Solid State Amps for Quad ESL 57?

Thanks Atmasphere points noted and helpful

IOW, its impedance curve is not an efficiency curve like it is with many box speakers!! I can’t emphasize that enough- ESLs are fundamentally different in this regard.

The only amps I know of that can produce anything like a constant power characteristic are all tube amps. However, if you **do** use solid state, its quite evident that loop feedback should not be used in the amp’s design.

What they **do** confirm is that Quads can play bass quite nicely if you have the right amp on them!

For the bass they play its very good. If the music one listens to is satisfied by this ....great.

However most I know have left the 57’s due to the bottom octave missing and lack of HF’s.

The lack of HF’s being from what I mentioned earlier.

But this thread is 8 years old :^)

Jan 2017 - For speakers which are not full range, implying bottom octave missing or bottom couple octaves much lower in db on full range music; subs today take care of it very nicely and integrate well. But they do need to be setup well.

Kalali
So by extension, this begs the question that every ESL speaker manufacturer should either develop and sell a matching amplifier or almost all ESL speaker owners out there will not be able to take full potential of their investments.

Kalali
Well Quad do and Acoustat used to as well.
IMO, anyone looking to buy really "any" expensive speaker should be calling the company direct and asking them what amps are in their test labs. Likewise if buying amps - find out what speakers they are using. I have been making these calls in past.

This may not answer the OP's question, but I decided to have my long neglected Quad ESLs ('57s) restored along with my long unused Quad II amps. This is not intended to be my "main" system, but one I can enjoy in the house as a vintage set up, appreciating that the 57s do certain things extremely well within their obvious limits. Back in the day, I was never very successful at mating the '57s with subwoofers, and though I know things have improved on the subwoofer front, I'm not sure I'm going to try--at least on certain types of material, the old Quad can be spooky real.  I guess that means I'm not playing Black Sabbath at full tilt, but life is full of compromises. :) 

One of the experiences that "hooked" me into high end audio was the day I walked into a stereo store in Sherman Oaks, Calif. and heard John Coltrane's tenor sax flowing out of a side room. I asked the guy at the counter who was playing the sax?  He laughed and said: "Oh that's just the FM jazz station playing though a pair of Quad 57's."  He took me into the room and sure enough, no live sax there. Just a pair of Quad's, and all Quad solid state electronics.  It was the Quad 33 amp, the Quad 33 preamp, the Quad FM-3. All miniature in stature but glorious in sound.   

If I had an extra room where I could fit a vintage system, I'd most likely go with the above. 

Frank

^^^ Here's an interesting review:

http://hometheaterreview.com/quad-33-preamp-and-303-amp-reviewed/

Hi whart - congrats on getting them set up.

Would be interested in seeing a pic of the room so I can understand what is happening.

I would be willing to go back into audiophile mode if I had the Quad II amps to compare with my Music Reference Rm10. :^)

My 57 room can be seen on my AudioGon virtual system - last pic bottom right.

I guess that means I'm not playing Black Sabbath at full tilt, but life is full of compromises. :)

Come on over and bring your lps.   :^)

They will seduce and hook you with single instruments and female voices which sound like they are at the Microphone. They make the Acoustat sound colored. and veiled. Running them as a vintage second system with selected music is no problem and with many electronics.

The issue comes ....and this day comes for everyone that listens to full range dynamic music .....you want to hear them compete with their main rig.. And this is where everyone discovers it is not plug and play. I think how much success one will have is based solely on how stubborn a personality one is, for making something work and.....is the individual the type to keep good gear and tweak. Or are they a frequent flyer, buying , selling, trading gear like stocks. If the later - the Quad 57 is not for you. It is very difficult to buy, sell, trade your listening space.

Oregonpapa (Frank)- I ran the Quad SS preamp/amps for a time. The amp was the bigger 405 that you needed to insert limiters in so you didn't fry the speakers. They are good candidates IMO and work well for a second vintage system and on some material. The preamp very quirky.

Cheers Chris