Why do my stats sound a little harsh, aggressive?

[j.postema]

I've built three electrostatic loudspeakers during my lifespan and currently I'm using two of them - one being a hybrid panel (mid / high) paired with a transmission-line subwoofer and one rather big full-range stat. I get the impression, together with others that listened to my DIY stats, that they always sound rather bright and a little aggressive and harsh in the higher frequencies compared to some electrodynamic (cone) loudspeakers.

Is this a general property of stats, or is it just my stats? I did apply active equalizing, my stats use secondhand transformers that originate from Audiostatic stats (a set of two 1:75 transformers per channel). Those transformers have a LR-resonance frequency at somewhere around 11 kHz so output falls off after 11 kHz. They don't have the typical upwards raising frequency response as I equalized them - they have a rather straight frequency response in the mid and high range.

Do you recognize my findings about the aggressiveness and harshness? What could be the cause? Is it a material property - the mylar? Could it be a distortion coming from either / and / or the power amplifier, transformers? Or some unwanted by-products? Is this sound typical for all stats?

I've read that compared to stats, magnetotstats (Magnepans) tent to have a more coherent sound and lack the harsh high frequencies. Do you people agree on that and what would be the cause of this difference?

By the way: although being critical about my own creations (the stats), I'm very happy with them and have always felt attracted to there presence.

[paulf-2007]

Diy audio may be more helpful, although some here may have experience of building stats.

[hifi_dave]

Probably depends on the ESL. The Martin Logans are clean and clear, the Quads are warmer and more mellow but none are "bright and aggressive".

[TheMooN]

It may prove to be a number of factors eg. the crossover, however an obvious place to start would be the ancillary equipment in use with the stats, an impedance miss match perhaps or amplification with an inherent rise in the upper registers, amplified in effect by the revealing nature of the transducers.

[Ali Tait]

EQ the treble down a little?

[Primalsea]

This is a wild guess, but have you measured the off-axis frequency ressponce of the treble frequencies?

Could it be the case that the treble is beaming and the bass frequencies are omnidirectional, which means that the energy distribution is not even so you need to bring the treble eq down a little further to compensate. Or use a grid with less open area o disperse the higher frequencies a bit more.

This is just what came into my mind.

[Macca]

if there is distortion the best you are going to do by adjusting levels is mask it.

There is nothing in the intrinsic working principles of a panel or electrostatic that will make it sound harsh. I have heard them sounding very sweet indeed. So assuming there is not a fault or design flaw with these specific panels I would say they are just showing up a problem originating further upstream.

[Yomanze]

Kudos for building electrostatics and getting them to work at all. I would dread to think about the optimisation involved though to get Quad levels of sweetness at the top end.


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[wee tee cee]

This might sound a bit daft but super tweeters have helped my 57s at both high and low frequencies.

I fully agree....building yer own stats!!!! Wow im in awe.......any help i can assist with PM me.

[Stratmangler]

ESL speakers all have one thing in common - falling impedance with a rise in frequency.
It could be that the OP's amplification is just telling him that it's not happy driving his stats.

[jandl100]

Do the stats measure flat frequency response in-room?

If so, that is probably the problem.
Most people prefer a slow drop-off in frequency response at high frequencies and that is how most rooms measure for a "good sounding" system.