Quad ESL owners question

Bob,

Your system is totally awesome. However, I'd say that the shear size of your speakers is indicative of what I was alluding to when I generalized that good panels have great ambience, midrange second to none but are less well suited to higher SPL's. Perhaps that is partly why the bigger panels (Apogees, Sound Labs, Acoustats etc.) are BIG.

Bob; did you consider anything larger than 8 inch drivers for the subs; I have soundlab m2's and anything more than 10 inches for the sub seems to be "slow" and can't keep pace with the panels;just wondering if you experimented with different size drivers;they look awesome !!!

Hello Bob,

It seems I should have read all the posts more carefully before jumping in.

In my experience, whether planar speakers can play convincingly the genres of music you mentioned depends on the rest of the system and the size of the room. For instance, I couldn't listen to rock until I added the Spectron* Monoblocks. I recently added the Joule Electra Marianne Electra Memorial preamp and the sound I'm getting, in terms of slam and impact, is usually not associated to planar speakers.

I assembled my entire system around the Maggies 3.6r. My goal, and my reference, has always been real (live) music, so I need to hear, see and feel the music. In my current system, I get all this while having control and finesse in the music presentation. On the other hand, I've also heard the Maggies in other systems and they couldn't really play loud or have impact. So I personally think it all depends on each one's goals and music tastes.

Best,

iSanchez

*
2,400 Watts at 8 Ohms
3,200 Watts at 4 Ohms
5,600 Watts at 2 Ohms
Headroom of 7,000 watts over 500 msec
Peak voltage: 240 volts
Stability - up to 0.1 Ohm
THD: <.01% from 1W to 600W @ 8O ( in the listening range)
Output impedance: @ 1kHz .036 Ohms
Output impedance: @ 20kHz .19 Ohms
Bandwidth: 200 kHz (less)

On the other hand, I've also heard the Maggies in other systems and they couldn't really play loud or have impact.

That has been my experience and I am sorry that my generalization clearly does not apply to you or Bob. My excuse is I never heard Maggies with 7,000 watts behind them!!!!

Hi Shadorne, My point was that many technologies are indeed "good". And that it is difficult to make any sweeping statement. Now of course that doesnt mean that one cannot prefer one over the other, this is where our personal preferences and likes and needs come into play. Which is what makes the world go round. And just like ones preference for tubes/SS, transformer/active, TT/CD, DD/belt drive, who cares? The only thing we should be concerned about/helping each other with is how to get the best performance out of THEIR equipment. Why? Because that is what we own, why not just work towards getting the best out of it. Thats all you can do, unless someone can talk you into spending $$$$ for new equipment.

How can it be that, no matter the topology there is always someone on this site that says it is wrong while others have the complete opposite view?

I could have fallen for any speaker type. As I mentioned when I was looking for speakers many years ago, I chose the Acoustats (part fate/part desire) but I had listened to a number of speakers that I could have lived with forever. I have had the Acoustats for a long time and plan on living with them till the day I die. But thats just me. I also have and use my original SAE amps circa 1980. I have made changes over the years but enjoy many of the (now old) fine pieces of equipment that I own.

This is not limited to electronic equipment but also to all of the things in my life. Motorcycles that I have owned and continue to ride after 25 years, same for art, clothes, music, books, you get the idea.

Now just think if I had bought those Klipschorns.....but not before going to bed, don't want any nightmares:)

Just kidding! But just think of how different my system would be if I had bought and kept them.

Also I am sure that few people would even like to own my system (or listen to it for that matter, I am sure it would put Mr Tennis into cardiac arrest!) and I know that, but for me it is spectacular.

It is no different for my motorcycle collection, probably useless for 99% of the motorcyclist out there. But me and a couple of other nutty friends thrive on them and we help each other get the best out of them. Should that not be what we try do do here?

Now just think if my first bike was a Harley, but not before going to bed, we dont want any nightmares!

Bob