Pro-Ject Stereo Box vs Quad VA-One

[MichaelJW]

I have a Pro-Ject DS2 Pre Amp and Project Stereo Box. In addition I was sold a Quad VA1.

I think I was sold the Quad unnecessarily. The store told me to route the Project DS2 PRE amp into the Qaud and to bypass the Stereo Box (that only runs the woofer).

But this seems rather stupid because it seems to me the Stereo Box may well be the superior amplifier.

May I have your views please?

 

[MichaelJW]

NO SPAM?

Why reply if you don’t want to give constructive feedback?

 

[PENG]

This seems like an easy one. Both are tube amps but the Project appeared to have been designed for accuracy, so if you only need a pre-amp and transparency is your priority then it is the one to keep.

The Quad one would likely have a sound signature that if you happen to like it, then you should have returned the Project instead, even if you only use it as a pre-amp. All based on specs and their website description, as I have no experience with either.

 

[MichaelJW]

This seems like an easy one. Both are tube amps but the Project appeared to have been designed for accuracy, so if you only need a pre-amp and transparency is your priority then it is the one to keep.

The Quad one would likely have a sound signature that if you happen to like it, then you should have returned the Project instead, even if you only use it as a pre-amp. All based on specs and their website description, as I have no experience with either.

I appreciated your time and reply. Thank you.

Another question please.

According to a website comparing the two products:

Watts RMS per Channel (8-ohms). The Pro-Ject can do 40 watt compared to the Quad that can do 12 watt. I assume that means the Pro-Ject is more powerful or louder or what?

Thanks again.

 

[PENG]

I appreciated your time and reply. Thank you.

Another question please.

According to a website comparing the two products:

Watts RMS per Channel (8-ohms). The Pro-Ject can do 40 watt compared to the Quad that can do 12 watt. I assume that means the Pro-Ject is more powerful or louder or what?

Thanks again.

I have no doubt, based on specs the Pro-ject stereo DS2 box is much more powerful but would need bench measurements of both to do a more realistic comparison. If the specs of both are honest, all else being equal, you should be able to listen a little louder with the Pro-ject without sacrificing sound quality. The difference in level would likely be between around 3 to 8 dB, so it could potential be almost twice as loud (best case scenario) to the ears, but that's just my educated guess.

 

[MichaelJW]

I have no doubt, based on specs the Pro-ject stereo DS2 box is much more powerful but would need bench measurements of both to do a more realistic comparison. If the specs of both are honest, all else being equal, you should be able to listen a little louder with the Pro-ject without sacrificing sound quality. The difference in level would likely be between around 3 to 8 dB, so it could potential be almost twice as loud (best case scenario) to the ears, but that's just my educated guess.

Thanks very much for your help. (I find this all very confusing and expensive. So easy for the store to oversell what one doesn’t need.) I’m just going to unplug the Quad and try sell it. Once again, thank you.