Quad is one of the most revered HiFi brands in the world, they have been making high-quality loudspeakers for decades and have garnered plenty of accolades while doing so. Along the way, Quad also made high-performance amplifiers and the Quad 405-2 is one such legendary power amp. The Quad 405 and 405-2 are power amplifiers that have withstood the sands of time, still going strong and well-loved by many. If you are looking for the best speakers to match with the iconic power amp Quad 405-2 then look no further.
Throughout the decades there are so many highly qualified speakers been made and choosing the best out of the lot can be a daunting task. This is why we need to first learn more about the sonic characteristics and strengths of the Quad 405-2 solid-state stereo power amplifier. From there, once we have a better understanding, we will then share with you the best speakers you can go for and match with the Quad 405-2.
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Sonic Characteristics and Performances of Quad 405-2
The Quad 405-2 has the retro look which brings you back to its era and you can visualize how well it will fit in a vintage setting. It is very eye-catching and does leave an impression that the Quad 405-2 means business when it comes to power. With 100 Watts per channel power output (8 Ohms), it sure is capable of driving speakers with average speaker sensitivity without a problem. The Quad 405-2 has a speaker load impedance of 4 Ohms to 16 Ohms which provides us a wider option of speakers to choose from. Even those difficult-to-drive 4 Ohms speakers are potential options. Still, the 100W per channel will be the main limiter so, with this, we have filtered down the speaker choices.
The frequency response is from 20Hz to 20kHz which is good and does remain as a factor when choosing the speakers. The color scheme and the retro design of the Quad 405-2, does make it slightly difficult to match aesthetically with modern speakers but wouldn’t really be an issue though. This power amplifier uses an innovative Quad technology called the “Current Dumping” where it uses 2 output sections per channel. There is a low-powered output section optimized to reproduce sonic subtleties and the other high-powered output section is called upon when higher power is needed.
When comparing the Quad 405-2 to its predecessor 405, the sonic prowess and performance have been significantly improved. It still has that incredibly smooth-sounding characteristic but not as dull as before. The mellowness of this power amp provides an excellent music listening experience where you can just unwind and relax while listening to your favorite tunes. No matter how high the volume you are playing, the sound quality is always smooth and laid-back, it doesn’t ever sound harsh.
It is not without any details as the bass frequency is rich with it. You won’t hear any boominess but just tight smooth bass reproduction. The low frequency does lack the oomph but it matches really well with the rest of the frequencies. The lack of punch does help to provide more control. Still, the Quad 405-2 will not be an answer for bass fanatics unless you are planning to add a subwoofer into the mix. The midrange is probably the power amplifier’s greatest strength. The sound stage and imaging is impeccable as well, it will just need the right preamp to really push it out.
The warm sound quality of the Quad 405-2 will be amazing for vinyl playbacks and the mellow music presentation is great for listeners who just want a relaxing music session. It doesn’t rock the house, because the warmth touches everything, making it fluid and smooth, not to mention, rich in details. We need to be cautious when pairing the amp with too warm and/or dull-sounding speakers, as it would further darken the overall sound reproduction. As we have acquired the details and information we need, we can now share with you the best speakers you can go for and pair them with your Quad 405-2 stereo solid-state power amplifier.
Quad 405-2 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 100 Watts RMS into 8 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz– 20kHz
- Speaker load impedance: 4 Ohms to 16 Ohms
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.05%
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 115mm x 340mm x 195mm (4.5″ x 13.4″ x 7.7″)
- Weight: 9kg (20lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Quad 405-2
The Bowers & Wilkins 685 S2 will be a great match for the Quad 405-2 due to the innate liveliness that these talented bookshelf speakers possess. The bright-sounding nature provides a slightly livelier and leaner overall sound quality along with the punchiness of the B&W 685 S2, you will have a more energetic music presentation. The scale of the sound is bigger than you’ll expect from a bookshelf speaker, which makes it even more entertaining and the bass reproduction has weight as well. If we were to nitpick, will be the subtle details are lacking some clarity. The Quad 405-2 has more than enough muscle to drive Bowers & Wilkins 685 S2 with ease.
The Quad ESL-63 is a full-range electrostatic speaker that is very well-match with your Quad 405-2 power amplifiers. Not only both the speaker and amp are from the same company, but they also share similar sonic characteristics, which is to deliver entertaining and sweet-sounding music. The smooth and clean sound quality of Quad ESL-63 is fantastic for a relaxing music listening session where you lay back on your sofa and just enjoy the music. The mellowness and warmth of this combination are so pleasing to the ears, that you might run out of songs before you feel any listener fatigue.
Monitor Audio Bronze 6 are high-performance floor-standing speakers that provide exceptional sound quality at an affordable price. The neutral-sounding nature with a touch of brightness is a terrific match for the Quad 405-2 especially if you want a more energetic and powerful music presentation. The bass performance of the Bronze 6 is amazing, it is tight and agile, with a musical presence that you can feel. The transparent overall sound reproduction of these floor-standing speakers is also clean and clear sounding, more importantly, it doesn’t dull the sound quality. The muscles of the Quad 405-2, are capable of powering the Monitor Audio Bronze 6 speakers without breaking a sweat. It is recommended to have an audition first and hear them out yourself.
More Info at Amazon – Monitor Audio Bronze Series 6 Floorstanding Speaker
Castle Knight 2 is one of the best speakers to match with the Quad 405-2 power amps, as they have quite similar sonic characteristics. If you always prefer the mellow and laid-back music delivery, the Castle Knight 2 is the knight in shining armor for you. They have a lot of control over the music presentation, providing neutrality and always sound polite without compromising the imaging. The stereo image of the Castle Knight 2 is accurate and the soundstage they produce is cohesive. With the warmth and power from the Quad 405-2, you got yourself a fantastic and mellow sound system.
If you are looking for classic vintage speakers to pair with the Quad 405-2 power amplifiers, then the Spendor SP1 will be an ideal choice. One of the speaker’s greatest strengths will be its superb midrange production which the Quad 405-2 amplifier also excels. Furthermore, the power amplifier has more than enough to handle and drive the SP1 vintage speakers with ease. These speakers also bring more tonal accuracy onto the table, complementing the 405-2 power amp, and there are more sonic traits such as dynamic range to further contribute to the overall sound reproduction.
Another very well-match speaker will be the Quad ESL-57 since the Quad 405-2 are designed to drive these speakers including the Quad ESL-63. There are other speaker brands you might be interested in, if you like bright-sounding speakers with plenty of clarity, Klipsch will be an ideal speaker choice. You might also want to check out Klipsch Heritage series speakers which use classic speaker designs, made with modern components. The heritage series speakers are above the price range of the Quad 405-2 though. The Castle Knight 1 is another amazing speaker choice for your power amp, and the sonic characteristics are well suited too. Your Quad 405-2 has enough power to fully drive the Knight 1 since their recommended amplifier power is up to 100 Watts (8 Ohms).
More Info at Amazon – Klipsch Cornwall IV Floorstanding Speakers
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best speakers you can choose to pair with your Quad 405-2 power amps. You should see which speaker fits your requirements and arrange an audition with your amp. You might also want to check out a few more of these speakers within the same brand/series, as usually, they will share very similar sonic characteristics. Do a side-by-side comparison and see which model best suits your sonic preference.
