Quad ESL 57 - Walker's little wonder

[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 .