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Quicksilver amplifiers

Quicksilver mid mono amp update:

I have had some hours to get to know the amps better,I'm liking them more and more.

I never thought my Accuphase gear would be outclassed,but it is with these peices.

Now, my source is in the hot seat,but I must confess the Arcam Dive CD192 with its 4 wolfson DAC's is doing just great. These are super smooth amps,oh so easy on the ears,with a sweetness to the sound,but just a dash of it.

I could also swear these amps are breaking in before my ear too, but I'm not sure whats up with that,I think they're from around 2005,from whats in the boxes,but thats a guess.
I'm damn proud of these AMERICAN made peices.
Mike at Quicksilver Audio, sir I salute you!
 
Just saw this thread...

Yep.. I've got a pair myself. I have the 8417 monoblocks that were modded for EL34 tubes before I got them...

LOVE THEM... great sounding amps. I've had them for a year, and they just keep rockin and rockin... I'll probably never sell mine.. Great amps, got a good deal on them, and my wife loved the instant difference in sound going from SS to tube...

Right now I've got them running my VOTTs full range, but I'll soon have the Silvers running nothing but the horns. They really do make horns sing I've found..

Talking about the bias adjustment on them.. I'm getting ready to add the same kind of setup to my Bogens I am rebuilding. I added a pot to adjust the bias, and will be installing a 1/4" jack like the QUicksilvers have to just plug in a cable and check the bias. That was one of the really cool things I like about the Silvers, so gonna copy the idea over to the Bogens
 
Hi Guys,

I had a question about these amps. I am considering adding the Hagerman Clarinet line stage to my system which would cause me to ditch the Fisher. I would then need to get an amp and want to stick with tubes as they work great with my speakers. I am wondering if these mono blocks might work well with my prospective gear? I have the rest of my gear in my sig.

I'd greatly appreciate any input.

Thanks much,
-Clipper
 
I'm not familiar with the pre your using,so I dont know if its a good match.

I have found preamps make a HUGE dif with the Quickies,and I recommend trying many.....

The amps will sound better with a better pre,they wont limit the sound...the preamp may.....
Best luck.
 
Unknowingly, I put 6L6 tubes in my amps, and they were modded to take EL34s... Believe it or not... they worked... for a while.. one red plated a few months later.. and then even a few months after that another started to squeel.. I finally realized my mistake and got some 34s back in them.
 
similost said:
Unknowingly, I put 6L6 tubes in my amps, and they were modded to take EL34s... Believe it or not... they worked... for a while.. one red plated a few months later.. and then even a few months after that another started to squeel.. I finally realized my mistake and got some 34s back in them.
Click to expand...


Until the point that you noticed problems, how did they sound ? Which version of 6L6 were you using ? 6L6GC ?

McGarick, I compliment you on your much improved avatar ! Bettie had style !
 
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Well,I ve had these for awhile now,I switch the Accuphase gear back in rotation for a day,the Quickies are just better, period.

The Accuphase pieces will go for sale now,NEVER thought I would sell em either............Bad market right now.................

The low level detail and smoothness of these, are too seductive,I really like the 6L6 tubes in them too,really added some punch,and I like that.
 
Qs

I have had QS Horn Monos for three years rolling el-34s, kt-77s and now EH 6550s. I find these amps to be very neutral though I haven't had other amps to compare them with other than a tubed HK reciever. These amps are reliable and if you call QS with questions usually you can speak to the owner, Mike Sanders. I use the monos with a QS Full Function Preamp.
Enjoy!
 
Quicksilver mid mono amps

Hi mcgarick,

I wonder if you still have the QS mid mono, I am considering buying them, I would like to know if you still like them or found something "better".

My preamp is a Parasound JC2 and speakers are Tekton Pendragon (98db, 4 Ohms, great speakers)

Thank you,
Rob
 
Hi Rob
I sold the Quicksilvers and miss them some..they are good amps... I'm using Eico HF22 monos right now and I don't have the silvers to compare,but I think the Eico might be a bit better.
I'm on a vintage tube jag right now. I also picked up a refurbished HK A500 which is pretty outrageously good too. If you don't need tons of power there is a guy on ebay who sells refurbed HK A series amps and they are very good....
 
Quick Silver M-60

Owned a pair of M-60 mono-blocks for many years. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

Very deep, tight bass for a tube amp - intensely musical.

Mike Sanders - the guy who designs and owns Quicksilver - is a very nice, accessible person. Easy to speak with and dedicated to his craft.

The M-60 likes tubes - as in a set of output tubes might give you a year worth of listening - something to do with the particular tube topology that my set employed (self-biasing common cathode?). I had the best result with a matched Quad (per chassis) of the original Svetlana tubes (now New Sensor or Winged C). Later I used other Russian tubes (always an EL-34) and got good sonic results but not the purity and musicality of the Svetlana.

Well designed, well built (all hand wired), good trannys, and a joy to have. To my ear a far better amplifier than the equivalent CJ (a mid-powered tube stereo chassis using 6550s that was released in the mid-90s).

Highly recommend that you immediately retube them - drivers and output tubes.
 
Only thing I'll add, is many people have had issues with them eating tubes, both
output tubes and rectifiers, there were some very suspect design decisions made. IMHO
 
Could you elaborate a bit? Been offered a pair at a very good price, but want to spend my time building a KT88 SET amp rather then repairing a pair of Quicksilvers. Maybe I'll just stick with the MC2105 while "SETting".
 
I'm not sure where they are, but if you search even just this forum you'll find at least
two that have fairly recently had issues with them where we have contemplated fixes.
 
Yeah.. mine are still sitting and waiting.. I need to get something done... I still wanna do what we talked about Kegger, but subs are more needed now.. but then those stroms are to put on my mains..

No doubt bout them using some crazy parts and design..
 
One thread was started by Similost, where we talked about the massive capacitance after the rectifier.

edit: Speak of the devil...
 
:horns:

:D

They still ain't done.. :( I feel like a quitter.. eh.. I got other stuff to finish.. I'm a procrastinator;
 
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