Hello !
I will just throw out my idea here ... 😉
My first vintage setup was a pair of Quad ESL57´s ( parts from OTA ) and a Quad 44 with a Quad 303.
This setup has been collecting dust the last couple of years.
Now I got the idea of making a MONO setup with two ESL57´s - stacked.
Is this idea any good?
I can direct stereo records into one channel through my mono button on the Quad 44- right? - or doing this digitally in programs like pure music etc...
I also minimize the footprint of my ESL57´s by stacking them... these speakers were not pleasantly welcomed by the wife...
I really really hope getting good feedback on this idea since I just love the sound of my ESL57´s...
Thanks
I will just throw out my idea here ... 😉
My first vintage setup was a pair of Quad ESL57´s ( parts from OTA ) and a Quad 44 with a Quad 303.
This setup has been collecting dust the last couple of years.
Now I got the idea of making a MONO setup with two ESL57´s - stacked.
Is this idea any good?
I can direct stereo records into one channel through my mono button on the Quad 44- right? - or doing this digitally in programs like pure music etc...
I also minimize the footprint of my ESL57´s by stacking them... these speakers were not pleasantly welcomed by the wife...
I really really hope getting good feedback on this idea since I just love the sound of my ESL57´s...
Thanks
It's been done allot. But why mono ? Who want to listen to mono, rather get another pair and stack them for a stacked stereo pair 🙂
Thanks for replay🙂
Yes... Stacking ESL57´s has been done for quite some time , I´m fully aware of that.
Why mono?
Lack of space where I live.
There are people who have dedicated mono setups - right?
But do these people listen to only mono recordings on vinyl?!
I just got hooked on the idea of having ESLs = a wall of sound in mono.
Yes... Stacking ESL57´s has been done for quite some time , I´m fully aware of that.
Why mono?
Lack of space where I live.
There are people who have dedicated mono setups - right?
But do these people listen to only mono recordings on vinyl?!
I just got hooked on the idea of having ESLs = a wall of sound in mono.
I would 5000 times prefer 57 in stereo over 2 in mono.. For me what they do Nice us stage and stereo imaging is one of the major things that keeps me seated. But hee everyone has there own preferences 🙂
Set them up for stereo symmetrically in your largest room, and demo them for the missus using the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. Then if she still disapproves, report back here for more serious relationship advice.
I have my ESL panels quite close together.
I found the "separation" was so "good" when they were separated by the usual 45-degrees that the orchestra image seemed disjointed and any hint of ping-pong detracted from the sound. Granted, that violates what I (and most readers) would have expected. I guess I am in the Toole love-that-ambience school.
Close together but in stereo, the sound is wonderful and substantially more wonderful than in mono in the same speakers set-up. So, even if they are cheek-by-jowl horizontally, you'll have good sound with a stereo signal but less so with a mono signal.
Frankly, I don't know about the sound - mono or stereo signal - when stacked vertically.
Ben
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Hello Bentoronto.
I just read your post = a really interesting read.
Am I understanding you correctly:
1. Esl57 channel separation really good even when closely put together.
2. Because of 1. Stereo image is better than mono even when stacked.
A stacked version in stereo | Will try this out.
Thank you for your input on the subject 🙂
I just read your post = a really interesting read.
Am I understanding you correctly:
1. Esl57 channel separation really good even when closely put together.
2. Because of 1. Stereo image is better than mono even when stacked.
A stacked version in stereo | Will try this out.
Thank you for your input on the subject 🙂
Hello Bentoronto.
EDIT ( understand I was unprecise in my last post )
I just read your post = a really interesting read.
Am I understanding you correctly:
1. Esl57 channel separation really good even when closely put together horizontally.
2. Stereo image is probably a better solution than mono even when stacked.
3. Maybe channel separation is good enough ( for me at this point ).when stacked ( put together vertically )
I'm intending to find this out.
Living in an open solution 40 square meter flat so it's definitely worth a shot.
Thank you for your input on the subject 🙂
EDIT ( understand I was unprecise in my last post )
I just read your post = a really interesting read.
Am I understanding you correctly:
1. Esl57 channel separation really good even when closely put together horizontally.
2. Stereo image is probably a better solution than mono even when stacked.
3. Maybe channel separation is good enough ( for me at this point ).when stacked ( put together vertically )
I'm intending to find this out.
Living in an open solution 40 square meter flat so it's definitely worth a shot.
Thank you for your input on the subject 🙂
(Thank you, rayma, for a correct reading of what I was thinking.)
I would say "room sound" is very good even with speakers close together horizontally and better in stereo than mono. Channel separation and/or localization isn't bad close together even with our dipoles casting sound in all directions. No kidding. And so I've kept mine close together.
I've never tried stacking vertically and can't offer any opinion. But my guess is that the movement of virtual sound up and down would be distracting, even if there is good ambient room sound.
BTW and speaking of sub-optimum set-ups, might be feasible trade-0ff to turn speakers on their side so as to fit your room while still placed horizontally rather than vertically.
Ben
I would say "room sound" is very good even with speakers close together horizontally and better in stereo than mono. Channel separation and/or localization isn't bad close together even with our dipoles casting sound in all directions. No kidding. And so I've kept mine close together.
I've never tried stacking vertically and can't offer any opinion. But my guess is that the movement of virtual sound up and down would be distracting, even if there is good ambient room sound.
BTW and speaking of sub-optimum set-ups, might be feasible trade-0ff to turn speakers on their side so as to fit your room while still placed horizontally rather than vertically.
Ben
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Yes, mostly the stacked Quads are for increased SPL and bass extension. Otherwise a single Quad per side is better.
The Levinson HQD system I heard in the 80s was unimpressive compared to a single pair, alone.
Hello,
This idea was all very silly of me.
Yesterday I thought my idea was possible to go through with ...
I guess I was a bit optimistic.
Thanks for the input from all.
This idea was all very silly of me.
Yesterday I thought my idea was possible to go through with ...
I guess I was a bit optimistic.
Thanks for the input from all.
Not ideal for a jillion reasons, but hang them from ceiling so they are a few feet off the ground. They would still be visually large, loose bass I suspect, be subject to movement, etc but at least get you save some floor space for other items.
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