I've had a 1976 405 for almost 25 years, the filter capacitors (I think they were) were replaced in 1998, otherwise it is untouched. I've used it about 4 days a week since I got it, without any noticeable problems. Love the video, though it tempts me to spend money replacing stuff which may not need to be! Thanks for the video.
Glad to hear you are still in love with your 405. Yes, there is a real tendency, especially on internet forums, for folks to insist that all sorts of stuff needs to be replaced. Commonly people will say "replace all of the electrolytics" suggesting that if you don't your device will expire imminently. This is clearly nonsense. However, it is true that electrolytic capacitors have a limited life, and SOME will probably need to be replaced at some point. In my 405 that I rebuilt, all of the small brown electrolytics either had already failed or where well on the way. None of them tested OK. (I hope you saw my repair video) Fortunately these days we have cost effective capacitor testers. I use the Peak one. You can always test the capacitors, and if they test fine, leave them be.
It's the most reliable piece of electronics I've ever owned, I actually paid a technician to apply the 'Dada' revision to my Quad 33 pre amp, and replacing the capacitors (and other things) did wonders. But I'll probably wait for at least symptoms before spending on the 405. My own soldering skills are minimal, so I did enjoy watching your video!
Quad 405 is a very interesting amp. It has unique negative feedback approach that combining class A with class B. Because of its low idle power consumption, it is a very good daily amp.
Listening to this with my 405-2! Love them, very pleasing. Having worked on a couple of these I would suggest the wiring of the one you show is not original?
nice video👍🏼do you know how this compares to my Yamaha m2 amp 2X 244 8ohm❓I have both Yamaha m2 and a dynaco st70 valve...both sound very good!...wondering if there is a better amp to pair with my Tannoy Berkeley speakers❓
I'm not familiar with your Yamaha amp, but I would suspect the Yammy would probably perform better than the Quad. It really depends on the kind of sound that you are looking for. The Tannoys would I imagine have a would have a pretty English mellow kind of sound. Maintaining that theme I think the dynaco would be a good match. But both the Yamaha and the Dynaco are great amps, but very different also - beauty is in the ear of the beholder and it really just depends on what you like the best.
You are correct. I bought my 405 in 1976 and converted to 405-2 when the conversion kit was available from Quad. Soon after buying the 405 I put the limiters in as I quickly blew a KEF B200 without them in. The 405-2 still works fine to date.
You may have read these guys' stuff already on the 405, lots of info. Bernd Ludwig, Keith Snook, Nick de Smith. The 0v green wire from the board to 0v at the smoothing caps is a mod I believe. There is good discussion about where the chassis is connected to mains earth and whether the signal ground is connected to chassis at the input sockets or insulated, see R2 on cct diag.
I've transformed my 405, checkout my channel, I have videos on there, on upgrading the 405 & it has taken it to new level of performance, great video by the way👍
I've had a 1976 405 for almost 25 years, the filter capacitors (I think they were) were replaced in 1998, otherwise it is untouched. I've used it about 4 days a week since I got it, without any noticeable problems. Love the video, though it tempts me to spend money replacing stuff which may not need to be! Thanks for the video.
Glad to hear you are still in love with your 405. Yes, there is a real tendency, especially on internet forums, for folks to insist that all sorts of stuff needs to be replaced. Commonly people will say "replace all of the electrolytics" suggesting that if you don't your device will expire imminently. This is clearly nonsense. However, it is true that electrolytic capacitors have a limited life, and SOME will probably need to be replaced at some point. In my 405 that I rebuilt, all of the small brown electrolytics either had already failed or where well on the way. None of them tested OK. (I hope you saw my repair video) Fortunately these days we have cost effective capacitor testers. I use the Peak one. You can always test the capacitors, and if they test fine, leave them be.
It's the most reliable piece of electronics I've ever owned, I actually paid a technician to apply the 'Dada' revision to my Quad 33 pre amp, and replacing the capacitors (and other things) did wonders. But I'll probably wait for at least symptoms before spending on the 405. My own soldering skills are minimal, so I did enjoy watching your video!
I use a Quad 306 driven by the preamp section of a NAD 7 series into a 15 ohm Roger’s LS35a really good
Obviously someone was in the amp before. I see recaps wich are always good. But some lowsy soldering quality by that modifier. Nice video Steven 😀
Quad 405 is a very interesting amp. It has unique negative feedback approach that combining class A with class B. Because of its low idle power consumption, it is a very good daily amp.
Sure is!
Listening to this with my 405-2! Love them, very pleasing. Having worked on a couple of these I would suggest the wiring of the one you show is not original?
You may well be right. I've got another one here I need to refurbish, and it has the nice looms one would expect.
nice video👍🏼do you know how this compares to my Yamaha m2 amp 2X 244 8ohm❓I have both Yamaha m2 and a dynaco st70 valve...both sound very good!...wondering if there is a better amp to pair with my Tannoy Berkeley speakers❓
I'm not familiar with your Yamaha amp, but I would suspect the Yammy would probably perform better than the Quad. It really depends on the kind of sound that you are looking for. The Tannoys would I imagine have a would have a pretty English mellow kind of sound. Maintaining that theme I think the dynaco would be a good match. But both the Yamaha and the Dynaco are great amps, but very different also - beauty is in the ear of the beholder and it really just depends on what you like the best.
Nice review, I notice that the push on connectors to the boards have been soldered and the optional voltage limiters have not been fitted.
Well spotted. My understanding is that with the 405 the limiters were optional but on the 405-2 they were incorporated into the amp boards.
You are correct. I bought my 405 in 1976 and converted to 405-2 when the conversion kit was available from Quad. Soon after buying the 405 I put the limiters in as I quickly blew a KEF B200 without them in. The 405-2 still works fine to date.
You may have read these guys' stuff already on the 405, lots of info. Bernd Ludwig, Keith Snook, Nick de Smith. The 0v green wire from the board to 0v at the smoothing caps is a mod I believe. There is good discussion about where the chassis is connected to mains earth and whether the signal ground is connected to chassis at the input sockets or insulated, see R2 on cct diag.
Thanks for that. I have another 405-2 that I need to do a refurb, and I noticed the boards are grounded differently.
Good morning. Could you tell me what are the two hybrid circuits N1 and N2? Your videos are very interesting. Thank you very much
See here:
keith-snook.info/QUAD-405-2-Modification.html
@@audionautica6843 A really useful and interesting web page. Many thanks and greetings from Italy
Had Quad 303 amp back in 1992-1195 or so, sweet sounding toaster.
Great!
What’s the difference with the 303 vs 405
I have no idea. I've never seen a 303. Google is your friend!
@@audionautica6843 i learnt the 404 is bland the 303 is sweet nice midrange
@@hamzatatta952 If I ever get a 303 I'll let you know if I agree...
@@audionautica6843 it doesn’t have much of a grunt the midrange is nice I am going to sell mine
@@hamzatatta952 i use 2 bi-amped nd theres more grunt than one ever needs plus i use duel mono psus which expands the sound amazing
All the flat blade screws are wrong. They are Phillips from the factory. M5 and M4
A completely serviced example... 🙂
I've transformed my 405, checkout my channel, I have videos on there, on upgrading the 405 & it has taken it to new level of performance, great video by the way👍