Hi Captain,
I have heard the 909 quite extensively and critically about a year ago, when I was considering my amp upgrade. If you are interested, a report of that audition is given here
http://www.hifivision.com/amplifier...n-speakers-feasibility-study-6.html#post32599.
The strengths of this amp are the midrange, huge drive (dynamics), and a full bodied sound. There are better possibilities if you are particularly interested in the frequency extremes. But the midrange is smooth, detailed, uncompressed and open with a lot of musicality, as much as one can imgine with amps of a much much higher cost.
If one can partner this amp with a suitable passive pre, a source with proper gain, and proper low-capacitance interconnect of a short length (as has already been suggested by very experienced and respected members) and the matching pair of speakers, you may have very good results. I do not know the speakers you have, but if you have single drivers then do not settle for anything before proper auditioning, because single drivers' strenths are also midrange and possible relative weakness may be the frequency extremes, and particularly the high frequencies where the 909 may not be the best, as commented by others and if my memory serves me correctly, I tend to agree. In that case, it may be better for you to have speakers which have exceptional high frequency response as well as a decent mid to show the excellent mids of the 909 and again a decent bottom end. I guess the whole synergy also depends a bit on the genre of music you like, something I do not know.
I think your Marantz 6003 CDP should match well, also for the reason that generally Marantz does a good job with high frequencies to balance the possible relative lack of it in the 909. I have heard the 6002, but not the current 6003 and liked it for the price, definitely.
Another thing I'd say: do not get fooled by the modest price of the 909. I agree with the review arj presented here. You need to treat this with a bit of respect in the sense of giving it good cables etc. If you look at my audition report above, you'd see some evidence of that. I think the sound changed immensely when the stock quadlink connector (between 99 pre and 909 power) was changed to a mid-level XLO cable.
I'd tend to think the Promitheus TVC to give good results here. Of course some worry would be there regarding the bass.
One word of caution: Dinyaar tends to think that the current 909s quality is not that great. Well the looks are terrible in my opinion. But regarding the quality control of the current lot of quads, I'd refer you to the more knowledgeable lot
.
I am sorry if I have confused you more, but I have a tendency to look at all possible sides (even some impossible sides, just to make it more interesting). The search becomes an engrossing matter
.
Regards.
PS: My apologies. Somewhere I read you have the towers made by Viren, but was not sure, hence wanted you to be careful about using the 909 with single drivers. Now I have discovered that you have multidriver speakers made by Viren using the drivers of your Kenwood. Okay, then.
