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In praise of the ESL-57

About a week ago, I was doing a Kijiji search for some kind of EL84 amp that would be suitable for a rebuild. Buried in an ad for an amp was pair of ESL-57's also for sale. Based on serial numbers and production dates, they were from the early 70's.

Out of curiosity, I asked if the Quads were still available. They were and he had re-listed them in a separate ad at a reduced price. They were missing legs/feet and according to the seller were great otherwise. Grills looked to be in decent shape and after a bit of back and forth, I decided to get them.

Was pleasantly surprised when we arrived to get them. They looked quite good. No problems that couldn't be addressed without a little TLC and elbow grease.

Took a minute after I brought them home to plug them in, and when I eventually did, one was dead. Bad power cord...

Let them sit and charge for a bit and then started running them. After a little repositioning, they were set up as they should.

All I can say is wow. This was my first experience with these lovely speakers. Because of Covid, couldn't audition them before picking up and I have not had the opportunity to listen to a pair before. 

I now understand why they have the following and reputation that they do.

Everything I have read about these speakers is true. The first track I ran through them when they were set up was Jazz at the Pawn Shop. At some point during the intro, there was someone in the audience that "yelped" something or another. I was startled as I thought there was someone standing behind me. Crazy!

I'm surprised and how good the bass is on these. Based on what I had read, was not expecting them to have the depth that they do. (This is from someone who normally listens to Cornwalls...)

The "head in a vice" thing is very true for full benefit, but as I am currently listening to the radio in the background, they are filling the room well and are not fatiguing in any way, which is odd when you consider how fast/detailed/articulate they are.

So very pleased with them!!! As soon as time allows, some temporary legs will be made so I can both get them off the milk crates as well as figure out a design for what will be the final legs.




perkri
pindac's avatar
pindac
2,864 posts
 
I don't see my remaining Listening Life without 57's used.
They have been with me Since the Late 90's and are now used as a Stacked Array.

I have other Speakers as well and am also Building OB's.

The 57's are quite special in what they can produce.
As are early serial No 63's, both are available at similar asking prices, but the Early Serial No 63 is a difficult to find speaker.

I have heard 57's with Various Amplifiers in Singles and Stacked.

If EE Work is not a worry to you, I have heard Neurochrome Amp's with a Stacked set up, and they delivered in an extremely impressive way.  
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
Yup.  I have run electrostatics in my main system for nearly 50 years.
For 10 years Martin Logan CLX Anniversary.
Never used 57s though.
Two biggest pluses: transparent mid no cone can replicate; no crossover unless you listen to grunge or metal and have to have the thumping bass.

Electrostatics are much under-rated, I would guess few who post here use them.
perkri OP
907 posts
 
Thank you for the Neurochrome suggestion. 
I came across the site before while doing some research for a friend. Very tidy PC boards! 
A soldering iron doesn’t fill me with fear, though I have had some experiences that would suggest I should perhaps approach them with caution...
keithsax
107 posts
 
I put mine directly (minus the little wooden feet) onto triangular pieces of kitchen worktop in the corners of my garage (spend a lot of time tinkering with push bikes, usually standing) loaded with weights on them and bolted to three metal tubular stands each about 2ft off the floor in with a big old (REL I think) active sub under one running off a Cambridge Audio CXA80- sounds fab- so easy to listen to- mostly radio 4 extra on DAB+ and streamed Jazz FM and CDs from CXC (mostly big band/ saxophone stuff). The really stunning thing are how good the human voices are. The sub just adds that little bit extra especially with thunderstorm/ airplane etc stuff.

Have used Quad 22/ IIs (parent's had them from new) but fed up of the hassle as well as Arcam/ Onyx/ Technics/ Mission.

They were rescued from a fire and the cheeks are charred and the gold panels are smoke blackened but they've been checked and are safe and sound a tiny bit better than another pair of beautiful looking refurbed ones on the three little feet that I was going to stack on top but not quite enough room. I think the feet are too short even for sitting and take some of the bass away
whart's avatar
whart
3,038 posts
 
I would not under-estimate how good the Quad II amps are with the 57, though they are very underpowered for most applications, my Quads sing with them. When I originally had the 57s set up in the '70s, I used an ARC Dual 75a (which was new at the time) but I think the panels sound even better with the little Quad amps, which are readily findable and easily repairable. The Bedini 25/25 is supposed to be great, but how easy is it to find/condition/repair? 
I did splurge on the tubes, and found NIB GEC KT 66 matched quad for the amps, use a NOS Mullard rectifier and a GEC (rather than Walker's preferred Mullard) EF 86. (Those were also true NOS, originally designed with bare wires to be soldered into a circuit, Tubemonger converted them to use tube pins and fit into a conventional socket). Keith Snook's page is pretty good on the amp.
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