Quad esl 63 review Audio, Audio, Audio! from the original ESL 57 to the Quad ESL 63 So I'm curious about people's experience or opinions of the Walker's Wonders - the 57 and 63. Thread starter jindra; Start date Sep 26, 2015; jindra Well-Known Member. I already have got a new Integrated, MA7900. g. REVIEW; Perhaps my biggest audio regret is selling my Crosby-modified Quad ESL-63s with their matching stands. 2 out of 5 - 47 reviews - audioreview. Here's a speaker that needs no introduction – as it continues to delight audiophiles even today, despite being designed 60 years ago! As its name suggests, Q Quad ESL 63 Floorstanding Speakers user reviews : 4. 00: QC Apr 05, 2024: 3 : FOR SALE: Quad ESL 989 In 1957 Quad released their Electrostatic Loudspeaker (ESL); it was also called the Quad 55 or more popularly the Quad 57. Me being a young punk was impressed by the size of each bank, (probably about 6' tall), and then he turned them on. I've listened to many many speakers of many different types and none of them screamed "take us home!" until today. The question can be about the Quad ESL, or the Quad ESL '63. This was the ESL-989, reviewed by Larry Greenhill in November 2002, and in May 2003 by Art Dudley and John Atkinson. The Quad ESL-63 uses an 0. B. Not much needs to be said by way of introduction to those speakers. But the greatest strength of the Quad ESL series, beginning with the ESL-63 has been, and continues to be, its Aura Review 1999; The Acorn Speaker; Family Album; Fixit. The reputation of Quad in the post war era was founded in large part on this speaker and the Quad II mono amplifier. Reviews indicate that the 20 watt strong GM-20 works a treat with the Quad, but I could not get a item yet to evaluate it on my Quads. Quad Reviews 1957-1980 1980-2000 More See Interviews 1957-1980. They were considered the ideal speakers for opera and classical. In the first review, I will be using the Butler Audio Monad mono-blocks, the amps I heard the QUAD ESLs with at Quad ESL-63 loudspeaker Page 2. Most people who have heard mine remark that they are surprised how much bass they have, because they'd been lead to believe that wasn't possible in an ESL-63. Two of these dates are often thrown about in conversation as the model number (e. EINSTEIN “The Final Cut” Build. 4 inches) high, 66 cm (26 inches) wide, and 27 cm (10. They sounded fantastic and I vowed to own a pair one day. Meticulously designed by Quad, a pioneer in audio technology, the ESL 63 speakers are an iconic blend of style, innovation, and sonic excellence. Regarding the ESL-63 impedance characteristic, I only knew the part up to 20 kHz, which doesn't drop This is principle behind every Quad ESL since the '63. A whopping 42 tubes, and in ultra-hot sub-tropical Quad ESL-63 Restoration. Gordon Holt in September and November 1983, with further coverage following in December 1984, July 1985, January 1987, and February and June 1989, by which time the price had Quad ESL-2805 Loudspeaker. The major Crosby modifications to the stock ESL-63—designed by Richard Lees and Used Quad ESL 63 Floorstanding speakers for sale on 400+ second hand hifi sites & shops. Catch 22: I was able to spend only two hours with that combination before the (For full discussion of all of the changes made since the introduction of the ESL-63, see the reviews referenced above. 6): Remember Fred? Not Fred Yando, of Quad USA. Here are the owner's and service manuals for the ESL-63. However, as Fred Yando at Quad America (footnote 1) tells me that there are enough spare parts on hand Reviews. The ESL-63 has succeeded in generating all frequencies at one point based on this system. Approximate number of dealers: 50. In 1988 I traded them for a pair of ESL 63 USA Monitors. QUAD ESL-63 driven by bridged EAR-861s. I am the first person living in the Western Hemisphere to own the ESL 63 speakers, of which I now have two pairs, one International Monitor, and one American Monitor. By tech. ) The quality of the fit and finish of the ESL-2912 represents a major improvement over the ESL and ESL-63. Even its successor, the ESL?63. The unusual segmentation features of this speaker can trace their line of development directly to Kellogg's original G. Home. Sidebar 2: Measurements (from June 1989, Vol. Unlike the original Quad Electrostatic, which had a tendency to break down if overloaded for an instant, the '63 has a sophisticated protection device designed to short out Clarity, precision, instruments' position, perfect on voices. AUDIO - Vintage Glory: Quad ESL-63 and Electrostatic Solutions. apper001 One of finest LS around, better stage compared to my 802D. Lovely warm bass which Quad ESL 63's are one of a few genuinely legendary hi-fi components. In the 3rd edition Figure , Figure 18. Learn more. Back; Quad 405 This article is an introduction to the first of two reviews of the ElectroStatic Solutions QUAD ESL 57s. Bunt could be argued that what prompted its cessation of manufacture was nothing more or less than the quest for higher power handling Elevate your audio experience to new heights with the Quad ESL 63 Speakers, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and engineering that defines the epitome of high-fidelity sound. 001" plastic film for the dust-cover membranes. ) # Caption: Category: Asking price DEALER AD: QUAD ESL-57,ESL-63, ESL-609, ESL-989, ESL-2805, ESL-2812, ESL-2912 panel repair / QUAD ESL-57 EHT bl: DIY and Repair Supplies: $450. (Room gain?) The performance was (and remains) so convincing, despite its bass and level constraints, that the original ESL stayed in production until 1985, overlapping with the Quad 63 introduced in 1981. As long as you don't trigger the protection, it has a very well-behaved impedance characteristic that shouldn't be difficult to drive. This special edition of the Sigberg Audio Inkognito subwoofer replaces the factory approved stand for the Quad ESL 63 and has a high quality satin black finish. A well preserved or precisely rebuilt pair will provide a marvelously unified sound that is musically communicative in a way that no other loudspeaker can match. 3. With dimensions of 92. (Photo: Lasse Svendsen) Just before the Quad ESL-2912X is ready for stores, Quad 33 and 303 will be released in new versions. 6) As I had dragged my motley collection of test equipment (footnote 1) over to Larry Archibald's listening room to carry out a set of measurements on the Mirage M1 loudspeaker he has reviewed elsewhere in this issue, I thought it might be a good idea to quickly take a look at the measured performances of the latest, "US I have heard that the new Quad electrostatics (the 988 and the 989) address the ESL-63's mechanical issues, and the 989 is supposed to have a better low end (by doubling the radiating area of the woofer sections). Contact Robin: info@robyattaudio. Loudspeakers / By John Browning Finally, in 1981, the ESL-63 was released, with the number 63 indicating the year in which development began. These are current version of the classic Quad ESL-63 speakers. Fully rebuilt recently. Unfortunately, they were unaffordable at their US price point. 003gm, or 3 milligrams, not too far removed from the tip mass of a pickup cartridge!) I imported my Quad ESL-63 from a London store in summer 1985 after reading a glowing review of them in Opera News. But FRED as in Full-Range Electrostatic Dipole—the now venerable Quad ESL-63, available in its new US Monitor version. So I crossed over to a pair of Linn Helix Speakers. Patent 3,773,984 ). Ben is the first person to put the nylon coating procedure I developed for the original Quad diaphragms to an independent test. Owning a pair of Quad ESL-63 speakers is like marriage to a difficult woman you love—hard to live without, sometimes hard to live with. These have 7/8" bass units in a slot loaded bass reflex. This makes the ESL 2905 a good companion for the Moscode 401 HR, the more so as Harvey 'Gizmo' The QUADs are like having the room embraced by gigantic - and very good - headphones. . A very good match indeed. 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; Accessories. {Gary Jacobson} Review by Ben Openshaw of the Original Quad Diaphragm Coating Quad ESL 989 Floorstanding Speakers user reviews : 4. A pair of ESLs came on the market in a nearby city. The original ESL-63 was reviewed by J. A. com for would class audio components that make your music come alive!O ESL 63 Patents. Review of Quad ESL 57, an electrostatic loudspeaker with design roots in the 1950's, how does the Quad ESL57 perform in a modern system, let's take a look. I pt. Back; Amplifiers; Coatings; ESL 57 Patents; ESL 63 Patents; Quad 405 Patents. It was a huge step forward from the 1957 Quad electrostatic, as it was the first Quad electrostatic intended for the stereo age. Since a general electrostatic speaker is plane driven and tends to be plane wave, the listening position was limited. Instead, I have been anything but. Sam Tellig's final comments on the Quad ESL-63 appeared in June 1989 (Vol. Introduction Well, one of my Quad ESL-63's decided to go wrong again - popping noises - signalling yet another repair involving shipping the speaker with a courier or transporter to Huntingdon in UK. 00137" diaphragm, with 0. I purchased my new Quad ESL 63s with "Stand and Deliver" stands in late 1979, along with a Janis 15" W-1 Subwoofer and crossover/amp. 5 cm (36. 12 No. One of QUAD french distributors recently have told me that a new range of QUAD ESL will be available in january 2005. So my speaker quest has come to an end after much auditioning. Back; Quad 405 Manual; Quad 405 Test; Quad 405 Mod; electronics and so forth to Quad ESL-63 on stands; Graaf GM200 on stool, connected with Nordost Speaker Cables; above, pair of GM20 Modena Monoblocks with black coverings, next to which Marantz 10B Tuner; beneath Marantz is Luminous Audio Passive Control. NEWS; EDITORIAL REVIEWS; CLASSIFIEDS; HOT DEALS; After much online review and some listening to other speakers (B&W, ProAc, Vandersteen), I saw a pair of used Quad ESL 63's on ebay through a reputable dealer (Qsandd). Quad ESL 63. However, I have the Quad ESL 63, so I know very well the sound signature of the Quads. This package includes two Quad 63 editions of the Inkognito subwoofer, tuned from the factory to perfectly match the legendary Quad ESL 63 (also compatible with Quad 988/2805/2812). They were very affordable (less than my headphones), but knowing of course the panels could fail whenever given they are 40 years old. 7(a) shows a Magnaplanar 3. Then in 1981, the next iteration, called the Quad 63 was released - named such since the design work began around 1963. Get out of it though and you lose the magic. com, 908 334-3241Please visit http://www. If you just cannot find your answer(s) anywhere on the site, then please e-mail me. 1(c) shows a Quad ESL Mark 1, 7. I find they are simply very natural and easy sounding on all the program material I tried: orchestra, male and female vocals, opera singers, mixed chorus, piano, percussion, even Serial numbers of review samples: 13,955 & 13,956, 1984. My first Quads were a pair of 63’s which I loved. so the sweetspot with mine is fairly wide. com. Patent 346,646 The new Quads are a peach match with the ESL-63 and the new 98 series, but they should also work fine with the original ESL. The prior model was built from the beginning to be Later Quad ESL speakers enhanced power handling, low bass and high treble performance, as well as a cleaner, tighter sound – but the original ’57 still has something to offer. There came a time when Quad was purchased by a Chinese company, and Quads are now made in China, unlike the ESL-63. You can learn all about Quad ESLs (the original ones, and the 63s) here. One caveat : The Graff is very expensive ! Graf. No. I finally heard a speaker that did exactly what I wanted it to. This review for Quad 2905s. And in 2000 the 63 was replaced by the 988, and also a larger 989 was introduced. Incidentally, Quad's instruction booklet for the 34 preamplifier makes a very good point about listening level, At the time of this writing the only such amplifier which has worked well is the EAR 509 reviewed in Vol. Sep 26, 2015 #1 I wanted to start a new topic documenting my work since the original thread was asking for the differences between old and new panels. Digital For reviews of gear including and related to the playback of digital audio, including transports, DACs, computers, streamers, and “silver disc I first heard the Quad ESL-63 about 1985, and decided they were for me. Ratings and reviews. has failed to unseat the original design for a great many listeners. Back; Introduction; Aura Turntable. The Quad ESL63 and its successors are classics of audio. The Electrostatic Doc is Ben Openshaw in Idaho U. 6. Luckily, I discovered they were less than half that in England, even adding in transportation and a Well, I don't regret. 6 inches) deep, the Quad ESL-63 speakers will not easily fit into a small room or office, but given the space they deserve, these stereo speakers will bring levels of clarity and detail to recordings that will delight the listener. HiFi News 1957 The recent appearance of a full range ESL designed and produced by a well-known manufacturer specialising in high quality reproduction, was bound to cause considerable comment and speculation. The ESL-63's single electrostatic element also Many years ago, (1971), I worked with a guy in Ottawa who had two banks of 3 Quad electrostatic speakers. A new model, the ESL-63, was produced alongside the original model from 1981 until 1985. To solve this problem, in the ESL-63, the fixed electrode is divided into seven concentric rings and a delay circuit is set for each of them. Its successor, codenamed the ESL-63 (because work started in 1963), didn't Quad addressed the limitations of the original design to some degree with the ESL-63. The listing below is somewhat prioritised, in order of most frequently asked, to least. ” Though ESL-57 was never an official model number, the moniker stuck over the years, eventually becoming a convenient way to distinguish between the original design and the ESL-63 that replaced it 23 (!) years later. (The ESL-63's diaphragm weighs just 0. There have been many reviews of this speaker over the last few decades. This means the Quad ESL-63 speakers will sound great when playing treasured vinyl classical music recordings, but they are not designed to play modern dance music. The new range of That really depends on what you're amping them with and the quality of the source signal. The current incarnation of this design is the ESL-2912. ESL 63 Patents. Cables; Power Supply / Conditioning; Racks and Stands; Amplifiers. Do any members of this forum have copies of these Nada, personally I think the concentric delay rings in the Quad ESL-63 are unnecessary, a nice idea in theory but probably adds complexity where it's not really needed. A high pass 12dB/Octave active filter on the Quad ESL 63's at 90-110 Hz seems to clean up the Quad ESL 63 bass no end with my electronic or dub music, but the bass was still missing. Expensive? Around 60,000 of the original Quads were produced, and most of them are still in active use. The Quad ESL-63 has an input protection circuit that more or less shorts the input when it is overdriven. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. " These 11 models were made by only four of the 257 speaker companies listed. Several years later, I picked up a used pair, and I have been using them happily ever since. I have auditioned speakers extensively over the past 3 years in my search for the perfect speaker and tried Watt Quad ESL 63,Quad ESL 57, ESL I have room/space for the much bigger Quad ESL-2912, although I like the looks of the Montis. The ’63 addressed some of the issues of the original, including the narrow sweet spot and miniscule power-handling, by presenting Quad rates the ESL 2905 at about 86dB sensitivity and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms (the impedance fluctuates between 4 and 20). uk staff. Applause Awards. It is a hybrid design with valves taking care of the 1st stage amplification and very high quality SS BUZ 900/905DP MAGNATEC Mosfets delivering the output, regulated HT with a 300VA torroidal PSU, with 50/55 watts per channel (input 12AX7 or - in my case - 12AU7), that easily drive my two (“57” was never an official model number, merely a moniker of convenience coined by journalists and consumers to distinguish it from the later ESL-63. In 1984 production of the ESL was finally wound up in order that the company could concentrate their resources on the Quad ESL-63, introduced in 1981. Difficult to manufacture, easy to destroy with too much power, the Quad ESLs need the same gentle handling one would apply to driving a pre-WWII automobile. QUAD ESL-63 PRO ELECTROSTATIC LOUDSPEAKERSFULLY SERVICED & RESTORED BY QUAD UK (November / December 2021)Legendary vintage speakers in excellent conditionAll new factory installed panels on both Complete Reference to The Quad Electrostatic The Quad ESL Home. Deep and large stereo image encompassing far extreme right and left positions Why review the Quad ESL-63 again, now presenting itself in the United States as the US Monitor? Because the Quad, now in its third version, is the longest-surviving consumer-grade Inner instrumental voices that are colored, lost or garbled on other speakers are there, clean and clear with the ESL-63s. OK, for what it may be worth, my personal preference is to have stacked original Quads with the lower of the two speakers about 35. I imported my Quad ESL-63 from a London store in summer 1985 after reading a glowing review of them in Opera News. Submitted by apper001 on The Quad ESL-63 stereo speakers are designed to show off the sound of the recordings rather than be true high-fidelity speakers. I bid about $475. The $2950/pair ESL-63s are among the very few Sonically, the latest Quad ESL-63s are enough improved over the original version to warrant an updated review, as well as a critical comparison with the Stax ESL-F81 and Acoustat 1+1. These loudspeakers are in many ways still state-of-the-art even more than 45 years later. Quad continued to refine the '63, the first major deviation being the addition of two extra panels to create the near-double height '989 No ESL-63 user reviews have been added yet. This reflection might well emanate from the dustcover or the grillecloth—many of my most enjoyable musical experiences with Quad's earlier ESL-63 were with these removed, though the speaker then becomes very vulnerable to Quad ESL loudspeaker: available used for between $600 and $2000 per pair and up, depending on condition. I have rebuilt versions of the ESL-63pro, which is a monitor version developed for Philips by Quad. After all the positive reviews of the Quad system—34 preamp, 405-2 power amp, ESL-63 speakers—that I have read (particularly in the British press, whose views are generally in accord with mine), I must confess to some disappointment now that I have lived with these components for a whileThe system sounded smooth! Product Information. I rebuild the original ESL's as well as the ESL-63's and newer Quads (988, 989, 2805, 2905, 2812, and 2912) to original performance or Despite the video plopping the 63 in front of the 57 for playback and significantly trashing the in-room performance due to the rear wave being blocked by the Quad 57 directly behind it, I still have continuing thoughts (for the better part of 10+ years) of getting a pair of fully functional Quad ESL 63s and driving them with something like a Berning ZH-270 in a second Quad ESL63 wonder and advice Hello all, I have just bought some original used esl 63’s. Back; Aura Review 1999 ; The Acorn Speaker Service Supplement; Common Parts; ER Audio (Aus) One Thing Audio; Quad Germany; WYP; FAQ; Hard Core. S. Related Ads (These results are powered by our keyword search. re: ESL 63. 6 No. The ESL-63 had two woofer panels; in the ESL I'm curious about your opinions on Peter Walker's ESLs - from the original ESL 57 to the Quad ESL 63. His efforts as we know, led to the speaker we now call the ESL '63 (U. The postal service won't transport such a large or heavy package and the new Quad importer has continued the policy of using Quad Musikwiedergabe, although they are Title: QUAD ESL 63 Author: ELEKTOR SEPTEMBER 1981 Created Date: 6/20/1999 12:34:43 AM. Thursday. By kffern August 19, 2021 in DIY Audio Projects Share Back in 1989, when I last did a full review of a Quad ESL for Stereophile, it was one of only 11 full-range electrostatic systems listed among 1376 loudspeakers in Audio magazine's "Annual Equipment Directory. 9 out of Quad says the upgrades have given the speakers better bass response and dynamics, which bodes well as there’s not much else the originals lack. The design, begun in 1963 and presented to the public as a finished product in 1981, was a sensation from the start and has been a contender for “the world’s best I drove mine with a Quad 606. Quad ESL-989 Review. Some info and specs here. much more than reviews would lead me to believe. There was no such designation and the designers called it the "Quad Electrostatic Loudspeaker" (look at the back of the speaker). Start with Stereophile, here. They If you just cannot find your answer(s) anywhere on the site, then please e-mail me. I will comment no further, as his findings are quite clear as shown below. co. Price: $2850/pair, 1983-1985; $3990/pair, 1989. Quad 55, Quad 57). I am anxious to hear these new Quads - if they fulfill their promises, they will be absolute world beaters. A 30minute drive from the seller’s home lying flat which they thankfully survived unscathed. Development of the newer design was initiated in 1963 and the product was released at the CES of 1981. I have recently taken delivery of my new QUAD ESL 2905's (June 2007). Amazingly enough, the Quad ESL stayed in production until 1985, with about 54,000 units having been produced during its run. West ultimately recommended the Quad ESL, referring to it as “an excellent domestic speaker. AV Receivers & Processors Quad ESL 63 restoration Quad ESL 63 restoration. ?”, and so forth. Its layout is revised and the quality of components improved: it now includes audiophile favourites such as Vishay metal film resistors and Murata capacitors, for example. Another review here. 9. Login / Register. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free! Forums. If you want to increase the output impedance of the amp, put 1-2 ohms resistors in the positive speaker wire, which will make it sound more like a tube amp. Comments. I have heard the Montis, but no store in my City has the new Quads. 4. So overall a wonderful sound and a great musical presentation. I am the first to admit that I have not been steadfast and unwavering in my love. review Magazine review with measurements (in English) » One can easily find examples of panel loudspeakers with audible resonances, disruptive directivity characteristics, limited power handling capability, and so on. I mostly listen to classical music, acoustic blues, folk, chamber music Why review the Quad ESL-63 again, now presenting itself in the United States as the US Monitor? Because the Quad, now in its third version, is the longest-surviving consumer-grade electrostatic speaker on the market, if one counts The 63 has much better, I'm told, dispersion than the original ESL (57) did (which I've not heard). Around 1963, according to legend, Peter Walker set out, on his own this time, to improve on the original Quad ESL. As far as I have been able to determine, the ESL/SW combo was reviewed in Hi-Fi News March 1992, and in Hi-Fi World Feb 1994. However, this is not strict!! Click on a question below to see the answer I'm about to buy a pair of Gradient SW-63s and am looking for reviews of this woofer when used with the ESL-63. 6 out of 5 - 18 reviews - audioreview. This was reviewed by Ken Kessler in HiFi News and Stereophile. If one considers the excellent stereo amplifier CROFT model 7 R (regulated). ) Nothing up to that time and precious little since could lay a patch on the 57’s transparency, lack of coloration, neutrality, and an openness that caused one reviewer to observe, “All Quad ESL 2805 review 50 years later and Quad still knows how to deliver the goods Reviews. However, this is not strict!! Click on a question below to see the answer In this video you can listen to the sound of the famous QUAD ESL-63 electrostatic loudspeakers against the direct sound of the media player. The I'm no electrostatic expert but on the rare occasions I've heard them, I always feel the same: nice but not what I'm looking for. Quad ESL-63 (PRO version) with matching Gradient subwoofers and crossover). 5cm (14 inches) from the floor. The speakers are priced at 17,000 euros for a pair. Non-gated frequency response of 13817 in my workshop @ ½ meter England is famous for being a speaker country, and one of the most famous and recognisable English speakers is the Quad ESL-57. This is my third pair of ESL-63s—a very early pair, followed by a later pair, and now the new ESL-63 US Monitor. Rotel makes excellent power amps in your price range and they would have no trouble driving the ESL-63. robyattaudio. and won the auction. Luckily, I discovered they were less than half that in England, even adding in transportation and a I imported my Quad ESL-63 from a London store in summer 1985 after reading a glowing review of them in Opera News. Monday. In the Quad ESL-2812, the internal power supply – needed to deliver the charge for the thing to work – has once again been upgraded. With its flat, slightly curved shape and a top plate covered by a metal grille, it most closely resembles a Another very oft-asked question is: Should I mount the original Quad ESL (or the ‘63) off the floor? Closely followed by: “How high from the floor should I . Owner reviews here. And here. Back; Inspection; Service Supplement; Common Parts; ER Audio (Aus) One Thing Audio; Quad Germany; WYP; FAQ; Hard Core. Use Hifi Shark to monitor pricing and global availability. I captured the s For me, there is a contradiction within the Quad ESL 63 construction, and I understand everybody taking their's ESL 63 dust protective membranes away: To my knowledge, the membrane of an ESL should be decdently stretched, and should moreover be damped very nearby on one side of it, to damp it's mid-frequencies resonances like standing waves and We used Quad's 99CDP2 CD player/preamp and 909 stereo power amp (£1000 and £900 respectively) to great effect, though we hear whispers there might be even better Quad electronics ‘coming soon' to make a better match with the Welcome to SDS Labs, I have been rebuilding the Quad Electrostatic Loudspeakers (Quad ESL) for over twenty five years. Quad's Peter Walker was known as a no ESL 63 Patents. And will never change my speakers, unless QUAD will make a new pair of ESL. Because of a changed orientation, the ESL-63 measures 36 by 26 by 6 inches (91 cm × 66 cm × 15 cm), the speaker seemed smaller than before. I first heard them in the mid 80's. Loudspeaker System (1983-90) (1 review) Reviewed Sep 02nd, 2019 by . 12 shows data on a Quad ESL 63, Figure 18. Manual Library / Quad. blvhjveottpzfbxyvcfarwhxxpjhbrsvawbsgdignqayzkgcwsmspedjrxfkjwgwjtekznyar