Refurbing Quad ESL-57....Some Queries!

Fanuc · 30th July 2007, 12:48 AM

Hello,

I am in the processs of refrubising my Quad ESL-57 electrostatic speakers.

I have fitted new EHT boards and devices to them (plus corona lacquer due to HV), as the components on the old boards are not so hot anyway and degrade over 20 years!

The treble panels look fine and also the bass. No arcing etc. But I am worried about the dust covers in particular. Have ordered new dust covers.

Couple of things.

Have noticed wrinkles on the treble panel dust covers though no holes and it ain't that bad being honest. May try a hair dryer first, then a heatgun after if needed. Have read the that the treble panal dust covers are the most important to get smooth otherwise yiou will get rattles at HF.

One one of the ELS57's there is no dust covers for the bass panels!. So this needs sorted out asap. Have also noticed that around the rivets on the bass panel it looks like some leakage etc
Almost like fluid. Wondering whether to use isoprop alcohol (IPA)to clean these up before fitting the dust covers.

Any advice/help appreciatted!

Kevin

wolf_moses · 30th July 2007, 12:43 PM

Hi Fanuc,

I would post this query at the Planar section of www.audioasylum.com. There are some top Quad57 restorer experts there, especially kentaja and Sheldon Stokes.

Regards,

Wolf

arend-jan · 30th July 2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fanuc

I have fitted new EHT boards and devices to them (plus corona lacquer due to HV), as the components on the old boards are not so hot anyway and degrade over 20 years!

Make sure you leave no sharp points on the solder joints (like pieces of wire and such). Round and smooth is what you're looking for.

Quote:

Have noticed wrinkles on the treble panel dust covers though no holes and it ain't that bad being honest. May try a hair dryer first, then a heatgun after if needed.

A hair dryer won't do much, you need a heatgun to shrink the mylar. Can you post a pic? If it's not too bad I would not risk burning a hole in it. A couple of small wrinkels around the edge is not necessarily a problem.

Quote:

One one of the ELS57's there is no dust covers for the bass panels!. So this needs sorted out asap. Have also noticed that around the rivets on the bass panel it looks like some leakage etc
Almost like fluid. Wondering whether to use isoprop alcohol (IPA)to clean these up before fitting the dust covers.

You can use IPA safely on the panels but in my experience it does not help you much. Don't use aceton here unless you want to remove the paint (which it will for sure).
Thoroughly vacuum the panels and hook them up. Let them charge for a couple of hours and then carefully listen for strange noises like plops, hissing or ticking. If it's silent then you're probably in the clear.

When you replace the dustcovers, don't tension them untill you have repositioned the panels in the frame. What materials did you order?

Fanuc · 31st July 2007, 11:57 PM

Hello,

Have attached an image of the back of the els57. What I am concerned about is there is no dust covers on the bass panels, but also look at the rivets. Doesn't appear to be bad corrosion but there is some leakage I suspect.

Was wondering if IPA would clean this up. With new EHT boards being installed I guess there is some leakage from the diaphragm to the grounded rivets!.

In the treble panel, the picture does not show the small ripples in the centre of the panel, but I may try a heatgun to smooth it off. Just start with low temperature at first. PS. there isn't any holes etc in the treble panel dust covers.

Advice appreciatted.

Kevin

Fanuc · 31st July 2007, 11:59 PM

Hello,

Have attached an image of the back of the els57. What I am concerned about is there is no dust covers on the bass panels, but also look at the rivets. Doesn't appear to be bad corrosion but there is some leakage I suspect.

Was wondering if IPA would clean this up. With new EHT boards being installed I guess there is some leakage from the diaphragm to the grounded rivets!.

In the treble panel, the picture does not show the small ripples in the centre of the panel, but I may try a heatgun to smooth it off. Just start with low temperature at first. PS. there isn't any holes etc in the treble panel dust covers.

Advice appreciatted.

Fanuc · 1st August 2007, 12:03 AM

Hello,

Have attached an image of the back of the els57. What I am concerned about is there is no dust covers on the bass panels, but also look at the rivets. Doesn't appear to be bad corrosion but there is some leakage I suspect.

Was wondering if IPA would clean this up. With new EHT boards being installed I guess there is some leakage from the diaphragm to the grounded rivets!.

In the treble panel, the picture does not show the small ripples in the centre of the panel, but I may try a heatgun to smooth it off. Just start with low temperature at first. PS. there isn't any holes etc in the treble panel dust covers.

Advice appreciatted.

Kevin

Seraph · 1st August 2007, 12:15 AM

Hello

Reading your posts with interest contemplating delving into my own 57's at some point. Thought I'd bring to your attention that the image referenced in your previous post appears to have been inadvertently left off.

Regards

seraph

Fanuc · 1st August 2007, 12:44 AM

Hello,

Have attached an image of the back of the els57. What I am concerned about is there is no dust covers on the bass panels, but also look at the rivets. Doesn't appear to be bad corrosion but there is some leakage I suspect.

Was wondering if IPA would clean this up. With new EHT boards being installed I guess there is some leakage from the diaphragm to the grounded rivets!.

In the treble panel, the picture does not show the small ripples in the centre of the panel, but I may try a heatgun to smooth it off. Just start with low temperature at first. PS. there isn't any holes etc in the treble panel dust covers.

Advice appreciatted.

Kevin

Fanuc · 1st August 2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seraph
Hello

Reading your posts with interest contemplating delving into my own 57's at some point. Thought I'd bring to your attention that the image referenced in your previous post appears to have been inadvertently left off.

Regards

seraph

Hi,

Sorry about that. I am using an "erratic" wireless internet link at the moment (at least until tomorrow) and it kept bombing out when uploading the image. Just noticed there is a duplicate post also! :-)

Kevin

Fanuc · 1st August 2007, 12:54 AM

What concerns me for people in the know about refurbing Quad ELS57's etc is the liquid like substance around the rivets on the bass panel, if you look closely.

Clean it off with Isoprop Alcohol ? and get the hoover out etc?

In fact some people think the Quads sound better without the dust covers ( higher SPL I think? ) or more transparent sound etc. Though I have no opinion to offer on this personally and would prefer to put the dust covers back on. £32 for a kit (rolls) - apparently it could do 10 - 20 quads!

30th July 2007, 12:48 AM	#1
Fanuc diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leven, Fife	Refurbing Quad ESL-57....Some Queries! Hello, I am in the processs of refrubising my Quad ESL-57 electrostatic speakers. I have fitted new EHT boards and devices to them (plus corona lacquer due to HV), as the components on the old boards are not so hot anyway and degrade over 20 years! The treble panels look fine and also the bass. No arcing etc. But I am worried about the dust covers in particular. Have ordered new dust covers. Couple of things. Have noticed wrinkles on the treble panel dust covers though no holes and it ain't that bad being honest. May try a hair dryer first, then a heatgun after if needed. Have read the that the treble panal dust covers are the most important to get smooth otherwise yiou will get rattles at HF. One one of the ELS57's there is no dust covers for the bass panels!. So this needs sorted out asap. Have also noticed that around the rivets on the bass panel it looks like some leakage etc Almost like fluid. Wondering whether to use isoprop alcohol (IPA)to clean these up before fitting the dust covers. Any advice/help appreciatted! Kevin

30th July 2007, 12:43 PM	#2
wolf_moses diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Refurbing Quad ESL-57....Some Queries! Hi Fanuc, I would post this query at the Planar section of www.audioasylum.com. There are some top Quad57 restorer experts there, especially kentaja and Sheldon Stokes. Regards, Wolf __________________ Wolf

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31st July 2007, 11:57 PM	#4
Fanuc diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leven, Fife	Hello, Have attached an image of the back of the els57. What I am concerned about is there is no dust covers on the bass panels, but also look at the rivets. Doesn't appear to be bad corrosion but there is some leakage I suspect. Was wondering if IPA would clean this up. With new EHT boards being installed I guess there is some leakage from the diaphragm to the grounded rivets!. In the treble panel, the picture does not show the small ripples in the centre of the panel, but I may try a heatgun to smooth it off. Just start with low temperature at first. PS. there isn't any holes etc in the treble panel dust covers. Advice appreciatted. Kevin

31st July 2007, 11:59 PM	#5
Fanuc diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leven, Fife	Hello, Have attached an image of the back of the els57. What I am concerned about is there is no dust covers on the bass panels, but also look at the rivets. Doesn't appear to be bad corrosion but there is some leakage I suspect. Was wondering if IPA would clean this up. With new EHT boards being installed I guess there is some leakage from the diaphragm to the grounded rivets!. In the treble panel, the picture does not show the small ripples in the centre of the panel, but I may try a heatgun to smooth it off. Just start with low temperature at first. PS. there isn't any holes etc in the treble panel dust covers. Advice appreciatted.

1st August 2007, 12:03 AM	#6
Fanuc diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leven, Fife	Hello, Have attached an image of the back of the els57. What I am concerned about is there is no dust covers on the bass panels, but also look at the rivets. Doesn't appear to be bad corrosion but there is some leakage I suspect. Was wondering if IPA would clean this up. With new EHT boards being installed I guess there is some leakage from the diaphragm to the grounded rivets!. In the treble panel, the picture does not show the small ripples in the centre of the panel, but I may try a heatgun to smooth it off. Just start with low temperature at first. PS. there isn't any holes etc in the treble panel dust covers. Advice appreciatted. Kevin

1st August 2007, 12:15 AM	#7
Seraph diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	Hello Reading your posts with interest contemplating delving into my own 57's at some point. Thought I'd bring to your attention that the image referenced in your previous post appears to have been inadvertently left off. Regards seraph

1st August 2007, 12:54 AM	#10
Fanuc diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leven, Fife	What concerns me for people in the know about refurbing Quad ELS57's etc is the liquid like substance around the rivets on the bass panel, if you look closely. Clean it off with Isoprop Alcohol ? and get the hoover out etc? In fact some people think the Quads sound better without the dust covers ( higher SPL I think? ) or more transparent sound etc. Though I have no opinion to offer on this personally and would prefer to put the dust covers back on. £32 for a kit (rolls) - apparently it could do 10 - 20 quads!