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Re: Life after Quad 57 ESLs; A Survey: "I used to have Quad 57s, but now I have _____"

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jnr

(R)

In Reply to: Life after Quad 57 ESLs; A Survey: "I used to have Quad 57s, but now I have _____" posted by Mr Blue Sky on March 29, 2007 at 12:48:14:

1) I used to have Quad 57 ESLs, but now I have had a good many speakers after the 57s, I kept looking for the Magic. First I stacked the Quads, then a sub, then a ribbon and then I tryed some horns, then finnally the Audio Note AN Es, but I was about to buy a refurbished pair when I found the Ikonoklast model 3s.
2) What I like about my new speakers is they do everthing the Quad 57s did just a little better. With Vinyl they will play louder than 57s, they don't arch, and they are more extended in the top end.
3) What I don't like about my new speakers? Not much
4) What I miss most about my Quads is the light show when I played them to loud, just joking, but I think what I miss most are the memories.

Follow Ups:

Ikonoklast 3 - Oxia 17:55:22 04/01/07 (0)
jrn,
The Ikonoklast 3 looks very interesting. How do they compare to your AN E's in terms of transparency and realism? Is your review going to be published soon on Dagogo?
Thanks,
O
Memories... - longtimequadowner 17:42:50 03/29/07 (1)
Those memories are what always brought me back to the 57's. There were nights of magic with the quads that were never equalled with any other speaker - no particular sonic attribute one could name, but rather the organic, pure, unadulterated "whole-ness" of the entire experience (true audiophiles are likely to miss this alltogether). There is something about the speed of electrostatic response combined with the complete detachment of the sound from the speakers that drills to the core of a music lover's heart. I can think of particular nights of magic dating back 20 years now - where I remember exactly what I was listening to, what it sounded like, and how it made me feel at that very moment - as if it were yesterday.
I convinced myself for brief periods of time that I was content with other speakers - including the Quad 989's - but it never lasted. Imagine my surprise when I moved to a condo with a 23x13 room 2 years ago and got even better sound than I ever had in the previous 18 years with Quad ESL's - this room just works magic (probably because the Quads are between rooms and therefore have no wall behind for 8'). I've had my Quads in probably 15 different rooms over the years and it's by far the largest determinant of sound quality - I'll take a Quad 303 in a good room over Atma-spheres in a bad room any day - thus is the life with Quads. But Quads in the right room will retire you from the chase, and will assist you in nailing down your sources VERY fast - you won't be changing them like socks either. Since I got to my current room I've changed nothing, and never will again. I'll never move now! Nor will I ever have another speaker.
You'll be back - you all will (insert evil laugh here). When you've been even FIVE years with your new speakers, then let me know - THEN I'll be impressed! I'm at 20 and counting - assuming I live to 74 it will be a total of 50 years - I have no doubt my 1969 Quads will outlive me.
- That was awesome (nt) - Craiger56 20:50:44 03/31/07 (0)
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