If all the major system components are Quad 66 series units, the Quad remote becomes a literal extension of the system controls. It is not necessary, in most cases, to point it toward the controlled component, unlike most conventional remote controls. It radiates a stronger infrared signal than most, enabling it to be placed on a table at a convenient location and pointed in any direction. The remote control, despite its apparent clumsiness, weight, and size, proved to be one of the handiest we have used. In general, it sounded better (under less than ideal conditions, with indoor dipole antennas) than most FM tuners we have used, by virtue of being essentially immune to extraneous noise radiated from nearby personal computers or compact disc players, which can inject considerable garbage into the spectrum at certain FM frequencies. Once we had become familiar with the Quad 66FM's somewhat unconventional controls, using it became easy and natural. The lowest signal-strength indicator segment came on about 20 dBf, and the next six segments illuminated at intervals of about 10 dB. The effective stereo threshold was 10 dBf, although the signal was too noisy to be useful at that level. The Quad 66FM has no noise muting in the usual sense its output is blanked out while tuning between stations, but not if the strength of a received signal drops to a very low level. Sensitivity and selectivity were adequate, though not outstanding, and the power-line hum in the tuner's output was absolutely undetectable. Capture ratio, AM rejection, and image rejection were all well above average. Stereo channel separation was 40 to 45 dB in the midrange, narrowing to 25 dB at 30 and 15,000 Hz. In our lab tests, the tuner's frequency response was very flat, ☐.2 dB from 20 to 10,000 Hz and down only 0.7 dB at 15,000 Hz. The manual, which is quite complete, describes how to tune stations on intermediate channel frequencies (unlikely to be required in the United States, but possibly needed in other parts of the world). The Quad 66FM, unlike most FM tuners, changes its tuning in 25-kHz increments, although'it normally displays only the usual 50-kHz intervals. The track buttons step the tuning sequentially through the preset channels. The STORE button is used to assign a tuned frequency to a selected preset. The track and search buttons can then be used to select a desired preset number or to tune up or down the band. Pressing the RADIO button turns on the tuner and switches the preamplifier input to it. Most of its controls, both buttons and knobs, are dedicated to operating the preamp and CD player, but among them is a button for selecting the tuner and pairs of search and track buttons that also control the CD player. Several times as large as typical infrared remotes, it weighs about 2 pounds and matches the other Quad components in finish (a distinctive brownish-gray satin). The remote control is as unconventional as the components it was designed to operate. On the tuner's rear apron are the AC power-cord socket, an unswitched AC convenience outlet, the audio output phono jacks, and a coaxial connector for a 75-ohm antenna feed. The word mono or stereo appears in the window as required. A long arrow points to the currently selected channel number, which is also enclosed in a small box, and there is a slanted row of illuminated squares whose length is proportional to the received signal strength. To their left is a wider window with a row of numbers from 1 to 19 across its top. At the right of the panel, the current preset channel number (nineteen are available) and its frequency appear in large amber numerals. Its principal front-panel feature is a status display. The tuner matches the preamplifier in size and external appearance. If you want to use the tuner without the preamp, you might also prevail upon your dealer to program a learning remote with the necessary commands from the big Quad integrated remote. On the assumption that it will usually be used with the Quad 66 preamplifier, no remote control is supplied with the tuner, although it can be purchased separately. Each of the components is designed for complete compatibility with the others, and all are controlled from a single remote unit, which is supplied with the preamplifier.Ĭonsistent with its place in an integrally designed and operated system, the Quad 66FM has no controls other than a barely visible power button. The Quad 66FM tuner is a recent addition to the company's line of deluxe audio components, which includes the Model 66 preamplifier and the Model 66CD player.
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