Old SS amps

@jasonbourne71:

My Eagle 2 still works (and sounds) fine. I sold my Bedini 25/25 when it needed it's transformers replaced. I paired it only with QUAD 57 ESL's.

I never had a BEL 1001, but still have a PS Audio 200C, which I use with the bass panels of my Magneplanar Tympani T-IVa speakers. I guess I could have included the PS Audio amp in my list, but I don't know how it rates when compared with the others (I haven''t heard it in a while).

@bdp24 Was the Tympani Bass Panels used in Conjunction with the 57's?

I'm assuming in recent times the Bass Panels from a 25ish Year Old Speaker to augment a 65ish Year Old Speakers Bass.

 The Circular Economy is thriving.

If Yes to my assumption, I would like it if you would be willing to share more.

@pindac: No but using Tympani bass panels with Quads is a very interesting idea! The problem for me would be the required room size; the two Tympani bass panels are about 40 inches wide, the Quads about 34". Side-by-side the Tympani/Quad pairing requires just over 6 feet per channel! That 12 feet (for both channels) plus say 8 feet between left and right speakers requires 20 feet, and that’s with the Tympani/Quad pairing being right against the side walls. 

In the 90’s I put my Quads on top of ESS Transtatics, the Transtatics laid on their sides (20" tall when so placed). I used the Transtatics as subs; they feature a transmissionline-loaded KEF B139 woofer (Dave Wilson used a pair of that woofer in each of his original 1970’s WAMM super speaker).

In the 80’s and 90’s the Finnish company Gradient offered dipole/open baffle subs designed specifically for both Quad 57’s and 63’s. Those subs also served as bases for their respective speakers. The dipole/open baffle sub now offered by GR Research and Rythmik Audio is a much improved version of the ob/dipole design, and work splendidly with all dipole/panel speakers, including of course Quads. My Quads are now in storage, as I am currently listening to Eminent Technology LFT-8b’s and LFT-4’s. The GRR/Rythmik OB/Dipole Sub may be used in place of the LFT-8b’s stock 8" sealed woofer; the LFT planar-magnetic driver plays down to 180Hz (crossing over to the 8" dynamic woofer), and while "normal" subs can typically play no higher than 100-120Hz, the GRR/Rythmik OB/Dipole woofer can be used up to 300Hz.

I bought my Quad 303 new in 1978. It was still sounding great when I had it serviced by Quad in 2021. My Sumo Polaris II was untouched and working beautifully when I sold it in 2023, at 28 years old. I bought a recapped Mark Levinson 331 in 2020 - zero problems, and sold it for a profit last year. My star SS amps are my Michell Alecto II monoblocs, serviced by their designer in 2019 and still sounding fantastic at 30.

So I’ve had precisely zero problems with old SS amps over many years. As base class A/AB technology is pretty mature, they’re a good buy, and are a good way to experience different design philosophies and circuit topologies.

@bdp24 Thank You for the reply.

I asked about the IV Bass Panel as their are reports to be found of it used as a Bass Extension.

My 57's are Stacked, and I will one day produce a Ripole Bass to be coupled to them. This design has a Figure if Eight Radiation that has similarities to the 57 Radiation.

To date, but not with 57's all ESL Speakers heard with a Bass augmentation from a Typical Driver has been noticeable for the add on. This is not saying not liked, but noticeable is a distraction. The Ripole description commonly suggest the Bass Source is lost in the space and not detectable. That is the same description I can add for the 57's, hence the attraction to the design.

Many many years past I was demo'd at a Commercial Audio Event a Gradient Dipole with ESL 63's, I don't remember being that impressed, maybe the price at the time to feel the need to pursue the set up.

The most impressive / indelible demonstration and my Benchmark is the Tim De Paravicini 57''s directly coupled to Valve Power Amp's, his demo' room was non emptying, the experience changed my interest in End Sound for life. I have a close mimic version of this End Sound able to be produced today in my own system.   

Usually when I want substantially noticeable bass presence, I bring in the Cabinet Speakers to be hooked up and give them a run for a period of time.

I am not monogamous about End Sound or Orientated to one formed sound only. , This does not cause any concerns, being able to have variances in the flavour of the Sound acle to be produced, there are other Upstream devices at hand to do similar for the Speakers Types when in use.