Do Quad Electrostatics Come To An End of Life?

I think it would be an imposition to pick his brains when there's no likelihood I will use his services. Maybe I'm over-polite, but I wouldn't do that. In the interim, my repair guy has replied to me:

I've done a bit of digging, and according to some technicians, the glue that holds the stators to the latticework becomes brittle with age, and transport/shipping can jar it loose, though it can also fail by other means. This ties in with your findings about increased issues after an active session. The pops are the diaphragm contacting the stator(s) and shorting the HV. 

 

I pulled the old panel out of the Archives for closer investigation. Stripping it down revealed that the position of the arc coincided with a sagging stator front and back, and the glue is indeed brittle. I can easily see vibration (from music or transport) breaking more of it free. The panel we replaced last time has a totalled diaphragm (a sizable hole burned right through). I don't know whether the absence (thus far) of full-time sizzle in this lower panel indicates that the diaphragm is not yet punctured. If it isn't punctured, it is possible that re-gluing the stator may resolve the issue, but I've only got a foggy shape of a plan for how to do that at this stage. If the diaphragm is punctured, it may not be feasible.

 

I don't believe I have the capability to rebuild damaged panels at this stage, though there are outfits that offer such services (SDS Audio Labs, for example). There are also kits available for the DIYer (such as from ER Audio), but they require a lot of space and the time required for me to undertake that work would likely push the repair into the 'uneconomical' territory. Also, I get worried just looking at the details of what's involved (one wrong move and it's back to square one again). At this stage, I can replace panels, but I can't repair them.

 

It is a valid hypothesis that shipping/transporting the unit(s) will make the issue worse - these things are fragile even when new - and I'm worried about the same if they were to visit me again. I don't, as a rule, do house-calls anymore, but this may be an extenuating circumstance and I'd be willing to look into that option for you.

 

I wish I could provide an easy, cheap, and surefire solution, but I don't think that one exists for this. I was hoping you just had that one bad panel that didn't get enough glue during manufacturing (or something). However, it's looking like a systemic or time-dependent issue with these units (or this one unit's panels, if it's the same speaker as before). 

How about calling Sheldon for his advice? He's quite friendly and I'm sure if you explain your concerns, he can help even if you don't wan't to vacation to New Hampshire with your quads...

That's what I've been doing for the last 15 years!

Turn them off after each use and then turn on when using. They will last for a very very long time and only take 5 secs to charge 

No, not turned on all the time. Sheldon Stokes is in the USA, but if I can, it would be easier to do this in Canada. My repair man would likely be perfectly happy to replace all the panels in one go. The question really is this - is this likely to be necessary?

No experience with Quads but electrostatic loudspeakers do not like to have dust on them. I cover my panels when not in use. If you have your system turned on all the time, I think another type of loudspeaker would work better and last longer. 

It is much much cheaper to repair the entire set of panels in a quad esl speaker at the same time..... instead of doing one panel at a time.  When you do one at a time, you are paying again and again for the first steps in dissasembly.  And since the panels are all the same age.. you will be frustrated doing them one at a time. 

And I know some folks who specialize in rebuilding quad esl speakers use better glues than the original manufacturer and they do a better more patient job of curing the adhesives to make them more robust and longer lasting.  if you got 15 years out of the original panels, then maybe you would get even more time out of them if they were fully rebuilt.  

might try talking to Sheldon Stokes.  he is easy to find online.  He is expert at rebuilding quads.  just my suggestion.