Calling audiophiles: Vintage hifi info needed

My old man has the following that he wants to be shot of (just reached official OAP status and times are not easy):

quad 303 power amp
quad 33 pre amp
quad fm2 tuner
quad sl57 electrostatic speakers

sony edit:TTS-3000 turntable with SME balanced arm (3000 series of some sort)

denon CD player edit: UCD-F10

Looking on the usual source there seems to be quite a market for the quad kit. My google searching suggests the Sony is a tasty deck, that the 303 is still well regarded and the 33 can be modified to modern standards fairly easily. This is all in great nick and has been very well looked after. If I had the money I'd have it off him myself as I recall it being absolutely stunning.

Any comments, ideas on values, honing the search a bit more, etc. most appreciated. I'll most likely try to shift it for him as he can't cope with listing it himself.

Thanks

Paul

edit: updated with a bit more info following a chat with Dad :)

What they are worth will depend on all sorts of things. If they are totally original, then the best place to sell them will probably be eBay I would have thought, given that stuff is sold as seen, and there seems to be demand for vintage Quad stuff. If you put them up on a hi fi site like HiFi Wigwam, or Pinkfish then people are going to be asking questions about when they were last serviced, and TBH compared with more modern kit they will sound pretty pants. The 33/303 combo is probably going to be at least 30 years old, and the FM2 older than that by a fair bit. Kit that old is probably going to need looking at - caps replacing etc etc.The ESL's are still thought by some to be amongst the best sounding speakers ever made, but they will have to have had a recent rebuild to be worth any significant money and, personally I wouldn't touch a pair of ESL 57's that don't have a recent service history from someone like One Thing. (I use Quad ESL's BTW, partnered with Quad valve amplifiers).

Anyway, as to values, have a look and see what these things fetch on eBay. The SME 3009 will probably be better off sold separately from the T/T I'd have thought.

Thanks mate, that's useful, sounds like another bloody expensive interest I could easily get sucked into :D

I'd use Audiogon.com before trying eBay. The crowd there is much more likely to know what you've got and to be interested. Audiogon also have a 'Blue Book' function (for a reasonable subscription price) to help with pricing and a forum to help with other questions - very handy. I'm not affiliated in any way, just a user.

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Originally Posted by Nalu

I'd use Audiogon.com before trying eBay. The crowd there is much more likely to know what you've got and to be interested. Audiogon also have a 'Blue Book' function (for a reasonable subscription price) to help with pricing and a forum to help with other questions - very handy. I'm not affiliated in any way, just a user.

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I've never really got on with AudiogoN, it's too user unfriendly for me. I sell most of my old stuff on the 'Wam, it's free and I've never had anything not sell (touch wood) even if it's taken a while.

Where I was coming from with the eBay suggestion is that lots of vintage kit gets sold on there for prices which at times border on the daft, and the sellers quids in because the only guarantee you normally get as a buyer is that whatever you bought isn't D.O.A. If you want an example, just log on and have a look to see what Garrard 301's are fetching.

The problem with the pukka hi fi sites is that most people know exactly what this stuff is, and won't pay over the odds for stuff that probably needs a good service and components changed, and is of dubious quality sound wise, the 33 being a good case in point here, and the 57's too, if they haven't been re-built.

I'm a fellow Wammer has well (hifi wigwam for thos not in the know).

I've always used the Wam to sell my goods with varying success, you will still get a numpty trying it on but that goes anywhere.

I can only reiterate what has already been mentioned. The SME arm will sell better on it's own and almost get a decent price if on Ebay, they are very popular especially with the modders doing up classic old decks such as Thorens and Garrards. 3009s tend to go for more money than they really should due to a huge following and the fact it's SME and they are a quality company to deal with.

The Quad gear is classic stuff but will have needed a service, especially the ESLs which are still very popular with modern hifi lovers.

The cd player doubt it's worth that much. Cd players don't go for much unless they are a modern deck or a popular old favourite such as a Meridian. Denon are very good brand (I know I own lots of their stuff myself) but shifting a cd player isn't the easiest especially depending on it's age as the lasers can go and can't be replaced or the mechs can go and the you have the same problem.

I never really liked the pre or power amps, the tuner is superb and the speakers (even if they need some work) are stunning. I would keep the system as you would need to spend a huge amount of money to equal the sound quality.

One of the best systems I ever heard, irrespective of price was a croft pre/power amp driving a tatty looking ELS57, I cannot remember the source but it might have been an old Thorens turntable

Nice kit - would also suggest a sing up at the wam (google hifiwigwam) for a friendly crowd and a forum not unlike this place in attitude. Should find some Quad lovers over there with some specific advice.

Have a look at Classique Sounds website and access their price list ... will give you an idea of what the Quad equipment sells for especially the speakers which are very sought after http://www.classiquesounds.co.uk/quad_amps.htm. I had my Quad 33 pre amp upgraded by Net Audio http://www.net-audio.co.uk/ ... his website might persuade you to keep the equipment ... and have the speakers refurbished via Classique Sounds or One Thing Audio http://www.onethingaudio.net/OTA/9152-OTA-MAIN.htm You might regret parting with them .

If you really wish to sell the whole lot , get a few quotes including one from Nick at Emporium Hi Fi ... another vintage quad specialist http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/EMPORIUM- ... QQ_armrsZ1

Wish I had room for the ESL 57 speakers.

Good luck

dunk