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After Quad ESL's?

I am enjoying listening to Quad esl-63's and to the 57's (which I prefer). And though my wife has enjoyed them also, she informs me that her heretofore acceptance of the visual impact on our living room has been "only out of love." Her valiant endurance of my Quad-love has come to an end, period.

It has been six years.

So, now the time has come:
Speak, Quad owners (and former Quad owners), about what else has worked for you.

I would like a smaller, (than the quad) used speaker that images better than the Quad's. These are some of the directions I am thinking about:
The Vandersteen 2c Signatures are on the large side.
Perhaps a Dynaudio monitor, B&W 802 Matrix Series III, Proac (are there any that aren't excessively bright?). Are Lowthers a possibility, or too hopelessly colored?

I am attracted to ATC and Merlin, My taste runs expensive, but my pocket book (I work as a concert piano technician) runs shallow.

$1500 a pair or less would work best.

I also welcome your synergistic amplification suggestions. So far, I have prefered the sound of tubed equipmnet in the under $1500 per component range. I have recently been captivated by the idea of TVC (transformer volume control) Bent Audio NOH, etc. with a SET. But, the TacT M2150 (integrated without room correction) also intrigues me. Does anyone know how it sounds?

Acutal experience prefered to conjecture. Let it rip, and I thank you in advance for your thoughts and replies.
earthpulse
onemug
784 posts
 
For the actual experience you requested, I've owned the B&W Matrix 801, Vandersteen 3a and 2ce, Merlin VSM, then I experienced Planars. For the last 8 yrs, that's all I've owned. Recently I needed a smaller speaker for a smaller room and couldn't find anything that satisfied me after all those yrs with the Planars. On Dukes recommendation, I tried the Omega 3r's. That was 9 months ago, I still have them and continue to be amazed at how good they are. I found their midrange to be very close to what I'm used to. A couple of points if you do decide to go with them: They need a good breakin, they sounded MUCH better with PP tube than SS, and some really nice stuff is happening with some SET's. Add a sub if you need Hz below 50 to 60. Good Luck
tlh28
90 posts
 
Hi,

Aside from the Harbeths, Spendors are also considered as box speakers close to the Quads, esp. in the midrange (but most people move from Spendor to Quad, not the other way). Also the Spendors will work well with tube amps.

TLH
jeffreyds
115 posts
 
I had my Quad ESL-63's for 7 years. I enjoyed every minute with them.

I recently upgraded to a pair of Gallo Reference 3's. If you can stretch your budget, they are worth an audition. They compete with the best of the best in the imaging category. Martin Logan Aeon's are also very nice.

I have found that the Gallo Reference 3's match well with Cary tube amplification. You might find a nice used integrated in your price range.

Jeff
newbee
4,767 posts
 
FWIW, I have passed thru Acoustats, Quad 63's (5 years of use, they are still in my closet), Paragon Jubilee Jems (think Dynaudio Contour 3.3 with better bass and resolution), and most recently Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature systems. The reason I parted with my Quads was due to dynamic range limitations. The Paragons were as smooth and detailed (in my invironment)as the Quads but were more dynamic. The only downside was they needed to be played are medium to high levels to shine, unlike the Quads.

I got the Tylers as much out of boredom and esthetics as anything else (I still have the JJ's in the closet). What I discovered was they produce a very large soundstage at lower volume, they are very smooth and while not "bright" in any way, they are very revealing and its easy to distinguish equipment changes and tweaks. The bass is actually tighter than the JJ's. Based on these observations I suggest you look at their Linbrook monitors which get considerable praise, or the new Linbrook System II. You could always get a sub for the monitors later if you thought you needed the extra octave. A bit abouve your price range used but probably worth it.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
drubin
3,274 posts
 
That volume thing is important. I listen a lot at low volume and Quads may be the all-time champ for that application. The Harbeths don't seem to be so good until you turn it up a bit, alas (but not too much).
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