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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
willemj
1,036 posts
 
I agree that dipole subs are indeed a very good idea for Quads because they excite fewer room modes. However, in my experience even ordinary subs can be integrated very well if you use room equalization like the Antimode 8033.
hevreman
7 posts
 
And the price including ‘57s and sub and risk of successful implementation equals more then it worts the effort.
The difference between quad speakers and Maneplanar 1.7 and above is that human voice or the instruments sounding in their real size, and this is the only one exemple. Some may argue about their lack of dynamics, but compering to ‘57 its a huge improvement. I tried many speakers, quad amplifiers and preamplifiers, tube amplifiers, dac’s etc. In my humble experience over 45 years, my suggestion stays, dont bother with 20 Century stuff. 
jhills
615 posts
 
+ps
My first love for speakers was a pair of Quad ESL 63s. Nothing before and not much since has satisfied me as much as the Quads. I had to give them up when moving to a sum-what smaller living space. Now back to a larger listening environment, Finding a good buy on a pair of Maggie 1.7s, I decided to give them a try to see if they had any of the magic of the Quads. To me, the magic is back, plus, being able to utilize  more power, they are more dynamic than the older model Quads. I do love the 1.7s and have heard good things about the smaller .7s....Jim
gdnrbob
4,447 posts
 
Though I have always lusted for Quad's and Maggie's, I never had the money nor the space. But, I have to second the opinions of jhills and herveman. Newer models have less of the problems, especially impedance-wise, that old models have. 
If you are willing to put up with this, then by all means go for it, but in my honest opinion, the technology has improved so much that I think it will be an exercise in frustration. 
B
trelja
3,223 posts
 
While I definitely stand up for the Quad ESL57, in no way do I think the speaker remains without flaw.  Despite the pride and territoriality folks exhibit in these forums, ALL audio components have weaknesses, and ALL are flawed.  No product works for everyone, or leaves even the majority feeling satisfied to the point of never considering its potential replacement.  Folks have listed he shortcomings of this product for decades, though I feel apart from the absolute lack of the bottom octave, they often outgrow reality or truth.

In the end, I think Quad's Peter Walker himself said it best when asked if he felt satisfied with his product, "Oh no, we think our loudspeaker very poor, but we think that the others are even poorer!"
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