Quad ESL 57 - Walker's little wonder

[theaudiohobby]

After a bit of scouring and soul searching, I have been offered a pair of Quad ESL 57 :D , Any tips?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.tandv.ru/images/a_esl57_mod_3.jpg

[Geoffcin]

After a bit of scouring and soul searching, I have been offered a pair of Quad ESL 57 :D , Any tips?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.tandv.ru/images/a_esl57_mod_3.jpg

Buy them!

[JoeE SP9]

I second that.

[Peter Duminy]

Enjoy the Music! :cool:

[Florian]

Buy them only if

The foils are in good shape
The caps arent leaking
The speaker still can hold the electric charge.

Check with the Quad usergroup first, these are like Apogee very old and properbly need restoration.

-Flo

[Peter_Klim]

They're great speaker but...it depends...

What do you plan to use them with?
What music to do you listen to and do you like loud deep bass?
Do you listen to music oniy sitting in your sweet spot?

[JoeE SP9]

http://www.quadesl.com/quad_main.shtml

Above is the web site for Quad repairs and restoration if needed. The question about the type of music is a valid one. ESL57's don't have any low bass. What bass they do have is stunning. It just doesn't go very deep. In the early 80's I had a chane to listen to one of the truly high end systems of the time. A pair of stacked ESL 57's with Decca ribbon tweeters and a pair of Hartly subwoofers, it was called the HQD system. Although it has been 20+ years I still think it was one of the best systems I've ever heard. ESL 57's have midrange to die for. I better stop this I can feel QUADlust coming on. I have attached a picture of a pair of stacked QUAD's

[theaudiohobby]

They're great speaker but...it depends...
..

What do you plan to use them with?

My current amplifier.

What music to do you listen to and do you like loud deep bass?

I listen to a large gamut of genres, yes I like deep bass, but I will be using a subwoofer with this one and sometimes sacrifice bass to get the finesse these speakers provide.

Do you listen to music only sitting in your sweet spot?

Nope.

I have heard the speakers with my amplifier, so I know that the combo works however I am thinking of using a less powerful amplifier, so that over-ethusiastic use of the volume will not damage the speakers. I heard the speaker a while back and the sound stayed with me. I am going to test the speakers with my own amplifier, so I do not expect these to be a restoration project, sometime in the future, I hope I can upgrade to the OTEC spec, but until then I hope I can enjoy them as is :D .

[theaudiohobby]

I am thinking of ways to address the back radiation, any ideas on this front?

Thanks, shola.

[JoeE SP9]

I am thinking of ways to address the back radiation, any ideas on this front?

Thanks, shola.
I have owned only planar speakers of one type or another since I bought a pair of Magnepan MG1's in the middle seventies. I have found over the years that positioning dipolar radiators 3ft. or more from a wall that has a mix of absorbant dispersant and reflective surfaces seems to work best. The live end dead end room which works well for boxes is death on dipolars. 18 inches or more from side walls is all that is necessary because of the extreme directivity of panels. Integrating a subwoofer can sometimes be difficult with any electrostatic speaker beacuse of the quickness of it's response. I would try 100hz as the maximum upper frequency fed to your sub. My Acoustat ESL's are crossed over to my subs at 85hz. For me that frequency involves minimum compromise. You will have to experiment with the crossover frequency to determine what is best for you and your environment. Contrary to what some manufacturers say the position of your sub is critical. With one sub, between the 2 panels is the best place to start. You will be listening to one of the most revealing speakers ever made and positioning of the sub with respect to the panels is critical. I sure you will enjoy them even before you have them "tweaked" in. ESL buyers tend to get off the speaker upgrade path except to by bigger or more of the same speaker. Maggy owners are a lot like that, they tend to by only larger Maggies.

[theaudiohobby]

I collected them today and they sound as good as I remember them, excellent midrange clarity and excellent image delineation and no grain, excellent. :D :D :D :D :D

[E-Stat]

I collected them today and they sound as good as I remember them, excellent midrange clarity and excellent image delineation and no grain, excellent. :D :D :D :D :D
Congrats as they are one of the best ever!

rw

[theaudiohobby]

Congrats as they are one of the best ever!

rw

Thanks, much appreciated.