About measurements: I measured my pair of ESLs using a CEL-275/CEL-296 integrating sound level meter. It was set up for Leq measurement and 1/3 octave bands. Leq does long term average. I excited the panels with PRBS pink noise, and measured from 3 meters in the actual listening room. So I got realistic frequency response (speaker and room combined) at the listening position.
I'm running a Quad with a lot of success on my F5.
It is very sensitive to the preamp and CD.
I read from Hiraga in the original article that the Le Classe A has been used for stacked Quads both parallel and series. His output differs from the F5 (darlingnot) but that can be substituted imho in the F5. The darlingnot theoretically handles capacitative load better.
albert
Fran,
With the new 'turbo' option (diodes) you should have ample current.
Series is better than parallel I think. As you can look up in my build, the F5 is very dominated by the source resistances. The max power at 4 and 2 ohms are almost the same, and equal in level to 20 ohms, so it does not have the usual solid state quadratic function. In this way, series connection will be managed well. This 'shelving' is a clue given for his good performance by Hiraga. Maybe it helps I have Toshiba's.
albert
With the new 'turbo' option (diodes) you should have ample current.
Series is better than parallel I think. As you can look up in my build, the F5 is very dominated by the source resistances. The max power at 4 and 2 ohms are almost the same, and equal in level to 20 ohms, so it does not have the usual solid state quadratic function. In this way, series connection will be managed well. This 'shelving' is a clue given for his good performance by Hiraga. Maybe it helps I have Toshiba's.
albert
I have heard both 57 and 63's rebuilt by PK and still prefer the 63's same as when stock.
You should have yours rebuilt , the difference in dynamics is staggering ...
A note on rebuilding the 57 tweeter panels
I,m rebuilding an extra set of damaged panel (burns) and the areas are very small. Cleaning the affected areas and lightly sanding with ultafine 1000 grit, I took some acetone with a small brush and disolved some of the grey paint underneath the borders and reapplied it over the burned areas as a new coating, its hard to tell there was a burn now.
Am I asking for trouble or should I go the corona dope method?
I noticed the factory application of paint leaves some specks as if they sprayed them outdoors,., should these be lightly sanded down also even though they they never arked in those spots?
Regards
David
I,m rebuilding an extra set of damaged panel (burns) and the areas are very small. Cleaning the affected areas and lightly sanding with ultafine 1000 grit, I took some acetone with a small brush and disolved some of the grey paint underneath the borders and reapplied it over the burned areas as a new coating, its hard to tell there was a burn now.
Am I asking for trouble or should I go the corona dope method?
I noticed the factory application of paint leaves some specks as if they sprayed them outdoors,., should these be lightly sanded down also even though they they never arked in those spots?
Regards
David
Good nudge. I looked at Arend-jan's ESL.labs site, refurbishing sounds like a good proposition.You should have yours rebuilt , the difference in dynamics is staggering ...
A look at the serial number list shows mine to be from 1979 (47960), so I bought them ten years old in 1989 ..
I do have a pair of OTL amplifiers that can output an astonishing 80 volts RMS and indeed I did hear some scary ticks but saw no flashes - reason I settled for traditional amps and I have not had a problem since.
Arend-jan's voltage clamping protection board will help me for sure too then.
albert
Here's the stereophile review of the Quad:
Quad Reference ESL-2805 loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com
Looking at the measurements, there is nothing to write about in terms of frequency response (fig 6), resonances (fig 9), or polar response (fig 3). The only spectacular result is the distortion measurement (fig 10), which is much much lower than most speakers.
Quad Reference ESL-2805 loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com
Looking at the measurements, there is nothing to write about in terms of frequency response (fig 6), resonances (fig 9), or polar response (fig 3). The only spectacular result is the distortion measurement (fig 10), which is much much lower than most speakers.
I found an article with photos and an Ebay auction for a pair of stacked pairs of Quad ESL-57 speakers here...
Why have a pair of speakers when you can have a quad (literally)?
Why have a pair of speakers when you can have a quad (literally)?
I originally got 2 pairs myself many a year ago. First listen to a pair before you go to the trouble of stacking them.
Don,t consider automatically that's the best way. They were never designed for stacking and you will be losing and gaining in area's depending on your priority's
If you stack, are they both equal in integrity without any burn holes to the panels? Sounds like some issues if you need a trans.
Are all 4 close in serial #'s?
Regards
David
Don,t consider automatically that's the best way. They were never designed for stacking and you will be losing and gaining in area's depending on your priority's
If you stack, are they both equal in integrity without any burn holes to the panels? Sounds like some issues if you need a trans.
Are all 4 close in serial #'s?
Regards
David
AVWERK:
I got one of the pairs hooked up in my livingroom right now and they do sound good in non stacked configuration. It is more out of curiosity that I want to try stacked pairs.
I have planned to restore both pair anyway so after that they should hopefully be close enough match for stacking..... I hope!?
The ones I got hooked up do not have burnet pannels, but the other pair do have treblepannels that are burnt (got that pair for "free" when I bought the ones I'm using right now).
I want to repaint the grills and would like to know the best way of getting rid of the old paint before I send the grills to the automotive laquer or maybe I wil like them in their raw unpainted..... will probably qo for bronzegrills!
Best regards
Peter
I got one of the pairs hooked up in my livingroom right now and they do sound good in non stacked configuration. It is more out of curiosity that I want to try stacked pairs.
I have planned to restore both pair anyway so after that they should hopefully be close enough match for stacking..... I hope!?
The ones I got hooked up do not have burnet pannels, but the other pair do have treblepannels that are burnt (got that pair for "free" when I bought the ones I'm using right now).
I want to repaint the grills and would like to know the best way of getting rid of the old paint before I send the grills to the automotive laquer or maybe I wil like them in their raw unpainted..... will probably qo for bronzegrills!
Best regards
Peter
The grills on my both pairs have been painted for shure, the paint is starting to chip.
Unfortunatly thay are most of the time directly placed on the floor. I have tried use my dinnertablechairs for stands and as you say the SQ improves a lot.
Where I live now is just for a short time of period and the room they are placed in is very small and far away from ideal, it's like wearing GIGANTIC esl headphones.
As soon as I moved to my new flat I will start looking into refurbing both pairs and I will need to make some stands or feet for them also. Aestheticly I prefer the original esl 57 feet, the stands from one thing audio do not apeal to me.
If I go for stacked ones I will most defenetly suspend/hang them from the seiling. do not like the stands I've seen for stacked pairs so far.
Unfortunatly thay are most of the time directly placed on the floor. I have tried use my dinnertablechairs for stands and as you say the SQ improves a lot.
Where I live now is just for a short time of period and the room they are placed in is very small and far away from ideal, it's like wearing GIGANTIC esl headphones.
As soon as I moved to my new flat I will start looking into refurbing both pairs and I will need to make some stands or feet for them also. Aestheticly I prefer the original esl 57 feet, the stands from one thing audio do not apeal to me.
If I go for stacked ones I will most defenetly suspend/hang them from the seiling. do not like the stands I've seen for stacked pairs so far.
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Nice find, a quad of quads.
I found a Dutch repair shop that also makes replacement transformers. They claim the response improves (lower interwinding capacitances/losses).
Ask them. info@audio4.nl . This is their site: Audio4 A replacement new transformer is €360 incl VAT.
I found a Dutch repair shop that also makes replacement transformers. They claim the response improves (lower interwinding capacitances/losses).
Ask them. info@audio4.nl . This is their site: Audio4 A replacement new transformer is €360 incl VAT.
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