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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
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
3,037 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.
perkri OP
907 posts
 
The Quad II's are such nice looking units also! I have Quad in my auto search in Audiomart, and see them pop up every now and again.

They look like they would be a cool rebuild project!

And I suspect, they would work nicely with my Cornwalls as well!
psf4972
46 posts
 
I have found similarly. I bought a 1970s pair in good shape three months ago. Not having heard Quad ESL's before, I thought they were very promising and sent them off --the panels and electronics only-- to the US from London for refurbishment. Upon return I was amazed by their speed, rich range of tone, bass impact, soundstage and natural "rightness". In the evening, listening to BBC FM radio, music sounds great at low volume. Voice, jazz and chamber music on LP or radio sounds fab. I have used single driver full range folded horn loudspeakers for ten years and enjoy them, of course, for their speed and dynamic force, sound staging, live and open quality. Curious to see if I could lift 57's in that direction, I added Townshend super tweeters --initially developed for use with 57's-- which was instructive, changing presentation subtly but crucially, adding useful treble to mid to bass definition and gave front to back spatial depth not there before. The horns are very different, with their own magic, and the 57's offer magic of a different nature; P. Walker was a gifted designer. Btw, the 57's came back with better sensitivity, around 88db. I was amazed to find my 4w + 4w SET (Yamamoto A -06-3) drives them beautifully, giving quite loud music in a room 5.5 x 4.5 x 3 tall with the volume pot up halfway. The respected rebuilt Quad 303 sounds dull as ditchwater by comparison with the SET.  Stable power delivery from heavy duty hand wound transformers helps. Enjoy
mglik
908 posts
 
I lived happily with 57s for ten years.
One day I decided to go for more bass and treble and more impact and sold them. I always used them without the screens and they were also quite ugly. I did blow up several amps and arced them but had them rebuilt by QS & D. I still miss them but double my system for home theater and really need the impact of cones.
But I still miss them!
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