Eremite
16-11-2012, 13:51
My last house move left me with a loudspeaker problem; my Quad ESL-63’s really wouldn’t fit properly into the room in which they had to be. I’ve lived with the problem for a while and have jigged and rejigged their position, but it simply hasn’t been working out. So, time to bite the bullet and look for replacements. :eek:
I’ve been looking around t’interweb (including lurking here and at other hi-fi forums) for quite a while trying to pick up ideas of where to start looking; it’s been a while since I had a serious look for any new kit and the audio landscape is just as confusing as it ever was. But I did pick up on a consistent theme that Quad exiles should take a listen to Harbeth speakers. So I have been.
Since space is the main issue forcing this change, I thought I’d work my way up the size range starting from the smallest and stop when I got to something that satisfied. So, I got in touch with the local dealer (Audio Republic in Leeds) and arranged to audition the shoebox sized P3ESR. After very diplomatically suggesting that I might be setting my sights too small, they kindly lent me a pair to try for a couple of weeks at home. I’m not sure quite what I was expecting to hear from such a small pair of speakers, but what I did hear amazed me; extraordinarily good clarity, musicality & stereo imaging. They were also remarkably good off axis and at low volume for late night don’t-disturb-the-children listening. When the audition time was up, I really didn’t want to let go of them; they really are lovely little things!
But they weren’t the right thing for my main listening room; in the end, lack of low end extension removed them from consideration. Now don’t get me wrong, what they had in the bass they handled very well – but there simply wasn’t enough for me in that listening space. They would be perfect for a small listening room; maybe someday I’ll find an excuse for getting a pair for a second system!
So on to the recently introduced Monitor 30.1. These are a 2012 update to the Monitor 30 series which appears to have been going for donkey’s years as an LS5/9 replacement. This was more like it; the same musicality as the P3s, almost a “sweetness” of sound that I could listen to for hours on end. But this time, plenty of well controlled bass. So, to cut a long story short, my quest for ESL-63 replacements was quicker and easier than I thought it would be – the order for a pair of 30.1s has gone in. Perhaps I should have tried a few different speakers from different brands – but I found that what I was listening to was perfectly satisfying; if I had found beauty, why go on?
So, for any other ESL owner finding themselves lacking space, do not despair; there is life after ESL! :)
I’ve been looking around t’interweb (including lurking here and at other hi-fi forums) for quite a while trying to pick up ideas of where to start looking; it’s been a while since I had a serious look for any new kit and the audio landscape is just as confusing as it ever was. But I did pick up on a consistent theme that Quad exiles should take a listen to Harbeth speakers. So I have been.
Since space is the main issue forcing this change, I thought I’d work my way up the size range starting from the smallest and stop when I got to something that satisfied. So, I got in touch with the local dealer (Audio Republic in Leeds) and arranged to audition the shoebox sized P3ESR. After very diplomatically suggesting that I might be setting my sights too small, they kindly lent me a pair to try for a couple of weeks at home. I’m not sure quite what I was expecting to hear from such a small pair of speakers, but what I did hear amazed me; extraordinarily good clarity, musicality & stereo imaging. They were also remarkably good off axis and at low volume for late night don’t-disturb-the-children listening. When the audition time was up, I really didn’t want to let go of them; they really are lovely little things!
But they weren’t the right thing for my main listening room; in the end, lack of low end extension removed them from consideration. Now don’t get me wrong, what they had in the bass they handled very well – but there simply wasn’t enough for me in that listening space. They would be perfect for a small listening room; maybe someday I’ll find an excuse for getting a pair for a second system!
So on to the recently introduced Monitor 30.1. These are a 2012 update to the Monitor 30 series which appears to have been going for donkey’s years as an LS5/9 replacement. This was more like it; the same musicality as the P3s, almost a “sweetness” of sound that I could listen to for hours on end. But this time, plenty of well controlled bass. So, to cut a long story short, my quest for ESL-63 replacements was quicker and easier than I thought it would be – the order for a pair of 30.1s has gone in. Perhaps I should have tried a few different speakers from different brands – but I found that what I was listening to was perfectly satisfying; if I had found beauty, why go on?
So, for any other ESL owner finding themselves lacking space, do not despair; there is life after ESL! :)