Quads 57 -


Ok. So let me start out by saying I am not in search for the worlds best speakers or the perfect setup.

I just want something that will make music to my ears and make my little toes tap with joys.My amp of choice is the Ayon Spirit III
My music is 80% Jazz, 10% Female vocals, 10% rock et. al. (paul simon/arlo guthrie, dylan eagles). My source is mostly Vinyl.
I currently have a B&W CM7 that I don't like much. Music sounds good, but no soul. Room size is 10 ft x 11 ft.
I top out at $4K on budget (and that's pushing it).
I am fairly close to pulling the trigger on a brand new refurbished 57 from Quads Unlimited.
So I guess what I am asking here is, if you have ever owned a 57, do you still have it? If not, how soon did you move on & why?
jarraa
I am probably going to get flamed for this, but my original post was
" if you have ever owned a 57, do you still have it? If not, how soon did you move on & why?"

I don't want people recommending me other speakers, so please don't. I am still on the topic of the QUAD's and I would still sincerely appreciate answers from owners/ex-owners of the 57's.

Much appreciated.
Jarraa - GREAT response-stick to QUAD ESL57's!!
I run STACKED 57's with IMF TL subs @ 40HZ.
All four refurb's by Wayne as well as te custom stands to accomodate the subs. They look great and sound fantastic!

I have had them for over 10+ years and would not move on to anything else! Why?
Because IT IS A REFERENCE SYSTEM - PERIOD!

Yes, it is not for everybody but mine has the finesse of a small system and the largess of horns (or other large speakers). Plus discoveries/recommendations found on my system generally transfer to other set-ups but not vice-versa.
The Quad electrostatic sound, done right, is truly an addicting sound. Namely it just sounds LIVE.
OTOH, most people experience ESL57's that were "tired" and they did not know it. So unless someone had a pair from Wayne and did not like them then they have not experienced what they truly sound like.
Hello,

If you are going to purchase one of Wayne PK's 57, then dynamics will not be a problem nor is your listening space, Maybe your amplifier, but I'm not familiar, so i cant say, but his 57's will not lack dynamics nor have issues with that small space, you have not heard 57's if you have not heard his, the power is exceptional coming from 57's.

Ohh, 57's were originally designed for small listen space's, stands are also important, discuss such with him.
Hello,

I have tried 63's in a small room 14x10 with a sub and they had no issues the sound was excellent with the sub.

regards,
I agree with Weseixas.
And stands are important.

A word of caution though...
Wayne's '57's are sooooo good that they will reveal any flaws in the equipment feeding them.
So they have IMMENSE sound quality and will accurately reproduce the good and the bad.
So basically they are a "demanding mistress" in that regard.
They like vacuum tubes, great vinyl, proper cables, proper interconnects, etc. So do not worry that they "top out" at some point as the rest of your system becomes upgraded.
This is NOT the case with most speaker systems!
At some point, they are what they are and they can not sound any better no matter is done. Perhaps that is what is happening with your present speakers.
Also...57's MUST be set up properly in the room in terms of placement to the listener. They need to be precisely placed as "close enough" (as in box speakers) just won't cut it.

I do not know your room but let's say that for you a rough start would be 6-7 feet back from the speaker and the '57's are 3-5 feet (center to center) apart.
they would be 2-3 feet from the back wall and a foot or so from the side walls. They need to be pointed in so that they are each exactly equidistant from the center listening chair.

Quads are as close to a massless driver as you can come other than the Ionovac tweeters and the Ribbons but those are far less efficient than the Quads.

As a result Quads are so quick, so utterly transparent and life-like that they make all other speakers seem veiled.