Quad ESL 63's
- Thread starter chicks
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Wait, he says those are the "real deal of vintage hi fi". Vintage, Chicks. VINTAGE!!! And what do I run? Quad ESL-63s! My whole life just became a sham. All my arguments, for nothing
.It's not the opportunity of a lifetime but it sounds like a fair deal. I don't know what is involved with fixing them yourself but it seems more than a bit complicated. You can get replacement panels and parts for them. Mine were totally rebuilt by a place called Electrostatic Solutions, prior to my purchase of them.
They also sell parts, and I think some other places do the work as well.
http://www.estatsolution.com/index.php?bod=6
A mint pair that has been completely rebuilt is about what is quoted in the ad, I think. I paid around that for mine because they were essentially brand-new, and actual new Quads that are equivalent but modified designs (Quad 2805), are around $10,000.
They also sell parts, and I think some other places do the work as well.
http://www.estatsolution.com/index.php?bod=6
A mint pair that has been completely rebuilt is about what is quoted in the ad, I think. I paid around that for mine because they were essentially brand-new, and actual new Quads that are equivalent but modified designs (Quad 2805), are around $10,000.
chicks
Lunatic Member
Complete Speaker Rebuild $1,895.00 pair
***All prices include ground freight shipping in North America***
Thanks, will have to dwell on it a bit. :scratch2: Actually have that much in the kitty jar from CL sales of thrift finds, so it's not completely out of the question...
So, would the Kenny 600 be enough to drive these?
***All prices include ground freight shipping in North America***
Thanks, will have to dwell on it a bit. :scratch2: Actually have that much in the kitty jar from CL sales of thrift finds, so it's not completely out of the question...
So, would the Kenny 600 be enough to drive these?
Raynald
Addicted Member
They are sublime when working properly. The 600 certainly has enough power. As I recall from my days of selling them, the Quads are not that inefficient but present a load that gives some amps trouble. Ideally we should hear from someone who has tried the combo or something similar.
chicks
Lunatic Member
Have been reading up on them. Looks like clean 50Wpc MOSFET amps are nearly ideal for them. Just built a superbly clean 50Wpc lateral MOSFET amp.
Also looks like the Quads don't do well with rock, prefer jazz and classical. Ideal.
My concern would be if they have enough oomph in a large, 16' X 24' room with high ceilings. I never listen loud, so maybe...
Also looks like the Quads don't do well with rock, prefer jazz and classical. Ideal.
My concern would be if they have enough oomph in a large, 16' X 24' room with high ceilings. I never listen loud, so maybe...
My experience was that they had a lot more oomph than I'd been led to believe. That's also been the one comment everybody makes on mine, though I don't know how the rebuilt affected that. Also, mine have stiffer frames being the pro monitor versions, and as such have a bit more dynamic capability. They also have the improved protection circuit. I've had them hooked to a 400wpc amp without blowing either up. But today they live happily attached to my 30wpc Class-A Pass Aleph 30.
I'd look for the pro versions of the nearly identical "USA Monitor". They are more robust than the earlier models and I hear they're less likely to kill your amp as the protection is different. If your amp can play into low ohm loads it should be fine if they protect themselves. The later ones show a 2-ohm load to the amp (so I've heard), I've yet to trigger it and I don't always listen at sensible volume, though I don't crank it to stadium levels. Not sure about the earlier ones though they have a reputation for being easier to upset.
I'd look for the pro versions of the nearly identical "USA Monitor". They are more robust than the earlier models and I hear they're less likely to kill your amp as the protection is different. If your amp can play into low ohm loads it should be fine if they protect themselves. The later ones show a 2-ohm load to the amp (so I've heard), I've yet to trigger it and I don't always listen at sensible volume, though I don't crank it to stadium levels. Not sure about the earlier ones though they have a reputation for being easier to upset.
Last edited:
Sounds like you're painting yourself into the inevitable corner with only one option...Do it!
Wait, he says those are the "real deal of vintage hi fi". Vintage, Chicks. VINTAGE!!! And what do I run? Quad ESL-63s! My whole life just became a sham. All my arguments, for nothing
heh, busted!
According to this article in Stereophile, they were introduced in 1983 after a roughly 18 year development cycle. So that makes them 30 years old or so, plenty old to be considered vintage, even if rebuilt. And the next article on patents clearly shows it the concepts to be built on the work of Kellogg from 1929 and Donovan D.E.L. Shorter of the BBC in 1941. (Shorter was also instrumental in the fundamental acoustical research which led to the LS series of loudspeaker development at the BBC from the 60's through the 70's). Truly a vintage idea, later developed and harnessed through solid engineering and physics by true innovators.
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/416
http://www.quadesl.org/Hard_Core/ESL63History/esl63history.html
Even spelling color = colour, heh, next thing you'll be eating bangers with warm beer, then off to the tennis court for strawberries and milk.
Just be careful which side of the road you drive on while bringing those babies home with you. Good Luck!
Cadillac Kid
Addicted Member
Gonna change you user name to 'Cheeky'?
SimplySound
Kent Engineering & Fondry
Wait, he says those are the "real deal of vintage hi fi". Vintage, Chicks. VINTAGE!!! And what do I run? Quad ESL-63s! My whole life just became a sham. All my arguments, for nothing
We know you have no taste! I mean English speakers, what a bunch of shite!
Chicks, if you want to drive to the coast, these are a bit more, but still reasonable. No Afil!
Last edited:
frommerstop
Super Member
An EXCELLENT amp for ESL-63s!! I have two of them, and a pair of the mono B-012s as well, and I've used them on '57s & 63s, as well as a number of other speakers. I had to go all the way up to Spectral DMA50s to improve enough to take the Luxmans off the Quads.
I've been using Quads since I bought my first pair in '83. I bought a second pair in '88, and they both still work, and neither has ever needed service! I did get a pair of USA monitors in the early '90s, and they were slightly better in some ways, but when I was tight for cash, I had no problem selling off the USAs (they had better resale value), and just using the originals... they aren't all that different.
If you can find them, I strongly recommend using Arcici stands on '63s. If you use Arcicis, the slight little difference in sound between the USA monitors, and the older, less ridged version almost vanishes if they are compared while in Arcici stands. They do really NEED stands of some sort, and the optional factory "Stand & Delivers" are OK, but they don't improve the speaker's rigidity, and they're not really high enough, IMO. The stiffer side rails are the biggest difference between the USAs & the older '63s, the changes to the protection circuit were very small, and retrofitable.
'63s are not particularly hard to drive, and they tend to make most amps sound good (unlike most other ESLs), but if you match them up with the "right" amp, there is real magic! They work well with modest push-pull tube amps too, like Conrad Johnson MV52s, Quicksilver monos, or even Dynaco ST70s, or MrkIII & IVs. I'd say, in general, around 30-60 wpc tube, or 60-80wpc SS is the appropriate power range for ESL63s.
Properly functioning, they will play very loud, as loud as any non-head banger would want... plenty loud enough for realistic orchestral works. No, they won't rattle the windows & scare pets like Infinity RSIVs, or such, but they don't need any bass enhancement to sound very full unless you have a terribly bright room, or are into Wagner at truly annoying levels. I don't tend to have "audiophile buddies" dropping by too often, but when I do, they are almost always "amazed" at how loud & powerful Quads sound. In short, don't believe the hype, these really are practical full range loud speakers
If you can afford it, I say GO FOR IT!!
I'm sure you won't be disappointed, and if you did decide they weren't right for you, you shouldn't have any problem reselling them once they have been properly serviced.
Last edited:
SimplySound
Kent Engineering & Fondry
Frommer, you never stop amazing me... Quads uhhh? :scratch2:
I guess the Quest never does end!
