New Jecklin Float QA !!!

[analogsurviver]

First, I am glad QA has shown at least some professionalism in dealing with the situation ( sending another transformer, etc ). As I am familiar with the original Floats "MK I", I can confirm Spritzer's opinion/observation regarding the transformer box AND drivers themselves. Tried to listen to PS2 in a shop, with an intention of buying, as the price was really tempting. Never heard the thing - they would not take electrostatic charge, not even one single pair in the shop at the time! His opinion is a much gentler version of mine. Jecklin designs, not just Floats, are brilliant in idea/design, it is high time for the execution to finally at least partially catch up. It must have really been bad for the distributor of QA to decide to withdraw long awaited desirable new product from the programme.
 
40 years of experience in the field ought to be enough for anybody. Modular pro "Lego blocks" approach works in many designs, it will never be reliable with electrostatics, where high voltage, humidity, teperature and vibration WILL always cause long term issues. And whatever is used to drive the stats, be it transformer or amp, has to be constructed with the very best componernts available - because even the very best electronic components of today are strecthed to the maximum of their limits, with barely little or no headroom at all. This regards slew rate performance in particular - Float drivers  swing kilovolt(s) and this is no joke at all.

 

[complin]

QUAD'S NEW "FLOAT QA" HEADPHONES COMING TO THE NEW YORK SHOW

 

Back in 1971, Jürg Jecklin came out with his first Jecklin Float. At that time nobody could consider that the Float will get famous not only for the next 4 decades.  Even today the concept behind the Float is close to perfect in it`s kind.

"The goal of the developement was to have a monitor system which allows a better control of what they are  doing in a recording studio. For this purpose the Float  has been designed as a tool, better than any monitor  speaker in a room that hasn’t a perfect acoustic.” (translation: fono forum 9/1971).

Over the years the Float became a cult product. Recording engineers use them in there daywork and musiclovers from all over the globe enjoy it`s natural sound. In 2012 Jürg Jecklin lounched the new Float QA together with the new uncompromisingly designed power supply. Both produced by QUAD Musikwiedergabe, Germany. They also take direct orders. Delivery will get organised either direct from QUAD Musikwiedergabe or through your local dealer. Some call it a lucky fortune. After the first considerations soon it turned out that the concept behind the Float still is perfect in it`s kind. The Float is demanding it`s position in the professional world. For private use the Float or better the new Float QA offers natural sound. Without any flou of what we usually feel as disadvantages of heaphones. Float QA, in fact means two small electrostatic speakers. Perfectly placed in the right position to each  ear. Benefit from a natural open sound which allowes to listen to music for hours. That`s why they call the new Float QA “wagnertauglich”. As in a concert hall the listener keeps the perfect orientation in the room.

 

http://www.chestergroup.org/newyorkaudioshow/310-quads-new-qfloat-qaq-headphones-coming-to-the-new-york-show

http://www.chestergroup.org/newyorkaudioshow

New York, NY, Jan 24, 2013 – The magic of high performance audio takes center stage at the New York Audio Show, April 12 – 14, 2013 at the New York Palace Hotel. Along with demonstrations from more than 75 companies, the show will host a number of special events including the exclusive sneak preview and private screening of Last Shop Standing - the official Record Store Day Film for 2013, and the Classic Album Sunday listening experience.

Produced by the Chester Group, this second annual show is designed to share the wonder of music through quality audio. “Our inaugural U.S. event last year confirmed that there is a strong desire in the New York area to experience music beyond mp3 players,” said Roy Bird, Chairman of the Chester Group. “We are building upon that success with special events that will create even more excitement and we are thrilled that the New York Audio Show has been selected to preview the Last Shop Standing.”

 

[MuppetFace]

My Float QA is being shipped back this week, along with the replacement transformer. Fingers crossed the new transformer fixes the issues I was hearing.

 

[complin]

I sincerely hope so, keep us posted 

Quote:

My Float QA is being shipped back this week, along with the replacement transformer. Fingers crossed the new transformer fixes the issues I was hearing.

 

[kiertijai]

@Muppetface Best Wishes to you
The more I listen to the Jecklin, the more I like it more than the takeT H2+
(except for some Pop and Rock music)  and SR 009

 

[analogsurviver]

Quote:

My Float QA is being shipped back this week, along with the replacement transformer. Fingers crossed the new transformer fixes the issues I was hearing.

I wish you all the best with the new set. A properly functioning Float is one of the handful of transducers actually capable of approaching the sound heard live. Let us know what develops - certainly prefer reading your very thoughtful observation/reasoning regarding performance of cans than about chores with sending them across the pond for service/maintenance.

 

[wuwhere]

Is it live or is it Float, that is the question. Looking forward for some more impressions.

 

[complin]

I think any reproduced music can be live-like but never exactly like live.  There are too many variables and processes which happen in between for it to be exactly like a live performance.
I think Peter Walker of British Hi-Fi company Quad summed up what could be aimed at more than half a decade ago [size=small]"the [/size][size=small]closest approach to the original sound[/size][size=small]".  I think this still holds true today.[/size]
 
Quote:

Is it live or is it Float, that is the question. Looking forward for some more impressions.

 

[analogsurviver]

Quote:

I think any reproduced music can be live-like but never exactly like live.  There are too many variables and processes which happen in between for it to be exactly like a live performance.
I think Peter Walker of British Hi-Fi company Quad summed up what could be aimed at more than half a decade ago [size=small]"the [/size][size=small]closest approach to the original sound[/size][size=small]".  I think this still holds true today.[/size]
 

I agree with "the closest approach to the original sound" - but I think Peter Walker coined that one half a century, not half a decade ago. I have a copy of British magazine Hi Fi Answers from 1977 sporting that slogan in commercial ads - and by that time it was a hallmark of every Quad adverisement in press or shows.

 

[complin]

Yes I wasn't fully awake when I wrote this over breakfast 

 earlier, silly me.
It should have been century not decade 

 in fact I believe it was first coined in the late 1950's for the launch of the first Quad electrostatic speakers the 57's
 
Quote:

I agree with "the closest approach to the original sound" - but I think Peter Walker coined that one half a century, not half a decade ago. I have a copy of British magazine Hi Fi Answers from 1977 sporting that slogan in commercial ads - and by that time it was a hallmark of every Quad adverisement in press or shows.

 

[MuppetFace]

Thanks for the well-wishes!
 
I do hope this solves the problem, not just because shipping these back and forth from the US is annoying and costly, but also because the Float QA provided very enjoyable listening time. I wish I was more familiar with the older Floats, so I could provide some point of comparison, but alas I have no experience in that department.

 

[MuppetFace]

The Floats arrived yesterday, along with the new transformer.
 
Right away I noticed a major improvement in the build quality of the transformer. The one they sent before had loose side panels, whereas this one is sturdy as a rock. They also added a sticker to the back showing which country the voltage is set for, something the original lacked (had to e-mail them before to confirm it was set to the right voltage). The sockets have been changed, along with the plug on the Floats themselves. It feels much sturdier than before.
 
Best of all, the problem seems to be resolved. No more right channel cutting out and sounding distorted. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

 

[chinsettawong]

Congratulations!

 

[analogsurviver]

Please give it a good burn in time - and report how the new combo sounds say after at least 100 hours of non stop play. Music at normal levels should do - and if you put Floats on the table, they can function as a speaker - enough to listen to radio news, TV across the room or very high quality background music ( with bass understandably lacking a bit ). 
 
I am glad they sent you a "fortified" version of the transformer - and wish you uneventful future regarding technicalities. You can rest assured it will not be this way regarding music - functioning Floats will let you hear it all, be it good or bad. Enjoy!

 

[kiertijai]

Enjoy   Enjoy   Enjoy