By popular demand.


Several members have requested that I post my system which I have finally managed to do. Please pardon the shots that are out of focus. I am not the world's most gifted photographer or even close. I have done my best to explain things but I'm sure there will be at least a little confusion do please ask questions. Most of the requests have occurred here in analog so I posted it here. There is an analog component but it is rather plain Jane in comparison to the rest of the system. 
128x128mijostyn
Yes, regular projectors are not too bad but the decent laser ones are still crazy. The JVC unit is down to a paltry $25,000. 
Watching the Russian GP right now. It would be nice if someone could win besides Mercedes.
Digital? At this point all I do is turn it off and one and listen just like any other system. Vinyl still wonderfully analog. The system is like a big set of headphones except the band is in front of you and not in your head. Look at the screen shot of the Acoustat measurements. Look how different they are above 2 kHz. They are 20 dB apart in places and the set up is almost perfectly symmetrical. What you can not see is an alcove on the left and a window on the right. Below 2 kHz they run together pretty nicely but there are still 5 dB differences in places. Remember, these speakers are as simple as it gets, no crossovers just identical electrostatic panels. You have the transformers but there is no way they would be that far off. It is all the room. If You measure anyone's system you are going to see stuff like this. Imagine what this does to the image. I can bypass the room control by remote and the comparison is almost silly. If you had not heard the corrected system you probably would think the system was pretty good but, you punch in the room control and everything snaps into focus, game over. 
Initially, there was a steep learning curve. Once you learn how to program it then you have to figure out what you want to accomplish. This is a matter of trial and error tuning until you get what you want. It took me probably five years until I stopped tuning. The only time I have to work with it is when I change amplifiers or move the speakers. Then I have to set up the mic and take new measurements and reprogram all the presets which is straight forward. 
The single major problem with these loudspeakers is they are very selfish. Once you move off center the high frequencies drop off fast.
This is why I want to switch to Sound Labs 845's, much better dispersion. 
The plastic mats on the floor in front of the speakers are electrified, cat control. Better a little zap than the big one he would get behind the speakers. Plus, they are the ultimate scratch posts. 
Once you move off center the high frequencies drop off fast.
I have naked Quad ESLs!
I know them well! I have been party to the destruction of three of them.
Mark Levinson made a stand that stacked two Quads on either side of a Decca ribbon tweeter. The system was finished off with two 30" Hartley subwoofers. It was driven by six 25 watt John Curl designed amplifiers.
In trying to get it tuned properly we destroyed I don't know how many ribbons and three quads. The system went deceptively loud and the Quads never sounded stressed, they just fried. Eventually, we got the hang of it and the slaughter stopped. As far as I know we only sold two of them. This is in Miami, FL. 
That Quad is a magic speaker. It has that ESL rightness that is lacking in dynamic speakers. Back then it was the only one readily available until Acoustat launched the Model X which was hopelessly colored due to a really bad cabinet. With the Monitor series they finally got things right.
If you come across another pair you might try stacking them. Just a thought.

Indeed! Impressive story. I've had the pleasure of hearing stacked Quads with a Decca Kelly ribbon on Croft OTLs. No subs. Large room. Opera. Late 80s. Nice.