Solid State Amps for Quad ESL 57?

bdp24
I, like Geoff, took the metal grilles off my Quads. Big improvement! I also removed the rear grilles with their attached absorptive pads, about which Quad owners have mixed opinions. If done, the speakers must be further from the wall behind them.

One fanatic Quad owner I new went so far as to removed the plastic dust covers from his 57’s! That leaves the ESL drivers free to attract dust, leading to their early demise it is said.

I also removed the plastic dust covers. Another good idea. And guess what? Never had a problem with dust and there was no early demise. Or later demise. When operating correctly sans grills and plastic dust covers the Quads can be placed so there is no toe in, which is really best, and the distance between the speakers can get determined precisely using the speaker set up track on the XLO Test CD.

I belief I'll try it Geoff. The fanatic I referred to is master-tweaker Ric Schultz of Electronic Visionary Systems (EVS).

I've known Ric for like forever.  He probably got it from me. 😃

ct0517

Sadly, not yet. We were on for a Friday early last month until Jim got pneumonia. He said he was still very sick almost two weeks later. I’ll email him this week, see how he’s feeling and maybe we can set up for something this month, I hope.

Btw, I emailed Nelson Pass attaching the Quad’s impedance curve http://www.quadesl.com/quad_main.html and asked about using the First Watt J2 amp.

His reply seemed a bit vague, though he did say “the Quad wouldn’t hurt it” the J2. Later when I, more wisely, asked that of all his designs which First Watt or Pass Labs amp would make the Quads perform at their best in every way, he said probably the F6, F7 and J2. But he said what he really wanted to know for himself was how the SIT-1and SIT-2 would work with the Quads. Of course, that would be an intriguing session, but those two amps are somewhat more than I’d want to spend and run a lot hotter than the J2-which is hot enough for me.

His reply seemed a bit vague, though he did say “the Quad wouldn’t hurt it” the J2.

Hi Ajant

that comment implies to me that he hasn't actually heard the J2 with the Quads?  

Let me know how it goes. I stand by my thoughts that one can insert whatever amp/s you want in and try them - but this speaker is unique and therefore you should either buy the intended amp from Quad, or one that was built specifically for them, like Roger Modjeski's RM10. The only one I am familiar with. What reinforces this for me is that I have had amps that have worked well with my Acoustat and B&W Electrostatic Speakers - but did not work with the 57. If you have to add an external tweeter to the 57, the amp in my books, isn't doing the job, or there is a problem with the speaker. 

The only amp I have personally owned that worked well with the 57, and also my Acoustat and B&W Electrostats, was my Music Reference RM9. And this is what put me into research mode, and on the path where I ended up with the RM10 years ago.
   
Also - The heat from the RM10 amp is not that bad and imo any SS Amp Class A needed will also get hot.

Cheers