Atmasphere, they were an undersung product but the company had trouble finding itself and was trying to be all things to all people. Initially all the Acoustats used a "direct drive" high voltage tube amplifier. The first Model was the "X" It was a beautiful 3 panel speaker with the amp mounted inside a plywood enclosure. Unfortunately it was very colored entirely due to the enclosure. They then moved to the Monitor series both three and four panel versions. It was the Monitor 4 which convinced me that they were on to something. It was with this speaker that I first played around with subwoofers. They then again redesigned the enclosures to make them easier to manufacture. These were called the 1, 2, the 3, the 4 then the 1+1, 2+2, 3+3 and 4+4. They felt their sales were low because people wanted to use their own amps so they came up with a two transformer interface which was relatively easy to drive. There were two versions of this interface. The problem with this was that us audio types preferred the Direct Drive amp. The smaller speakers unaided by a subwoofer were not impressive. But the 2+2 was almost an entirely different animal. Given an amp like the Krell KMA 100 they not only had the magic ESL midrange but killer dynamics. Put them with a subwoofer and all hell broke loose. As big as they are they remain very selfish speakers. Very few 3+3s and 4+4s were made. They were just two big and you had to run two interfaces and two amps with each speaker. The 4+4s were the size of the Soundlabs Majestic 845. The most important item that Acoustat brought to the world was the first totally indestructible electrostatic panel. Quads had given ESLs a bad name because they were very fragile and I think Acoustat suffered because of that. My panels are now 40 years old. The 1/2 life of the plastic used in their construction is 50,000 years. Unless you drive a stake through them they will go on forever. If you have heard any of the larger SoundLabs then you have essentially heard the 2+2 but with a bit more dispersion. Most of these speakers have been cannibalized and the panels beaten up. 2+2s in serviceable condition are hard to find. The Company was eventually sold to David Hafler who went belly up some time later.
Panel speakers have gained more acceptance and I think there is room for a lower cost full range ESL like the 2+2. The individual panels might cost $50 to make if that. The frame maybe $100. The transformer/power supply another $100. $400 all told for a speaker you could sell all day long for $4000.............
