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ESS speakers synergise with valves?

I recently bought a pair of old ESS PS5C speakers.These use a small Heil Ribbon,a ten inch mid woofer and a rear mounted ten inch passive radiator.
I started out using some of my SS amps amps with these and whilst I could hear that they were doing some things really well,felt that a hollow and slightly coarse midrange detracted from their overall sound.They had a typical 'west coast" sound,although infinitely better sounding than their JBL contemporaries.
To combat this I doped the woofer with liquid silicone.This is often a subtle but very effective way of reducing paper cone colourations.
The next day I changed amps to 23 watt EL34 Trimax monoblocks,never really expecting them to drive them properly.But was I ever wrong!
The sound from this combination is simply amazing.These are now incredibly neutral sounding speakers,with fantastic bass,clarity and imaging.
Anybody who has been using valve amps for a while comes to know that they very rarely achieve their potential with mainstream speakers.So when we discover one that is the exception to the rule we need to announce it.These ESS may not to be to everyones liking-they are quite analytical,but on balance I think they are still a real find for tube lovers.With a 300b SET amp they could really be something.
Just to confirm the ease of driving I have also run them with a Tripath 10 watt class T amp.Not as good as the valves but still drives them quite loud before clipping and sounds better than SS.

Has anyone else discovered these?
128x128jtgofish
automojo
10 posts
 
Hermanadolph-Looking at the line up of ESS speakers from the first, to the last models, one can easily see they weren't moving too fast.
Trying to get Heil technology into the lower end of the audio spectrum has little to do why they falied.
Yeah, sure they wren't buliding $11,000 speakers with a corespondingly high profit margin, but that too has little to do with good business.
Over extension, and failing to reinvest in their company was the main reason why they failed.
Take a look at the AMT 3, easily one of the finest Heil speakers out there, carefully designed 3 way, with quality drivers. Yes, they used cheap caps in the crossovers, lots of manufactors did in the 70's.
I would put my rebuilt set (w/rebuilt crossovers) up against any of the German made models.
Putting a $300 woofer and 'designer caps' doesn't guarantee good sound-engineering does.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
They synergise very well. I have custom built speakers that utilize the largest tweeter, the one they used in the 2 way originaly. I also have a tube pre and power. the crossover uses Jentsen caps. I am more than satisfied. The speakers are three way. The problem in the 2 way original speakers was the tone and timbre in the mid range; it was not as mellow as a cello.
johnnotkathi
54 posts
 

Anyone familiar with ESS PS-9C's?  Hard to find any info on the so far....thanks!!

decooney
1,993 posts
 

@johnnotkathi might be able to help. Modded some 8s / 9Cs, worked at ESS in the early 80s. Best to recone woofers at Nealsspeaker service in Colfax CA. Definitely replace caps in X-overs. Some like Jantzen caps in those, Ive used various - just get new replacements for sure. Some of the forum recommend replacement woofers don’t match as well imo. I’ve tried Peerless and Scanspeak woofers with better luck. You can just get them reconed to save $, will sound okay.  If yours are the version without passive radiators, you can buy those and add them to the rear of the cabinet to pick up some bass. IF you bypass the presence control they really open up nicely yes Solder on all connections and get rid of all the cheap tin connectors, helps too.

johnnotkathi
54 posts
 

@decooney thanks for the info - actually I do not own these yet but am looking at a pair used and just cannot find any info about them.  Specs? Are they really good speakers?  OK?  Not so hot, etc.....

The ones I am looking at seem to be in really solid condition, at least from what you can tell from pictures......

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