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I am very close to buying a pair of Quad ESL-63's that have been upgraded by Kent McCollum of Electrostatic Solutions. Hopefully I will take delivery next Friday. I wanted to ask any owners of the ESL-63's what amplification you are using and brings out the best with these speakers? I may be willing to try SS, my preference has been using VTL 100 to 200 wpc monoblocks for the last several years on my various Acoustats. I am a big fan of the EL34 tube. I listen at comfortable levels, very seldom over 90db. The speakers will be in a room that measures 13 ft. long x 12 ft. wide x 8 ft. ceilings. I listen to everything except opera and country twang. Any opinions would be much appreciated.
Edits: 10/30/22 10/30/22 10/30/22Follow Ups:
ML2s were a good match, or Futterman or NYAL
I think you will be very happy with your VTLs. The 63s (I have Kent-refurbed versions, too) Seem to work very well with solid state, too. I have been running a modified 909 for a while now and the 63s sing. I also use a pair of Prima Luna Prologue 7s with EL 34s during the winter. Just lovely.
My VTL ST-85 stereo amp uses 2 EL34's per side. I am looking forward to setting them up Friday once I get home. What is the power rating on your Prima Luna Prologue 7's?
PL's are about 65 wpc with El-34s, 70 with KT 88s. Two EL-34s is about 35 wpc? About the same as your ST-85 in tetrode. Way too many variables to guesstimate, but the power should be plenty, Kent McCollum may have told you he uses an ARC Ref 75 with both the ESLs and the 63s/
Hey Guys, I brought home my Quad ESL-63's today. All I can say is WOW! The transparency and coherence of these speakers is like nothing I have heard before. Super quick tight bass, Open, smooth. I am in Audio Heaven! I wanted to thank all of you who responded to my initial post. I am on the look out for a pair of the Stand and Deliver stands made for these speakers. If anyone sees a pair for sale please message me.
Good to hear that you enjoy one of the best speakers ever made!
I listen to my Quads without any stands. They have been constructed without stands in mind and I am not convinced that stands will always improve their sound. However, it is up to you to decide what is better....Enjoy!
They sound great without the stands. I thought it would nice to compare the sound with stands then decide which way I prefer.
Raising them off the floor will increase the perceived vertical image height make them sound a bit bigger. Nothing dramatic but it is there.
One can always experiment with crude stands to see if they like them off the floor. Peter Walker said 'just prop them up on a stack of beer crates or what have you.'
I can live with them either way on the floor or on the stands.
Enjoy!
I have them about 12" off the floor. I like the middle of the panel at ear level. I completely agree with what Kentaja said about the image height plus the image sounds bigger. The panels seem more open sounding with the increase in height off the floor.
I have a pair of home-built stands the same height as the Stand and Deliver jobbers. Since I listen in modified near-field, when on the stands the 63s are a little high for my taste. I certainly hear nothing positive compared to on the floor.
Good- I look forward to your findings...-
I prefer tube amps with ESL-63's, OTL or with transformers. I have lately been switching between HK Citation II and updated Marantz 8B. If you get a chance, try an OTL with them.
Congratulations! You will listen to one of the best speakers ever made..
I am driving my Quads ESL 63 with a Sony ES amplifier (100 W) with very good results. Before this I used a Cayin 300B amp, also with good results, however not powerful enough to produce tight bass.
The Quads are not too difficult to drive, in my opinion....
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