So there are a few threads here where people ask about stacking quad 63s - and as far as I can see, pretty much all of these threads die away after a few comments. Typically people comment to say how it might not work because of the delay line/point source thing, about how you place one speaker behind another at right angles, or to take the panels out and connect them all up together in a new frame.
Well folks, after nobody that I could find ever reporting on how it sounds, I want to report that I think it sounds wonderful!
Simply hooked up in parallel, both speakers at the same height (I prefer mine about a foot off the floor), with both speakers slightly angled so that they both point towards the listening chair. Impedance is halved, so a nominal 4 ohm capable amp is needed. It gives much better heft and impact, although as you'd expect it doesn't go lower. No smearing or soundstage problems that I could detect. In short if you have 2 pairs, and you have the amp, then there is nothing to lose to try this out - well bar the room that they take up!!
This probably works better in larger rooms, with both sets pulled out a bit from the back wall etc etc. Setup and angling makes a big difference, so do not neglect that.
Well folks, after nobody that I could find ever reporting on how it sounds, I want to report that I think it sounds wonderful!
Simply hooked up in parallel, both speakers at the same height (I prefer mine about a foot off the floor), with both speakers slightly angled so that they both point towards the listening chair. Impedance is halved, so a nominal 4 ohm capable amp is needed. It gives much better heft and impact, although as you'd expect it doesn't go lower. No smearing or soundstage problems that I could detect. In short if you have 2 pairs, and you have the amp, then there is nothing to lose to try this out - well bar the room that they take up!!
This probably works better in larger rooms, with both sets pulled out a bit from the back wall etc etc. Setup and angling makes a big difference, so do not neglect that.
There are some threads and photo's on the web about the subject.
Best known are the builds and photo's by Hey You.
You think it sounds wonderful. Great. That is very nice. Enjoy.
Most important that you enjoy your music on your system with your kind of music.
Does it kill the virtual point source?
Yes it does IMHO.
Best known are the builds and photo's by Hey You.
You think it sounds wonderful. Great. That is very nice. Enjoy.
Most important that you enjoy your music on your system with your kind of music.
Does it kill the virtual point source?
Yes it does IMHO.
@wout31 - yes, I've seen the "hey you" pictures, they are a good resource, and we are lucky to have them
Yes, I'm happy with them, point source or not. I'd imagine its room dependent too.
@jan.didden - I know that in the photos they don't look "stacked" but they are connected up together in parallel. I wanted to have the middle panels closely aligned, and the idea was that each speaker points to the listening chair. I found a post or two that talked about having one speaker behind the other at right angles to it. I tried that and all life was sucked out of them, so there must have been some cancellation or something going on there.
I have stacked 57s as well, but they need a bit of work done on them, hopefully I'll start at them next year.
In short, if someone find this thread in the future, has access to 2 sets of esl63, then this is worth a try at least. It would be very interesting to see what others think of it when they listen.
Yes, I'm happy with them, point source or not. I'd imagine its room dependent too.
@jan.didden - I know that in the photos they don't look "stacked" but they are connected up together in parallel. I wanted to have the middle panels closely aligned, and the idea was that each speaker points to the listening chair. I found a post or two that talked about having one speaker behind the other at right angles to it. I tried that and all life was sucked out of them, so there must have been some cancellation or something going on there.
I have stacked 57s as well, but they need a bit of work done on them, hopefully I'll start at them next year.
In short, if someone find this thread in the future, has access to 2 sets of esl63, then this is worth a try at least. It would be very interesting to see what others think of it when they listen.
Hi woodturner-fran. I do actually have a set of stacked 63s (I "inherited" them from a very good friend after he passed away 15 years ago.) They are stacked similarly to the ESLs but with the top pair upside-down. The support frame is quite solidly made. I need to replace the fuse holder on one of the speakers as this was damaged in transport.
I currently have stacked ESLs that I use which are still in good nick, though need a some cleaning and general refurbishing. My lounge is unfortunately not broad enough for me to put the 63s side by side, so they will stay stacked - modification of the steel frame is a possibility though, so that the top speakers could be slightly canted downwards to encompass the listening area. I will take that under advisement though.
Regards, Kevin
I currently have stacked ESLs that I use which are still in good nick, though need a some cleaning and general refurbishing. My lounge is unfortunately not broad enough for me to put the 63s side by side, so they will stay stacked - modification of the steel frame is a possibility though, so that the top speakers could be slightly canted downwards to encompass the listening area. I will take that under advisement though.
Regards, Kevin
Kevin - this is interesting to hear. When I was experimenting with positioning I realised it had a significant effect on the end result. I had the space side to side to fit them like that, up on supports about 12" off the ground, and each speaker is angled towards the listener. I reckoned I got the best result with this - the soundstage isn't artificially big or knocked out of whack, but you get all the extra impact and heft. The other thing, was I reckoned having the mid panels at the same height as each other was important.
I'll freely admit that I didn't try putting them in a frame on their sides, or one on top of the other etc, just because that would have been a big enough undertaking.
I'll freely admit that I didn't try putting them in a frame on their sides, or one on top of the other etc, just because that would have been a big enough undertaking.