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Will rebuilt Quad ESL 57s take the place on a great $30K dynamic speaker?

In the ‘90s I lived joyfully with Quad 57s for 10 years. Have always missed them.

Especially since Electrostatic Solutions rebuilds came to light, I have looked for a used pair. My system today is far better than what I had back then.

I was very curious to hear what they would sound like now.

I love my current speakers, but have experienced some fatigue in loud, full passages. And I realized that most of what I listened to was acoustic Jazz and Classical. But with a good amount of Pop singer/songwriter.

The Quads beautifully reproduce solo or otherwise “gentle” music. They are magical with voices. Eg.: Opera that I never got into much is now sublime. And voices in general.

But on something like Peter Gabriel, the fall apart. “So” which was a favorite recording is problematic at best.

I am leaning toward the Quads since they do “moderate” unlike almost any.

But I do miss the dynamics. Bass and treble.

 

 

 

mglik

Showing 1 response by dover

dover
2,295 posts
 

My best result with Quad 57's was as follows -

Remove steel grils

Put them on stands about 18"  off the floor

Tilt the panels up to more vertical and angle in slightly

Amps - tried a few best by miles was Quicksiver 8417's - could go loud without arcing, plenty of punch, dynamic and massive soundstage.

For reference I had also traded pair of stacked Quads - awful in my view.

An audio buddy had the 57's set up with Decca Ribbon tweeter & Sequerra subwoofers - great system - biggest difference was the ribbon tweeter.

Don't need subwoofers when driven by the Quicksilvers.

Hope this helps.

 

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