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Is Quad ESL57 most amazing speaker of all time?

Just had to try one of these as i had heard so much about it. Enjoyed a lot of old Quad stuff so thought must be good. Recently in my room passed the following speakers, Spendor BC1 spendor SP1, Harbeth 30 and 40's. Reynaud offrandes, audio physic avanti, Audio note ANE spx, Avantagrde duo's(modified subwoofers), tANNOY GOLD DUAL CONCENTRICS, ETC ETC ETC.

Within minutes i heard more from a recording than i ever had with any other speaker I have knowm. The realism and detail due to the fast transients are absolutely astonishing. Ok will not go loud bass a little monochrome, but how could you live without that midrange?? It is that good. I was using jadis JPL pre and a good old cheap Quad 606. I didnot even have the chance to drag out the megabucks Audio Note signature 300b mono's before I blew the treble on one unit. Apparently very common. Only the Audio Note speaker approaches the Quad for sound quality although the audio note gets the emotional aspects spot on, the Quad as good as it is in communicating the emotion is just so scarily intimately accurate. Accurate to the point that it is unrealistic. By that I mean that you are so intimate with the musician or vocalist its as if you got up on the stage and sat beside them to hear details you never would if you were in the audience.

Is there any body else out there who can see where i am coming from??? Or is this just a one night stand??
audiojoy4
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
one more thing....i agree with mr tennis....the audio note speakers are not even in the same universe...as snell even
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Jaybo, if you have ever heard the AudioNotes set up by Peter at CES, you would not say this. I tried them myself and could not duplicate what I heard at CES, but this is either me or my electronics, not the speakers.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Is Quad ESL57 most amazing speaker of all time?

Since this question appears rhetorical perhaps it seeks a circular answer?

How about this;

The most amazing speaker of all time is one that you keep and use as your main speaker in your system for all time.

So prove it by not making this another ETC ETC ETC in your long list of failed attempts at finding a great speaker.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi tbg:

i heard the audionote setiup at ces in the alexis park and visit the audionote room every year. the audionote is not close to the quad 57. i agree with jaybo.

you cannot expect a cone driver to emulate the sound of an electrosat. dispersion patterns are different as well as technology.

while you may like the audionote speakers, i would say, i could tell the difference between the audionote and quad speakers, other things being equal.

would you wager $100 in a blindfold test ??

i don't think you would.
sirspeedy
738 posts
 
Sometimes something is just so enjoyable,that one simply forgets about "how" they should listen,and just "listen" for enjoyment......The ESL-57 fits the latter catagory.
I DO remember my first experience with the ESL-57,it was sobering.I heard ,at the time my favorite LP,Steely Dan's AJA on this speaker.Utilizing some CLASSIC Audio Research gear,and an original Oracle table and early MC cartridge.
There is NO way I can put into words how the music seemed to "squeeze" out,and "flow" into the room.This was at the "old" Singer location,upstairs.I definitely did not think about "any" loss of HZ,anywhere,but loved the "presentation....A GREAT speaker!!!!
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