I am tempted to try building a pair of these.....

[Gordon Steadman]

You could get half a pair of Quads for not much more than that

[CageyH]

You could get half a pair of Quads for not much more than that

Quads can need expensive servicing.

[danilo]

Have a pair. They work decently well truth be told. Hardly 250 GBP's worth though.
They are Ugly things and Must be well out (1 Meter min) from a wall.
Wimmin can have serious problems with that combo... as a small heads up.
Sounds? Decent 80 Hz..maybe? bass from a 3" (claimed as 4" driver in a 1/4 wave box (it is NOT a horn, all brochure babbles aside)
I've taken the Mark audio drivers out and stuffed them into a nice/compact reasonably attractive, Thrift store bought pair of Sony speaker/boxes.. 4$.
Sounds? Some loss in bass depth Otherwise sound is Identical to the F h's to my ears.
It's More the Mark Audio drivers than all else that makes the pleasing sounds.
No further complaints from the Roomate.. Priceless that.

[Gordon Steadman]

Quads can need expensive servicing.

My pair still sounded better than anything else I've heard before they got their rebuild. That was thirteen years ago and they are still fine (OneThing took half cash and half old hi-fi!!) and I expect them to see me out. My pair were made in the mid 60's so around 50 years old. If they aren't damaged by overdriving they keep working for ever it seems, but if you have a Firebottle and his magic soldering iron to hand (just one resistor as I remember) even problems can be fixed! Sadly, that option is no longer available to us out here.

[Ray]

Gordon,
I have never heard a pair of ESL's but I know I would probably fall in love!
I will most likely take the dive into the enchanted ESL world you speak at some stage before being shoved into my box.
I think with the NON ESL people it is more trepidation and fear of the unknown!