Uncovered the 57's today...

[macvisual]

Well after M.A.N.Y. months lying under the stairs (tucked away) I uncovered the ESL 57's today, weather here in central Scotland is pretty crap today, walked the dog earlier for 3 miles and we both got a decent soaking. Powered up the ESL 57's and let them sit for an hour or so as they hadn't been powered up in a loooong time. I've them sitting on dedicated 'Rupert' speaker stands which lifts them 14 inches off the floor for their best audio results.

My main speakers are Audioplan Kontrast Mk II's (which are lurking behind the 57's in the photo's), decent floorstanders ok, but the overall sound from these bronze original matched pair of 1967 Quad ESL 57's are magnificent and SO magical. The left speaker has (very slightly) less bass compared to the right, so a service looks on the cards for a future project etc...
wOw, the midrange is simply stunning as with all panel speakers, so real sounding.

Been playing 'Linn Jazz' streamed from the internet for a few hours now to warm them up etc, I've around 1650 albums to access via the laptop. I'll be playing a selection of music by these artists; John Martyn - Peter Cincotti - David Sylvian - Tommy Smith - Niacin - Ken Haddock - James Grant (Love & Money) - Patricia Barber - James Taylor - Donald Fagen - Kurt Elling - Jethro Tull etc....

Here's the left speaker;

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/DSCF0477.jpg

Together;

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/DSCF0478.jpg

Right speaker;

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/DSCF0481.jpg

I'm using an elderly Arcam Alpha integrated amplifier to power them, no problems at all, also a M.Fidelity M1 DAC. Bliss!

This is not really a report or review, just glad to get them up & running again and share my personal views.

I'd thought about selling these ESL beauties a while ago, but NO, they're gonna stay as I'm too attached to them and have owned these for around 8/9 yrs, they have superb magical strengths, they play & produce music so darn well. I'm typing this in awe of what their producing right now!! (See below)

I urge anyone to go out today and buy or download (or steal) a copy of this;
Nils Lofgren's 'Acoustic Live' album (1997), UTTERLY AWESOME, select and play track 5 called 'Keith Don't Go', simply amazing playing through these iconic ESL 57's - wOOw.

[DSJR]

I'm getting into enough trouble regarding speakers at the moment (and giving some gossipy bystanders on another forum some jollity too :)) but I think we can all? agree on the fact that if you have the room for them, and a good working pair as well, the 57's can sound enchanting and easily disappear sonically from the scene.

Only thing to watch please is the 2 ohm loading at very high frequencies. I think the little Alpha? amp should be entirely stable into this load, since it's not freaked out to the max as some amps are.

As for differences between each one, "maybe" you'll find the sound will balance up after a few days' use, since the plates have to charge fully and this takes time if they've been in storage for a while.

[jason]

Very nice Peter, gutted I sold mine a few years back. I had them on black rupert stands with back sides covered with black cloth. They sounded wonderful but at the time I didn't have the space so they had to go here's a pic of them. Man I miss em now.
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u505/paintedhead1234/004-17.jpg
http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u505/paintedhead1234/016-14.jpg

[macvisual]

Jason, they look superb.

My problem is, I can't have my 57's out playing 24/7 as they're a bit too big for our lounge, that why I uncover them from time to time and enjoy them in short bursts.

Utterly wonderful..!!!!

[jason]

Jason, they look superb.

My problem is, I can't have my 57's out playing 24/7 as they're a bit too big for our lounge, that why I uncover them from time to time and enjoy them in short bursts.

Utterly wonderful..!!!!

I wish I'd have done the same thing Peter:doh: I really do miss them I used them with quad 11s too and they sounded unreal. I have never bettered them with any modern speakers I've owned and I've owned a good few pairs since, so I suppose it go's to show just how good they are all these years on. Glad your enjoying them anyway Peter:)

[macvisual]

Yes my virtually mint condition ESL 57's are 45 years old and can still boogie big style, fantastic for their age really!

I even have their original Quad ESL speaker packing box's in the roof space, although a bit shabby condition now...

[Ali Tait]

Aye, great speakers. Still unmatched in some respects IMHO.

[Gordon Steadman]

I have had mine for over 30 years. They have been used in a mansion, a cupboard and now in a room 5 metres x 6 metres and 2.5 high.

They have sounded wonderful in every room, I can never understand this thing about needing a church hall. The pic below shows the cupboard. The room is basically four 57's width long and two wide, you can just see the edge of the bed that hard up against the wall where I'm sitting.

My wife would leave if I suggested getting rid of them. As far as I'm concerned, love me, love my Quads. No-one could make me get rid of them because they don't suit the decor. Design the room around them. People need to choose their wives as carefully as they choose their Hi-Fi!!

[jason]

Yes my virtually mint condition ESL 57's are 45 years old and can still boogie big style, fantastic for their age really!

I even have their original Quad ESL speaker packing box's in the roof space, although a bit shabby condition now...

Box's too even better:stalks: I wonder if people will be still using them in another 45 yrs time I personally think they will:D

[macvisual]

Gordon Steadman;

wOw you've owned your 57's over thirty years, brilliant!

Have you had them serviced or maybe upgraded since you've owned them..? Would live to hear your thoughts or advice on this please.

[Firebottle]

As far as I'm concerned, love me, love my Quads.
+1
Nothing will part me from mine.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/ESL57.jpg

Macvisual you'll just have to move your telly!

I have serviced the EHT blocks on mine, it's not that difficult,
Cheers, Alan

[jason]

Nice speakers guys, I would loved to hear a stacked set through some quad11's anyone had the pleasure??

[Gordon Steadman]

Gordon Steadman;

wOw you've owned your 57's over thirty years, brilliant!

Have you had them serviced or maybe upgraded since you've owned them..? Would live to hear your thoughts or advice on this please.

Yup,

Before I came out to France, I had them rebuilt by OneThing in Leicester. Had to get rid of a few of my other stuff to pay for them but it was worth every penny - around £700 from memory. I had used them continuously for the 20 years before that so it wasn't too bad really.

I use them on home made oak stands. The cats love them and use them as scratching posts of course but I don't care as the metal resists all their attention - couldn't do that with wood. I must redo the edges at some time though

[Barry]

+1
Nothing will part me from mine.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt97/Paramotorpilot/ESL57.jpg

Macvisual you'll just have to move your telly!

I have serviced the EHT blocks on mine, it's not that difficult,
Cheers, Alan

What the hell are they doing up there?

[spendorman]

What the hell are they doing up there?

The science museum used to have a pair suspended in a similar manner.

[Si74]

Was offered a fabulous pair of these at a knock down price and still kick myself for not taking them.Space was the problem and now I have a six and a half feet high pair of horns, Spock must be pissin himself at my logic.
Doubt if I could live with them without a pair of wee subs but that would have been a challenge:-) Lovely things that took me 30 years to hear a pair.
A few of my mates heard their mates Dad's Quads and that's what got them started on the slippery trail as they couldn't believe their ears!

[Firebottle]

What the hell are they doing up there?

Sounding fantastic Barry :)
It was always a compromise with positioning when they were on the floor, now they are in the clear it's ... well, fantastic.
I also have a REL copy sub filling in the first octave, the valve amp in the corner is sitting on it.

[Barry]

Well that's fine - provided you like to listen to performers who are either on an 8' high stage or are 13' tall themselves. :lol:

[gummy]

Well that's fine - provided you like to listen to performers who are either on an 8' high stage or are 13' tall themselves. :lol:

The diva in 'The Fifth Element' comes to mind. But truely, hanging them does suggest somewhat odd things, butcher shops, dominatrixs (in a good way of course). But then I'm new here, maybe that's par for the course here?

I've been running mine now since 1990. I use Quad II's to drive them, lately with a Yamaha amp as we are renovating. For many years I took off the rear panel and had heavy felt panels (5/8" steamed wool) on the wall behind. I loved the sound and they looked great, even sexy, with light comming through from the back.

Congrats on having such fine examples!