Valves and electroststics !

[Audio Al]

I have just switched back to my VaLves and 57's

I just LoVe them

The audio is crisp, clear, real, involving , Vocals are fabulous ,Drums trumpets cymbals, everything sounds so real , and this technology was from 1957 :)

See what happens when I use the Ortofon ST-80SE moving-coil step-up transformer. and the Croft Phono stage :eyebrows:

I am in AuDiO BLiss :)

For you visUAl pleAsure

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2774.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2774.jpg.html)
.
.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2775.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2775.jpg.html)
.
.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2776.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2776.jpg.html)
.
.
.
:)

[brian2957]

:) :popcorn: Excellent place tO bE

[Audio Al]

:) :popcorn: Excellent place tO bE

cHeer"s mAte ;)

[Gordon Steadman]

I may play away occasionally but home is where the valves and 57s are:cool:

[Audio Al]

I may play away occasionally but home is where the valves and 57s are:cool:


SplEndid choice old bOy , Just SplendId :D

[Gordon Steadman]

Agghhhhh.......:eek:

Just seen the pics Al. Get those Quads off the castors and onto some proper stands. If they sound good like that, they are going to sound even more wonderful with some solid lumps under'em.

[Audio Al]

I have a pAir of RuPert stands in reserve ;)

[Gordon Steadman]

I have a pAir of RuPert stands in reserve ;)
Well bungemonem.

[Kember]

The audio is crisp, clear, real, involving , Vocals are fabulous ,Drums trumpets cymbals, everything sounds so real , and this technology was from 1957 :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2774.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2774.jpg.html)
.


Al

I agree and I think you need to go car booting for a 301 which would be more in period for this piccie:).

P

[Gordon Steadman]

Al

I agree and I think you need to go car booting for a 301 which would be more in period for this piccie:).

P

I rather suspect that Al already has one .....and a 401 and a.............and a.........and a............

[Kember]

I rather suspect that Al already has one .....and a 401 and a.............and a.........and a............

I rather suspect that, too, but it is inexplicably absent from the photo..alternatively, IIRC, the TD124 is from the same year as the rest of this drool-worthy kit (?)

P

[Audio Al]

Al

I agree and I think you need to go car booting for a 301 which would be more in period for this piccie:).

P


What oNe of theSe ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2777.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2777.jpg.html)

:)

[Kember]

That's more like it! :)

[Firebottle]

Al you really really need to hear an OTL amp with electrostatics.

Watch this space..........

:cool: Alan

[Audio Al]

Al you really really need to hear an OTL amp with electrostatics.

Watch this space..........

:cool: Alan

I'm wAtchinG :eyebrows:

[Barry]

I've been listening to Quad '57s for the last forty years, and doubt I will ever change them. Have used them for a brief time with the Quad 22/2 x II valve combination and also with Quad IIs fed by other preamps.

The Quad ESLs work well with Quad valve gear, but are limited at the frequency extremes. A better combination IMO is to use a Radford STA 15 Mk.III valve amp (which has a better midrange and treble than the STA 25 Mk.III).

[Gordon Steadman]

I've been listening to Quad '57s for the last forty years, and doubt I will ever change them. Have used them for a brief time with the Quad 22/2 x II valve combination and also with Quad IIs fed by other preamps.

The Quad ESLs work well with Quad valve gear, but are limited at the frequency extremes. A better combination IMO is to use a Radford STA 15 Mk.III valve amp (whitch has a better midrange and treble than the STA 25 Mk.III).

My 57s sing with either of my two resident power amps - Leak Stereo20 or, as mentioned earlier by some person or other, a rather fine Firebottle OTL. As my main musical love revolves around classical guitars and baroque chamber music, I am very seldom aware of any lack at the frequency extremes. My ears probably have a less extended frequency response now anyway.

[pimlicoquad]

Very nice - I think you'll love the Ortofon step-up which I see you've just bought. What is it being used with? It's what I use with a Cadenza Black, Rega P9, Whest PS30RDT, Quad 99, and Quad II's, into 57's. I love the presentation of acoustic instruments and vocals that they can deliver. Even with the bass that critics will moan about, it is so accurate, and in my experience gets the closest to the real sound of a piano which is always seems to be a tricky one for conventional speakers. I'd reiterate the other advice that they need to be off those castors, and raised up a bit. For my own system I need to move on from the turntable - whether it's the Garrard path or perhaps the SME way?

[pimlicoquad]

I had my eye on a Radford STA 15 Mk III to go with the 57s. Perhaps I need to explore that avenue again..

[Barry]

My 57s sing with either of my two resident power amps - Leak Stereo20 or, as mentioned earlier by some person or other, a rather fine Firebottle OTL. As my main musical love revolves around classical guitars and baroque chamber music, I am very seldom aware of any lack at the frequency extremes. My ears probably have a less extended frequency response now anyway.

My comment about the frequency extremes was in reference to the Quad II amplifier, not the speaker, although the speaker itself does have serious low frequency limitation and some curtailment above 10kHz.

I can well understand your enjoyment of classical guitar and baroque chamber music through the 57s: their midrange is unsurpassed. The quality of the midrange allows the faithful rendition of the human voice, another reason why I continue to use 57s, despite their obvious shortcomings.

[Audio Al]

despite their obvious shortcomings:scratch:

Humm , I must have hearing problems as mine sound mighty fine :)

[Gordon Steadman]

:scratch:

Humm , I must have hearing problems as mine sound mighty fine :)

Yup,

Some shortcomings seem more obvious to some than others. What I get is very clean and quite extended bass when the 57s are up on 10" high, very solid oak stands. They even make a very fair stab at Bach organ music without the usual bloat. I did borrow a pair of supertweeters once and found that I preferred the 57s without.

Glad you're enjoying them. Purists, of course, would suggest that all those other speakers in the room are doing the sound no favours. Who cares if they make music?

[Marco]

See what happens when I use the Ortofon ST-80SE moving-coil step-up transformer and the Croft Phono stage...


Audio nirvana, baby! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Ninanina]

I am absolutely NOT a jealous person ;) .......... but the closest I ever get to it is wishing I still had room for a pair of 57's...

I had a pair of 57's for many years when I had room for them and they are one, of maybe only two, pair of speakers I would own twice and the other is the Klipsch I have now

I think the best I have ever heard music at my home were through the 57's... I just simply don't have room for them now though, which is a real shame

I did try the 57's in my last property but could not get them away from the back wall enough to sound their best so unfortunately had to sell them; a moment I have always regretted... even though I got a good price for them from someone in Germany (packaging was a nightmare!!)

If I ever have a property again where I can position them correctly then I will probably have another pair, as long as I cannot afford a pair of Klipschorns at the time that is.... which is maybe the only other speaker (or the La Scala's) I would try

Like I say I'm NOT jealous but maybe just a little sad I cannot have my speaker of choice :(:(

[Audio Al]

What I get is very clean and quite extended bass

SaMe HerE :)

[Audio Al]

Bev

I dOnt have RooM for them eiTher , I MAKE rooM for theM :D

[Barry]

:scratch:

Humm , I must have hearing problems as mine sound mighty fine :)

"Obvious shortcomings":

Lack of deep bass below 40Hz,
Cannot be played loud, so cannot fully reproduce the dynamic range of orchestral symphonic music,
High directionality, so tend to 'beam' - resulting in optimum listening conditions for one listener only,
Very high frequencies (> 10kHz) are rolled off (though that no longer matters at my age!)

To balance this, one can list their obvious advantages:

Accurate, natural and detailed midrange,
Fast attack and superb reproduction of transients, with freedom of 'hangover',
Precise focus and realistic 3-D represention of the soundstage,
Tonal purity across the frequency range,
Excellent phase integration between 'drivers'.

As I have said on a number of occasions, I have used and enjoyed the Quad 57s for more than forty years and would not change them for anything else. They are not perfect (far from it), but what they do well, very few other speakers can match, and what they do well is sufficiently important to me that I forgive (and put up with) their limitations (or as I said "shortcomings").

[Ninanina]

Bev

I dOnt have RooM for them eiTher , I MAKE rooM for theM :D

Unfortunately they just won't fit in my present room... I really WISH I could make room for them but it's just not there.... :(

The only way I could fit them in is to have nowhere to sit..... :doh: now thats an idea....

[Barry]

Unfortunately they just won't fit in my present room... I really WISH I could make room for them but it's just not there.... :(

The only way I could fit them in is to have nowhere to sit..... :doh: now thats an idea....

I wish I room for stacked Quad 57s!

[Marco]

You do - you're just too 'house proud' to allow it! ;)

Look what I manage to sqeeeze into my little hovel, speaker-wise: and it works!! :eyebrows:

I'd rather make room for stacked Quads and lose, say a sofa or a cabinet in my lounge, and revel in musical nirvana, than fret over the loss of furniture or how 'crowded' things look...... It's not as if you've got a wife to moan at you! Quite simply, life's too short not to indulge one's passions.

Take a leaf out of the book of the Japanese, who shoe-horn Tannoy Westminsters into a postage stamp-sized flat, shared by 15 of their relatives!! :D

[Advice given with the best of intentions, mon ami] :)

Marco.

[daytona600]

[QUOTE=Barry;536841]"Obvious shortcomings":

ESL have moved on in the 21st century mine do all these below - 16hz Subsonics , 120dB , Several Kw power handling , 40khz + Yes - But Still Beam !

http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/technical-white-papers/cables-wp
ESL check you are using the correct cables & a amp designed for ESL speakers helps as well

Lack of deep bass below 40Hz,
Cannot be played loud, so cannot fully reproduce the dynamic range of orchestral symphonic music,
High directionality, so tend to 'beam' - resulting in optimum listening conditions for one listener only,
Very high frequencies (> 10kHz) are rolled off (though that no longer matters at my age!)

To balance this, one can list their obvious advantages:

Accurate, natural and detailed midrange,
Fast attack and superb reproduction of transients, with freedom of 'hangover',
Precise focus and realistic 3-D represention of the soundstage,
Tonal purity across the frequency range,
Excellent phase integration between 'drivers'.

[Marco]

And having heard Scott's, I can confirm that they sound fantastic!

Marco.

[Barry]

[QUOTE=Barry;536841]"Obvious shortcomings":

ESL have moved on in the 21st century mine do all these below - 16hz Subsonics , 120dB , Several Kw power handling , 40khz + Yes - But Still Beam !

http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/technical-white-papers/cables-wp
ESL check you are using the correct cables & a amp designed for ESL speakers helps as well




Lack of deep bass below 40Hz,
Cannot be played loud, so cannot fully reproduce the dynamic range of orchestral symphonic music,
High directionality, so tend to 'beam' - resulting in optimum listening conditions for one listener only,
Very high frequencies (> 10kHz) are rolled off (though that no longer matters at my age!)

To balance this, one can list their obvious advantages:

Accurate, natural and detailed midrange,
Fast attack and superb reproduction of transients, with freedom of 'hangover',
Precise focus and realistic 3-D represention of the soundstage,
Tonal purity across the frequency range,
Excellent phase integration between 'drivers'.

I was talking specifically about the original Quad ESL design. No doubt more modern and much larger designs such as the Martin Logan CSL will reproduce lower frequencies and will play louder, so too will hybrid designs. I believe the Sanders ESLs you use are hybrids.

Apropos speaker cables: mine are of 40A rating and less than 1m long, as the monoblock power amplifiers (Mark Levinson ML-2) are situated directly behind the speakers.

[wee tee cee]

I run 63s which I love. I run them with valves/ss and t amps. The temple mono blocks to my ears make the best combo with a passive pre. Couldn't tell you why, just works really well!
Synergy thing methinks......love to hear a pair of 57s with that combo.

[Marco]

I was talking specifically about the original Quad ESL design. No doubt more modern and much larger designs such as the Martin Logan CSL will reproduce lower frequencies and will play louder, so too will hybrid designs. I believe the Sanders ESLs you use are hybrids.

Apropos speaker cables: mine are of 40A rating and less than 1m long, as the monoblock power amplifiers (Mark Levinson ML-2) are situated directly behind the speakers.

Yo, Bazza, no comment on my previous post? ;)

Marco.

[Barry]

We've been here before Marco.

Each of my speakers presents a surface area of 0.66m2. They are placed each side of a patio window. If I stacked them, they would each present a surface area of 1.25m2 and would block out too much daylight.

Sorry - we are going to have to disagree on this. ;)

[Marco]

Lol... Tabatha says that daylight's vastly overrated!! :bum:

Marco.

[daytona600]

If I stacked them, they would each present a surface area of 1.25m2 and would block out too much daylight.

Modern Stats Don,t block sunlight as you can see through them



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIy3FGajEdU

[Jonboy]

I wish I room for stacked Quad 57s!

Now your talking

Looking and i suspect sounding good Al :D

[Audio Al]

Now your talking

Looking and i suspect sounding good Al :D


Spot on Jon , they sound amazing ;)

[Audio Al]

I have 4 57's and one day may try stacking :D

[Marco]

There you are, Barry - sorted... Better than those old 'radiators'! ;)

Marco.

[Marco]

I have 4 57's and one day may try stacking :D

You should, dude - they're a riot! :eyebrows:

Best guys to deal with in the UK for that: http://www.onethingaudio.webspace.virginmedia.com/

Interesting review: http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/index.php/olde-worlde/260-one-thing-audio.html

Marco.

[Audio Al]

You should, dude - they're a riot! :eyebrows:

Best guys to deal with in the UK for that: http://www.onethingaudio.webspace.virginmedia.com/

Interesting review: http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/index.php/olde-worlde/260-one-thing-audio.html

Marco.

I would but I keep giving you my money :scratch:
:)

[Barry]

If I stacked them, they would each present a surface area of 1.25m2 and would block out too much daylight.

Modern Stats Don,t block sunlight as you can see through them



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIy3FGajEdU

They look pretty opaque to me, though they do have the advantage of being tall and narrow as do the Martin Logan designs.

[daytona600]

roger sanders designed all the martin logans before he set up sanders sound systems

They look pretty opaque to me, though they do have the advantage of being tall and narrow as do the Martin Logan designs.

better picture below almost as much light as a window ( can,t post pictures or videos )

http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/products/electrostatic-speakers

roger wrote the book on Stats

http://www.introni.it/pdf/Sanders%20-%20Electrostatic%20Loudspeaker%20Design%20Cookbook %201995.pdf

not your typical audio company promo here , fresh thoughts about the high end audio industry

" I have never been drawn to the high-end industry. In fact, I am repelled by it. It is full of deceit and dishonest manufacturers and businessmen who are only interested in stealing money from gullible audiophiles. I very much dislike being associated with such unethical behavior. "


http://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/11/interview-with-roger-sanders.html