QUAD ESL 57 A little work on the loudspeaker "B"

Nemeske · 2017-06-19 8:36 pm

After finishing one side, I couldn't help myself not to go on to the other speaker.
However, it sounds flawless, I decided to do the same 'repairs' or rather reconditioning at this side, too.

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/19/201IMG_4947.jpg

Nemeske · 2017-06-19 8:40 pm

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/19/855IMG_4961.jpg

Nemeske · 2017-06-19 8:47 pm

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/19/638IMG_4968.jpg

Nemeske · 2017-06-19 8:49 pm

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/19/396IMG_4987.jpg

Nemeske · 2017-06-19 9:00 pm

images attached

Nemeske · 2017-06-19 9:13 pm

First thing I noticed that the woodwork of this side is crudely made compared to the other one I've just finished. Maybe, they didn't care more at QUAD longer about cosmetics. The treble supports and other panel support lines are zig-zag at the sides, and the quality of the plywood seems worse.

Other thing I noticed that apart from the treble panel that had been serviced by One Thing (not serviced but they changed the dustcover on it) the bass panels seem they were never touched. After a good soapy clean, the saran looked like new. Not new... It looked better than my repaired panels, as they have no wrinkles at all, and maybe a little better to the touch (more supple?).

The bad thing is that the insulation paint (or maybe the conductive paint underneath it too) started to flake off at the right bass panel's center section, so I started to worry a bit how to deal with this problem. However, it was there already, and the bass worked with no problem.

So, there is the task, I will photo-document, as I proceed. (if you don't mind o.c.)

Soldmyquads · 2017-06-25 5:54 pm

This is an amazing speaker especially with tube gear and vinyl. A friend and I reconfigured mine and they were out of this world. Basically, we put one base panel on top of the other base panel in a new vertical frame maintaining the same panel curvature. Then centered the tweeter panels one at the outer left side of the left speaker and one at the outer right side of the right speaker. Mirror imaged. The inner frame for the panels were center hinged to the outer frame to provide some soundstage window tweeking. A stretch black speaker cloth sock to fit over the outer frame and a really nice thick oak base topped it all off. Of course we added those aluminum cones to the bottom of the base. They stood about 6 foot high and the frames were made out of one piece of solid oak tongue and grooved. Wish I had photos but I sold my Quads along with the rest of my system a few decades ago before phones with cameras. I have never been serious about audio since. Repaired many different levels of audio with no enthusiasm because they all sounded the same dull way. The reconfigured Quads will ruin you for life. I assume you carefully tryed a hair dryer on low to get rid of the wrinkles? Did you ever check to see if the panels have been arced before taking them apart? There are some mods for the power supply but they didn't change the sound quality. I hope the conductive coating doesn't cause any future sound degradation. Good luck.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

Nemeske · 2017-06-26 11:08 pm

Like this one?

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/759P1000015.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/957P1000017.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/760P1000018.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/618P1000070.jpg

Nemeske · 2017-06-26 11:50 pm

The process so far...

Thank you for your info. I've checked thoroughly both speakers panels, and found no arcing at all (thank God...). I think it is mainly because the previous owners used them with care and with suitable low watt amps. I used my 'special' hair dryer to have all the wrinkles disappear, but when I talked about the quality of the dust cover material, my statement still stands. Maybe I received my dustcover supply pushed into a small box, hence the wrinkles, but the original dustcover hostaphan seems much more supple and even, and made out of better materials. I don't care, as it sounds ok.

Now, the pictures of the process:

I disassembled the audio transformer (I ironed out the wax, heating the sides of the audio transformer box.) and checked the specs of the resistor-matrix. I think I won't brother it at all as the other one has near the same specs.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

Next thing I've done is to check the EHT voltage with the multiplier. It showed a greater value for the treble and bass both. It is maybe due that the power comes from the 610V tag to the multiplier box than from the 590. (photo later)

I checked and stripped down the two bass panels. I found out that the panels are more flexible compared to the completed speaker's and the paint and the conductive lines are flaking off as hell. I found the plastic stator more supple also.

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/242IMG_5078.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/559IMG_5096.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/869IMG_5107.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/922IMG_5094.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/602IMG_5118.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/490IMG_5122.jpg

I don't know, but I am sure that these panels made with the least care. One of it was riveted once, disassembled, and riveted elsewhere with new holes drilled and the old ones glued out with epoxy...What a view it was...
The other one's got this paint-flaking problem only. Yeah, and I almost forgot
to mention that both panels had problems with one stator's signal continuity. I recognised this after a good brush vacuuming. Maybe, I vacuumed off the continuity, who knows, but I have to deal with it somehow.

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/412IMG_5111.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/199IMG_5114.jpg

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/936IMG_5115.jpg

I like curves, but not here. Hope this will help out the deformation off the frame.

Nemeske · 2017-06-26 11:51 pm

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/109IMG_5128.jpg

Nemeske · 2017-06-26 11:54 pm

error in continuitiy at the back stator...

The other bass has the same problem but at the front stator:
http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/327IMG_5162.jpg

Nemeske · 2017-06-27 12:11 am

Nemeske · 2017-06-27 12:14 am

the new hardwares

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2017/06/26/305IMG_5130.jpg
All the screws that I will use for this ,,project".

Soldmyquads · 2017-06-27 7:59 am

reconfigured Quads

I stacked the base panels on top of each other and mounted the tweeter panel to the side.

Nemeske · 2017-06-27 12:02 pm

Soldmyquads said:
I stacked the base panels on top of each other and mounted the tweeter panel to the side. View attachment 623088

I am rather visual

Now, I got it. Interesting set up. If I remember correctly, I've seen Lindsey Allen Quads, where they put the treble next to two bass panels rather than between the two. Ive never heard a pair

Nemeske · 2017-06-27 12:03 pm

I mean, Lindley

Soldmyquads · 2017-06-27 4:15 pm

Nemeske said:
I am rather visual Now, I got it. Interesting set up. If I remember correctly, I've seen Lindsey Allen Quads, where they put the treble next to two bass panels rather than between the two. Ive never heard a pair

The original Quad is amazing, in comparison, the reconfigured is out of this world.

Nemeske · 2017-07-01 8:53 pm

Nemeske · 2017-07-01 9:02 pm

Soldmyquads · 2017-07-02 12:50 am

Nice clean work.

QUAD ESL 57 A little work on the loudspeaker "B"

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