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Looking for vintage Quad ESL's - or my wife thinks a "shrink" becase she says I'm crazy!

Been out of the hi-fi ’scene’ since the early 80’s. My last system was a pair of Quad ESL-57’s with a Quad 303 amp, Hafler DH101 pre-amp (kit I built) and a Linn LP-12 and Grace tonearm (can’t remember what cartridge I had). I bought all of it for a song back then. The speakers were $300 (nobody knew what they were or what they were worth), I got the LP12 for $500 (salesman accommodation). The power amp and pre-amp were $200 combined. Oh yeah, I worked at a hi-fi store in Chapel Hill NC which explains some of the deals I got. Sold *everything* to pay for a down payment on a trailer as I had just gotten married. Skip 35 years, raised three kids, put them all through college, worked as a software engineer until retiring. Now I want to get back into my original passion. I can’t afford to buy new stuff, the price has gone ballistic. So, I’m beginning again to put together a system to listen to my music on. I still have my Hafler pre-amp which I will use if it still works until I can get something better. I just bought two 125 watt monoblock tube amplifier kits from Bob Latino (www.tubes4hifi.com). I love building things and am very handy with a soldering iron! Also, I always loved the sound of tubes.

Speakers...That’s where I need help. I *really* loved the way my old Quad ESL-57’s sounded. When I was 15 (I’m now 66) my friends dad had stacked Quad ESL-57’s and I swear I’ve NEVER heard anything as good since then! That’s why I’m really wanting to go back to electrostatic speakers. I’ve auditioned some of the Martin Logan stuff at Best Buy. I’m astounded that they are distributed in that chain..I also was flabbergasted that McIntosh was sold there too. Regardless, the salespeople don’t know what to demonstrate let alone setup up quality hifi equipment. They sounded terrible. Even after listening to the ML speakers on several different occasions I concluded I don’t like the way they sound. I still think a proper pair of Quad’s is the way to go. The problem is finding a pair! I’ve discovered Electrostatic Solutions LTD and if I get a decent looking pair intend to have them rebuilt there. I’m guessing after I find a pair and get them refurbished I’ll be spending between $4K and $5K. Unless I find a great deal on a pair that is already up to snuff.

DAC - I never knew what a DAC was until recently but conclude that I need one since I will be listening to music streaming from my iPhone, my Mac Mini etc. I feel really ignorant on what kind of DAC I need. I’ve noticed that some of them can double as a pre-amp too and hook directly up my power amps. That might be good for a temporary solution until I can get a proper preamp. Still, DAC’s can range from $500 - $15K. I have no idea what features I need or whether the low end DAC’s are even worth it.

I really need some suggestions. If I had the money I’d go to an audiophile salon and buy my equipment proper. But I don’t so I have to get the best equipment I can with my limited resources. I’m not exactly poor, but I could never justify to my wife spending $20K on audio equipment. Dang, I looked into getting another Linn Sondek LP12. The price is sky high compared to my ’82 version although there are differences between the basic model I had in 1982 and what they’re producing now. Still...I may need to wait on a turntable until I get speakers and a DAC.

I feel overcome with choices! New gear, used gear, electrostatic speakers, conventional speakers... Maybe my wife is right. I need some Valium and a good shrink!!

Mark in Big Stone Gap VA

markcooperstein
yashu
196 posts
 
I run my rebuilt by Wayne Piquet Quad ESL57’s with a Jeff Rowland Concentra 2 integrated amp.  It always sounds wonderful and never have had any issues.  Volume is just fine for me and the midrange is beyond description, as well as the most amazing soundstage.  

They truly disappear.
poudre
1 posts
 
Mark,  I bought my pair of 1960 era quads in Piney Flats, TN, which is not too far from you.  I drive them with either a Mac MC240 or a pair of Klimo Kent amps.  When I bought the speakers they were arcing during the audition. Using numerous online postings as my guide, I replaced the arced treble panel with one I bought at auction and had shipped from England for about $80, upgraded the power supplies with new parts, added clamp boards (also purchased from England) for protection and replaced the dust shields.  The process of fixing them was not hard and did not cost much money and since you have the skills to build an amp and a preamp, I doubt you will have any problems with repairing a pair.  From what I have read, the treble panels are usually the panels that arc so I would guess that most used pairs would have good base panels.  If I was hunting for another pair, I would find a pair of original, unmolested, speakers and fix them.  There is a very large price gap for a pair that have been refurbished and a pair that someone found at an estate sale.

The outfit that I bought the new parts from also sold new or rebuilt panels (I don't remember which) and he suggested that the his panels would not sound as good (or maybe it was the "same") as a good working original panel.  I am not sure about that as those who have had their Quads rebuilt report that they are often significantly better than original.  However, I do love the way mine sound and would not trade them for anything else I have heard.

Good luck.




wspohn's avatar
wspohn
607 posts
 
If you want an alternative to the Quads, don't look to modern Martin Logans, look to vintage speakers.

I run original CLS all electrostat speakers in one of my systems and there is something about them - the same way there was something about the 57s.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,914 posts
 
cool story and prediciment
take the meds slowly and without a drink
tell wife you ARE seeing a shrink......goes by name of Agon....must be Greek....

our path somewhat similar I also made my way thru University selling very high end gear, then got away from it....no matter...

congrats on your retirement !

keep the Hafler 101 for now but upgrade it with mods and better parts. Ditto with the amp kits you have already purchased
- dont go backwards just to get ESL 57 ( yes I have owned them including stacked pair, etc... )
you can and should look at the later Quad models with real bass ( well small room English electrostatic bass anyway ) that also have the delay lines, those present a much more accurate waveform, a normal panel stores energy like crazy..but that is just math and physics..
they as others have pointed out also MUCH more compatible and safe with your amp choices

table...why not find a used LP12

but a SOTA saphire will sound better IMO
get the Grace arm again
get a nice Ortofon ( black) that will sing in the midrange....
get a Lampizator Atlantic tube dac....off to the races...
Ag insider logo xs@2x
ken7
53 posts
 
I've been a Quad 57 owner for years and have finally replaced them with Harbeth 40.1's. You have to have a large sized room for these but when you sit at the apex of a equilatrral triangle with them, they are every bit as transparent as the Quads and are not limited in their dynamic range. There are several used pairs out there for sale but the new 40.2"s will cost about $16-18K. A used pair of 40.1's should cost about half that much. Your amps should be a good much as they perform better with higher powered amps
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