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Thread: Radford STA 15 driving Quad ESL 63's

  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2009

    Location: Llanerfyl, Mid Wales

    Posts: 169
    I'm Nigel.

    Default Radford STA 15 driving Quad ESL 63's

    Does anyone have any experience of the above combination.
    Can it or will it work?
    Grateful for any input!

  2. #2
    Bigman80 Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by shaman View Post
    Does anyone have any experience of the above combination.
    Can it or will it work?
    Grateful for any input!
    It'll work, no reason it shouldnt.

    The Quad 63 are in the "all time top 10 of speakers" according to stereophile.

    Go for it Nigel, you shouldn't lose on them either, especially if you are willing to ship to Japan, they will pay top dollar for a nice pair.

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2009

    Location: Llanerfyl, Mid Wales

    Posts: 169
    I'm Nigel.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bigman80 View Post
    It'll work, no reason it shouldnt.

    The Quad 63 are in the "all time top 10 of speakers" according to stereophile.

    Go for it Nigel, you shouldn't lose on them either, especially if you are willing to ship to Japan, they will pay top dollar for a nice pair.
    Stop encouraging me Ollie!

  4. #4
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

    Default

    Sounds as if it would be a rather wonderful combination. I do rather like electrostats.

  5. #5
    Bigman80 Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by shaman View Post
    Stop encouraging me Ollie!
    Do it!!!!!! Lol

  6. #6
    montesquieu Guest

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    For all their low sensitivity Quad ESLs manage very well on low valve power, the biggest surprise for me was how well they did with some 6B4G monoblocks I had - about 6W. This was the original 57s rather than 63s, which are known to need a little more.

    But given the quality of the Radford transformers and the fact the STA15 manages about 12w, I would think you should be fine indeed it ought to be pretty lovely.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Essex

    Posts: 31,859
    I'm openingabottleofwine.

    Default

    I have used a Radford STA15 Mk.III amplifier with Quad '57 speakers, and it is an excellent combination.
    Barry

  8. #8
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

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    I've driven '57s with my 12W (into 16 ohm) OTL amp and that is sublime.

  9. #9
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: South West of England

    Posts: 263
    I'm Will.

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    The STA15 III can deliver around 22W at the point of clipping and can drive ESL57s very well indeed.
    Radford Revival
    www.radfordrevival.co.uk

  10. #10
    Join Date: May 2018

    Location: Woking

    Posts: 803
    I'm Chris.

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    My experience driving both 57's and 63's really echo's the sentiments of folk here. I have found Quads react more positively to high quality transformers than most (probably all) speakers. It's as important (if not more) with them as the output power. (Within reason, eg: 2w and the best transformers in the world is going to be poor with ESL's).

    I've driven 57's successfully with 8-12w but the same amp did not have the magic with the 63's which do need a bit more ooomph. Probably push-pull and at least 20w I would say. However the transformers on the Radfords are tip-top so it should be okay. Would undoubtedly be a better and confirmed awesome match with 57's though.

    Just my experience of course and may well sound brilliant with the 63's, which are a little more demanding than 57's on the power side. It may be the case that you still get a lovely sound but maybe miss out on some of the dynamics and scale that more power would offer.

    Best amp for 63's I've found is 35w Push-pull KT88 in triode mode. Very surprisingly good bass with JJ KT88's.

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