Recommend an amp + pre for ESL 57s and a new turntable (way out of my league)

@pindac 

That article was an interesting snippet for me, especially as I am fettling a Garrard 301 turntable my dad gave me years ago.

The article contains a quote 

This is where we think the original designers, Peter Walker and D.T. Williamson, might have ended up as an ultimate statement product

I beg to differ.  Peter Walker knew the limitations of the original ESL, now known as the 57, and six years after its introduction started work on a completely new design, the ESL-63 which was finally released into production about 18 years later.  The ESL-63 has evolved through a few models up to the ESL-2912X released some weeks ago.  Not bad for a 60 year old design!

Major changes included: flat panels, not curved; integral dust covers; incipient ionization detection; protection from high input voltage; far kinder impedance characteristics; oriented for stereo not mono playback.

By far the biggest difference, and something that still differentiates from all other panel speakers, is the creation of a virtual point-source of sound about 1-ft behind the panel.  To visualise this, imagine a sound wave radiating from such a source.  The wave first intersects the centre of the panel, then expands outwards in a circular pattern.  Pater Walker's design creates eight concentric stators which approximate rings.  The signal to the outer rings is delayed according to the speed of sound to give the uncanny effect that the sound is coming from1-ft behind the speaker.

The result is that the sound is almost perfectly coherent, allowing the ear-brain to perceive a huge soundstage even in the presence of wall, ceiling and floor reflections.  By contrast, the ESL-57 has a very small sweet spot!

are they 16 ohm?

do others think it is important to use actual 16 ohm taps, or is using 8 ohm taps for these OK?

the answer might narrow the amp choices

@arg6442 No Prob's with the Inquiries at my end.

The N'chrome is the Modular 86 (65W), there was once a 286 option, but not a current design and the current increased Power Model is the 386, my reports on experiences had, was instrumental in quite a few in the UK adopting the 386 and they remain loyal to this day, having it supersede Power Amp's with a good pedigree and reputation.

@richardbrand 

I am familiar with all Quad ESL Models being driven by SS and Valve Power Amp's and having both Analogue Vinyl and Digital CD as the main Source Materials.

Certain unowned models are ones I have multiple hours of being in their company used in systems I am very familiar with.

I have only ever felt later production 63's were falling short of Sibling models, to the point of being unliked.

Early production 63's, not too easy to find, had been as impressive as any Quad ESL that has been demo's to me.

@elliottbnewcombjr - the 57 has a modulus of impedance that rises as frequency falls and falls as frequency rises. They are a difficult load but not in the way difficult cone speakers are.