing 2 of them now and cleaning up the other 2 I grabbed about 5 years ago. I bought my first pair in 1979 at a Tech Hi-Fi in Wesport Ct. for $900. I usually run at least 100 WPC behind mine but I'll be using the 2 KR9600's I just picked up last week, they're 160 WPC into 8 ohms, these are 4 ohm. Makes the bass real punchy. Good luck with them.

Charivari:
That explaination of fixing the dome mids is great. I need to do exactly that. I think I broke one last summer when I brought the speakers to a pig roast.
see ya's
John

[newoldguy]

Good go Ken.I was watching that auction closely but missed the end!!!!!!I was going to snipe em but now glad I didn't.When you get them up and running,(sounds like surounds from the add),you are going to love them.
I am searching for Quantum Line Source, so my search will continue.Glad they went to an enthusiast (I probably would have repaired and flipped em),you deserve em!
Anyone know of any Quantum Lines for sale??

Regards
Mike

[Charivari]

For sale or keeping? If for keeping, try this guy:

Name: Jerry D
E-Mail: qabfjerryd@hotmail.com
Homepage Title:
Homepage URL:
Referred By: Search Engine
Location: Quincy IL
Comments: I've got a pair of old Q-2's that I love, but my wife hates--(they take up too much room for her)Cabinets in fair shape, mids were re-coned years ago, but woofers are falling apart-aged originals. really cool speakers-ajustable crossovers & a heck of a pair of speakers-anyone interested-MAYBE-we can work out a deal--email me.....


- JP

[newoldguy]

Thanks Chiavari.

I am looking for Quantum Line Source.The Quantum 2's are the little brothers.I really only look for keepers now.Was never good at the buying/repairing/selling game.Usually sold for cost when the buyer really wanted them and didn't have a lot of money.Being an enthusiast I wanted them to go to the right home.The fun is in the restoration and hearing the final product,another vintage prize saved.
The QLS's will be keepers.

Regards
Mike

[Kencat]

Good go Ken.I was watching that auction closely but missed the end!!!!!!I was going to snipe em but now glad I didn't.When you get them up and running,(sounds like surounds from the add),you are going to love them.
I am searching for Quantum Line Source, so my search will continue.Glad they went to an enthusiast (I probably would have repaired and flipped em),you deserve em!
Anyone know of any Quantum Lines for sale??

Regards
Mike

Thanks for not sniping Mike, although I was padded pretty well above the final price. You wouldn't have sniped it for only a few bucks more :nono:

I was surprised at the lack of interest, but am glad of it. Must have been Karma that these were going to be mine. It'll be interesting to find out why the owner was selling all his audio gear. Hopefully it's because he just got a better system.

I'll keep you in mind if I do run across any QLS's in ads or in person. Good luck on the search.

[newoldguy]

Ken

I think the price was low due to the "pickup" only in the add.You got a steal with those.I also find a lot of folks are not interested in the older vintage stuff,I guess the repair idea scares em.Are picking them up?I bet shipping would be a killer,they are not small.A freind picked up a pair of Ar9's in Kitchener and we picked em up,135lbs a piece.Good luck with the Q2's and enjoy.

High quality audio is timeless.

Regards
Mike

[Kencat]

:yippy:

Here's a few overall shots. These are in really great shape. A few little knicks here and there. One side of one speaker was in the sun and is a bit "lighter" for it. Looks like everything is intact....well except those woofer foams.

Mirror imaged. Bi-ampable. Tinsel leads in mids "look" to be in good shape. Pots don't feel too good (Charivari mentioned that :sigh: ). Serial No's pretty close...520 and 061.

There are a few "odd" things though about them that I'll bring up in other posts for separate discussion.

:D

[newoldguy]

Wow Ken,they are in great shape.Grilles,cabinets all components there.Refoam those woofers and let em rip.The pots. may just need a cleaning,a bit of Deoxit and work em in. :thmbsp:
You got away even better than I thought.Keep us posted on the progress,would love to hear how you make out.

Regards
Mike

[Charivari]

Very nice, you really lucked out. Mirror-imaged? That's very uncommon, though they were designed to be so, most pairs were just two left speakers, like mine. The biampable part also wasn't standard, though it was supposed to be. Look forward to more posts of yours about these.

- JP

[Army]

Way to go Ken :thmbsp:

Although I'm done looking for more speakers, those would make me think twice :)

Get busy refoaming, those I'll bet will sound great :yes:

If the glue is that nasty sticky stuff, scrape off as much as you can then use goo gone found at your local hardware stores to clean up the polywoofers and baskets. Works great!

Good luck and keep us updated on your progress:thmbsp:

[Kencat]

Polywoofers???????????? :saywhat:

Uh oh.

I will do a separate post on this, as a more approriate title might attract more readers, and hence more chance of answers.

[Kencat]

Very nice, you really lucked out. Mirror-imaged? That's very uncommon, though they were designed to be so, most pairs were just two left speakers, like mine. The biampable part also wasn't standard, though it was supposed to be. Look forward to more posts of yours about these.

- JP

But, they don't have the rear firing tweeter. Go figure eh?

Here's a few more detail pics.

One of the mid tinsels look funny...think it's broke? or just the way coating is on the wire ? I'll find out whenever I try it out.

[Charivari]

No rear firing tweeter? All these factors considered, these are obviously early iterations (duh, the s/ns confirm it). The rear firing tweeter must've been an enhancement of the design.

Be very careful of that midrange tinsel. That coating is original and it makes repairing broken tinsels a huge pain; before I was able to do it with mine, all my research and comments by others had indicated it an impossible endeavor. I recommend that you pull that midrange out and check it for continuity to check if it's broken. As I said before, this is a very common issue with these.

- JP