ESL57 & Braun L300

Posted by Bill Way (A) on August 20, 2012 at 14:33:16

In Reply to: Low volume speaker recommendations? posted by robertd on August 16, 2012 at 17:47:32:

Always wanted to hear a pair of Thiels set up properly - there's something so good about what they do, but every pair I've heard came close to making my ears bleed.

What's good:
Quad ESL 57s - best whisper-level speakers I've ever heard. Never heard the later Quads, which are probably just as good or better.

I've also enjoyed the ProAC Studio 100s at low levels, and the "one-note" aspect of their ported design seems less objectionable when they're played really low... or really loud. Strange, that. Great near-fields; have the woofers at ear level with the speakers pointed right at your head and four feet away.

Hon. mention to the tiny and dirt cheap Braun/ADS L300. Give 'em the best little amp you can find, tube or s/s, and they will surprise you. Toss the grills though - they really do get in the way. Don't know why, but the mid-sized Brauns never did anything for me; it's either the L300, the big L710, or the amazing internally tri-amped LV1020. Gotta love those sticky domes!

Also enjoyable at a low levels are the second version (after s/n 7500) of the old Spica TC-50, especially if you have a carefully integrated subwoofer. You can spot the later version by the small square opening behind the grill for the tweeter; the earlier version had a bigger rectangular cutout. The slightly larger and generally un-loved ported TC-60 did quite well at low levels by itself.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Low volume speaker recommendations? - robertd 17:47:32 08/16/12 (25)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - Rvl 07:04:45 08/28/12 (0)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - LA mitchell 02:33:31 08/25/12 (0)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - Grinnell 06:07:16 08/23/12 (1)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - sonha100 19:17:11 08/23/12 (0)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - Jsawyer09 20:16:18 08/21/12 (0)

ESL57 & Braun L300 - Bill Way 14:33:16 08/20/12 (1)

RE: ESL57 & Braun L300 - robertd 19:45:48 08/20/12 (0)

Acoustat 1+1 or Audiostatic - morricab 07:46:48 08/20/12 (0)

Thanks for all the responses - robertd 07:29:13 08/18/12 (0)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - lesleymorley@yahoo.com 05:46:32 08/18/12 (0)

To bad you can't get a pair of these. - Mr Steed 14:43:49 08/17/12 (0)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - Hornlover 08:33:21 08/17/12 (3)

Perfect low volume - Sumflow 17:57:32 08/17/12 (0)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - Spkr_Bldr 13:26:26 08/17/12 (0)

What are the relative curves? - DrChaos 10:43:02 08/17/12 (0)

Loudness compensation required - BigguyinATL 06:56:23 08/17/12 (0)

add a 10 band equalizer (nt) - Norman Bates 03:54:02 08/17/12 (0)

Any PHY driver speaker (nt) - plugmein 03:24:58 08/17/12 (0)

Tannoy - JeffH 22:05:21 08/16/12 (4)

RE: Tannoy - Mortsnets 22:17:24 08/16/12 (3)

For one - JeffH 23:15:59 08/18/12 (2)

RE: For one - Jack D II 13:09:30 08/19/12 (1)

RE: For one - rebbi 08:40:55 08/20/12 (0)

RE: Low volume speaker recommendations? - John Elison 21:41:26 08/16/12 (0)

Reynaud - Mortsnets 21:06:39 08/16/12 (0)

Follow Ups

ESL57 & Braun L300 - Bill Way 14:33:16 08/20/12 (1)

RE: ESL57 & Braun L300 - robertd 19:45:48 08/20/12 (0)

ESL57 & Braun L300

Post a Message!