Stacked pair Quad ESL 57 electrostatic speakers gallery

[Teti]

Look what i find. Looks inspirational

http://audiotweak.net/2013/02/12/stacked-pair-quad-esl-57-electrostatic-speakers-gallery/

 

[SimplySound]

All I can say is WOW... and I bet this is Frommer's room!

I wonder what the bass cabs are below the stack!

 

[JohnVF]

That's the Levinson/Quad HQD system. Odd that it had what looks like a ARC amp though. I've posted that picture recently, too - would love to hear the whole setup. Stacked Quads are nice.

 

[ultumax]

I've never heard these before what do they sound like???

 

[JoeESP9]

It's kind of hard to describe two pair of speakers that many consider to have the best midrange of any speaker ever made.

The picture is of a HQD system. They were composed of two stacked pairs of Quad ESL 57's with Decca ribbon tweeters mounted between them and Hartley sub woofers. The subs under the Quads in the picture don't look like Hartley's. The HQD systems were originally from Mark Levinson (the man) and used Levinson electronics. The power amps in the picture are an Audio Research (left) and a Levinson. It looks like there is a Levinson preamp behind the right speaker.

When the HQD system was introduced I heard one with a single Hartley sub woofer. They caused me to switch from Magneplanars to electrostatic speakers.

 

[SimplySound]

It's kind of hard to describe two pair of speakers that many consider to have the best midrange of any speaker ever made.

The picture is of a HQD system. They were composed of two stacked pairs of Quad ESL 57's with Decca ribbon tweeters mounted between them and Hartley sub woofers...

Oh now I get it (HQD)... make that double WOW!!! :jawdrop:

Sure this isn't Frommer's Room? :scratch2:

 

[frommerstop]

All I can say is WOW... and I bet this is Frommer's room!

I wonder what the bass cabs are below the stack!

Not my room I'm afraid. When I ran stacked '57s they were just bolted bottom to bottom, and stood on three legs. In affect, they were sitting, two stock legs, attached to the "top" of the (inverted) lower panel, and the whole panel leaned back against a third leg that went from the center top of the array, down to the floor, about a foot behind. I didn't have the Decca ribbon tweeter in the middle either, I've heard that was an awesome combination. I'm not sure if I have any pictures of it, but I'll look. Double '57s were a really good ESL system for sure, but I think there are a few more modern ESLs that beat it over all... Several Acoustats, especially Spectras, most Soundlabs, and of course Quad ESL-63s. As I've mentioned before, I've never regretted trading in my '57s when the '63s came out. I think '63s were the best audio purchase I've ever made.

...still, I'd love to have that pair with the nice stands & Deccas!

 

[SimplySound]

Double '57s were a really good ESL system for sure, but I think there are a few more modern ESLs that beat it over all... Several Acoustats, especially Spectras...

Hate to side-jack, but seems you really have some high praise for the Acoustat Spectra 2200's... I read your back and forth with TomlinMGT when he was having some issues with his. I was looking at a pair in Cali but not sure I'm ready to make a leap into stats! :scratch2:

 

[JohnVF]

Not my room I'm afraid. When I ran stacked '57s they were just bolted bottom to bottom, and stood on three legs. In affect, they were sitting, two stock legs, attached to the "top" of the (inverted) lower panel, and the whole panel leaned back against a third leg that went from the center top of the array, down to the floor, about a foot behind. I didn't have the Decca ribbon tweeter in the middle either, I've heard that was an awesome combination. I'm not sure if I have any pictures of it, but I'll look. Double '57s were a really good ESL system for sure, but I think there are a few more modern ESLs that beat it over all... Several Acoustats, especially Spectras, most Soundlabs, and of course Quad ESL-63s. As I've mentioned before, I've never regretted trading in my '57s when the '63s came out. I think '63s were the best audio purchase I've ever made.

...still, I'd love to have that pair with the nice stands & Deccas!

I've listened to stacked ESL-57s from Radio People out of Hong Kong and while they were among the nicest looking ESLs I've seen (custom frames), I, too, prefer the sound of my single pair of 63s. The depth of image, image specificity, and dynamics were better while they give up very little in midrange.

 

[Bigerik]

Damn, I'd like to hear that setup!

 

[frommerstop]

Hate to side-jack, but seems you really have some high praise for the Acoustat Spectra 2200's... I read your back and forth with TomlinMGT when he was having some issues with his. I was looking at a pair in Cali but not sure I'm ready to make a leap into stats! :scratch2:

Yeah, I've made no bones about my love of Spectras. I really feel the entire Spectra series (yes, even the 11/1100) were some of the very best ESLs ever on the market. The 22s, and 33s seem like particularly great audio bargains for a "near SOTA" system. IME propely set up Acoustats can give ANY other ESLs a true run for their money - yes, even including the bigger Martin Logans. Logans have never been voiced quite to my tastes. For the same size, and half the price, Acoustat Threes sound better, especially if not using a sub.

Acoustats were a bargain when new, are a veritable steal at what they cost now, and have proven to be the most durable, and maintenance free 'stats ever made. I'll have them in mind when I build my retirement cottage... they'll be fighting it out against some version of the Quads for my ultimate, and most likely final system. I'm not planning on a big enough place to have more than one system (except for a little one in the shop).

 

[squirrelnest]

Nice post and cool link....crazy speaker build!

 

[frperdurabo]

I loved my ESL 57s, but I had the Townsend ribbon supertweeters and a pair of REL subs. Without the supertweets there just isn't enough top end.

 

[SimplySound]

I'm not planning on a big enough place to have more than one system (except for a little one in the shop).

A "little one"!!! Right... a sweet little pair of LS3/5a's I would presume!
:yes:

 

[JoeESP9]

Hate to side-jack, but seems you really have some high praise for the Acoustat Spectra 2200's... I read your back and forth with TomlinMGT when he was having some issues with his. I was looking at a pair in Cali but not sure I'm ready to make a leap into stats! :scratch2:

As a Spectra 22 owner I go along with what frommerstop says about them. They are my only front speakers. They don't get swapped in and out and I've no real desire to replace them.

Incidentally, the only differences between the 22/33 series and the 2200/3300 series are cosmetic. The xx00 models have wrap around wood trim, sort of like Magneplanars used to have.