Quad ESL 57's at GW
- Thread starter Vaughn
- Start date
hatrack71
distracted by everything
They work fine with receivers and solid state. The power handling is only 50 watts. After that, they arc and take out your amp. I do prefer tubes with mine but it is definitely not a requisite.
hatrack71
distracted by everything
Dude, why won't it drive them? It absolutely will, just don't crank them too much, they will arc. :tears:
hatrack71
distracted by everything
Well these weren't in the $12 range unfortunately...
They had them marked at $299, which is quite high for Goodwill so I guess they had some idea what they had. Today selected items were 40% off so I ended up getting them for $195 out the door. Not give-away prices but I'm happy
They are a speaker I've wanted to try for many years and this is most likely the only way I will be able to.
For those, that is DEFINITELY give away pricing!
tubeornotube
Well-Known Member
It's not the low power handling that is a problem.Its the fact that ESL-57's become a capacitive load at high frequency and send most solid state amps into oscillation and then destruction..
i use VTL Tiny Triodes with mine,a fantastic match and simply would not consider putting just any SS amp on them.A Classe DR-3 yes,maybe a little Bedini,the Quad 303,which can be found cheap enough..But I would not connect a Pioneer,Yamaha or anything like that,to a pair of ESL-57's and expect it to survive long..
Matt..tubeornotube
http://www.quadesl.org/Amplifiers/amplifiers.html
http://www.quadesl.org/Amplifiers/AmpList/amplist.html
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tubeornotube
Well-Known Member
If you read the two links I posted in above reply,you will see it is not a matter of power handling etc and arcing.Its a matter of amplifier stability into the ESL-75`s difficult load..
Matt.....tubeornotube
Matt.....tubeornotube
Quagh
Super Member
Having recently sold a pair of 63's I looked into the rebuilding of these. Seems there are only a handful of qualified (IMO) stateside companies that are willing to do so. However, when I discovered that it was going to run $2,500 at any of them to be rebuilt, I sold them on the 'bay. Apparently the technique to properly stretch the material and the material itself are the keys. These are nowhere near as straightforward as Magnepans. One of the company's is in Florida and one here in South Carolina of all places. I believe there is a West Coast co and one in NYState somewhere. Mine were original with stands and literature etc. One owner, had never been abused, etc etc. Best of luck with them whatever you do. Unless you're very brave or knowledgeable, I don't know if I'd risk it if I were you. (the rebuild that is) Then again, you'd only be out $12 bucks!
Quads Unlimited is one site (Wayne I believe is his name) http://quadsunlimited.us/
QS & D is the other http://www.qsandd.com/hifi_repair.htm
And then there are others too. I started my search for rebuild folks here. http://www.quadesl.org/Links/links.html
PS, I haven't heard many flattering things about the quad amps so I don't know if they are worth hunting down.
Caveat Emptor however, this is just what I found out about mine. Funny thing is.....you can buy rebuilt 63's for the same amount it would cost to rebuild yours! So I have to ask myself.......why bother rebuilding mine?! I really wanted to keep them too as I love the Electrostat sound. Just couldn't justify it.
Keep us posted!
Quads Unlimited is one site (Wayne I believe is his name) http://quadsunlimited.us/
QS & D is the other http://www.qsandd.com/hifi_repair.htm
And then there are others too. I started my search for rebuild folks here. http://www.quadesl.org/Links/links.html
PS, I haven't heard many flattering things about the quad amps so I don't know if they are worth hunting down.
Caveat Emptor however, this is just what I found out about mine. Funny thing is.....you can buy rebuilt 63's for the same amount it would cost to rebuild yours! So I have to ask myself.......why bother rebuilding mine?! I really wanted to keep them too as I love the Electrostat sound. Just couldn't justify it.
Keep us posted!
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
Some dangerous misinformation in some previous posts; most significant of which is the thought of exposing an ESL-57 to 50 watts of input power. 15 watts[/i] gang, not 50.
These ESLs behave as capacitors at all frequencies; the most significant consequences of that (i.e., amplifier immolation) are manifested at high frequencies.
ANd, for the record, Quad has made some excellent vacuum tube and soiled state amplifiers over the years; the vacuum tube Quad II, e.g., is a top-class amplifier in its own right.
These ESLs behave as capacitors at all frequencies; the most significant consequences of that (i.e., amplifier immolation) are manifested at high frequencies.
ANd, for the record, Quad has made some excellent vacuum tube and soiled state amplifiers over the years; the vacuum tube Quad II, e.g., is a top-class amplifier in its own right.
gogofast
Addicted Member
when i was doing my 57's, which was my very first ESL, i've searched every inch of the online postings everywhere, but there are NO clear instructions on how to rebuild these panels. only vague instructions and material choices. you need to build a jig to stretch the films and you'll need lots and lots of practice and retrying after failed attempts. that's why those servicing places stay in business even with ridiculously expensive prices.
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
This doesn't help? (EDIT: OK, I forgot - he bought new panels rather than DIY, sorry!)
http://www.stereophile.com/artdudleylistening/606listening
http://www.stereophile.com/artdudleylistening/706listening
N.B. this is why you have to resist that temptation to push an ESL-57 too hard...
http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/606Quad3.jpg
http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/606Quad5.jpg
EDIT^2: Not that Mr. Dudley isn't capable of a wee bit o' hyperbole, but I still like what he had to say about the re-habbed 57s after they (finally) charged up:
http://www.stereophile.com/artdudleylistening/606listening
http://www.stereophile.com/artdudleylistening/706listening
N.B. this is why you have to resist that temptation to push an ESL-57 too hard...
http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/606Quad3.jpg
http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/606Quad5.jpg
EDIT^2: Not that Mr. Dudley isn't capable of a wee bit o' hyperbole, but I still like what he had to say about the re-habbed 57s after they (finally) charged up:
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Nice Find)))))) Congrats)))
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
Update...
After reading extensively online about refurbishing these I was starting to get cold feet. I decided to try and cobble together a couple of power cords so that I could at least get a baseline on where the repairs need to start.
Let me just say :jawdrop:
Even needing refurbishment these are the most amazing speakers I've ever owned, and by a fair margin. The bass is quite subdued right now, apparently from the weakened power supply. I've decided to go in and do what I can and farm out whatever I have to.
I know I can rebuild the power supplies and apply new dust covers to the bass panels so that is where I will start. I've installed a couple of dedicated brackets on my garage/studio wall to facilitate working on the 57's. I noticed a rip in the back dustcover of one of the bass panels after removing the back screen. I removed both powers supplies and surprisingly they seem to be of the beeswax potting variety as opposed to the epoxy. Tomorrow I'll melt out the beeswax and remove the two diode boards.
After reading extensively online about refurbishing these I was starting to get cold feet. I decided to try and cobble together a couple of power cords so that I could at least get a baseline on where the repairs need to start.
Let me just say :jawdrop:
Even needing refurbishment these are the most amazing speakers I've ever owned, and by a fair margin. The bass is quite subdued right now, apparently from the weakened power supply. I've decided to go in and do what I can and farm out whatever I have to.
I know I can rebuild the power supplies and apply new dust covers to the bass panels so that is where I will start. I've installed a couple of dedicated brackets on my garage/studio wall to facilitate working on the 57's. I noticed a rip in the back dustcover of one of the bass panels after removing the back screen. I removed both powers supplies and surprisingly they seem to be of the beeswax potting variety as opposed to the epoxy. Tomorrow I'll melt out the beeswax and remove the two diode boards.
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Well these weren't in the $12 range unfortunately...
They had them marked at $299, which is quite high for Goodwill so I guess they had some idea what they had. Today selected items were 40% off so I ended up getting them for $195 out the door. Not give-away prices but I'm happy
They are a speaker I've wanted to try for many years and this is most likely the only way I will be able to.
Nice score!
I picked up my ESL-63's for a about the same price. Mine need work. I too was surprised at what it would cost to send them out for a rebuild. Until I have the room to lay them out and attempt to repair them myself, they will sit in the corner and collect some dust.
There's a pair of poorly working Quad 57s in my circle of friends that gathered dust for years as they were passed along for free from one owner to another. I turned them down myself.
