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Outstanding Quad Service

68.96.68.198
Posted on October 7, 2020 at 10:53:14
jfteuber@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 5
Location: California Central Coast
Joined: April 24, 2011
 I would like to compliment the work of Kent McCollum and Electrostatic Solutions in Kansas, USA. I think the most concise thing is to simply post a copy of the email I sent after the work was done.

The Back Story
I had sent my Quad ESL-989s in for service. When they returned, one had been so badly beat up in shipping that it was out of commission. Kent paid the shipping both ways and repaired the speaker free of charge. It was not a small job.

The Outcome
Hi, Kent:
The 989 arrived yesterday. It sounds outstanding. I don't know how to thank you enough for the way you handled this situation. Your integrity is beyond reproach and you stand by your work. I am deeply grateful. If I can post anyplace that would be useful to your business, just let me know.

Electrostatic Solutions is tops! I once again have beautiful music in my home. Thank you so much.
Jeffrey

A Portion of Kent's Reply
Thank you again for your understanding. This is never something we like
to happen and fortunately damage in transit is rare. But when it does
happen I never want to make it my client's problem.

Happy listening!!
Regards,
Kent

Summary
I don't think one can ask for more than that in a service situation.
In addition to all Quad models, they also handle other electrostatic speakers
Jeffrey

 

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I'm very glad there is SOMEBODY here in USA for, posted on October 7, 2020 at 11:45:35
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10459
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 service and parts for mine. I replaced my power supply diode stacks with his parts and they are still working absolutely perfect. Thanks and Tops!



 

RE: Outstanding Quad Service, posted on October 7, 2020 at 14:15:35
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9632
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Good old fashioned customer service. Savor it, it's rare these days.

 

+1 (nt), posted on October 7, 2020 at 15:35:32
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 nt

 

Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 8, 2020 at 11:58:05
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 nt

 

RE: Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 8, 2020 at 13:35:50
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10459
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 I will if I need to. Mine are as new and even have a few spares.



 

RE: Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 8, 2020 at 14:16:49
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 NOS orignal Quad panels? My understanding is that the diaphragms age and even unused NOS panels will not behave as they would when new. Rebuilds are a different story (no pun intended). Also, Kent claims his diaphragms are thinner than the originals and sound better. I have a late model pair and after the ESS refurb they sound a lot better.

Regards,
13DoW

 

+1 (nt), posted on October 8, 2020 at 17:21:57
farfetched
Audiophile

Posts: 963
Location: Cleveland!
Joined: October 13, 2010
 nt
/ optimally proportioned triangles are our friends


 

RE: Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 9, 2020 at 04:48:00
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10459
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 I have serviced my 57's many times and the thought of touching them without good reason now since they are working perfectly does not appeal. There is never enough time to accomplish what we all want.

My treble panels from QS&D I know were much better than the originals, but the originals were shot - no mystery there. I have the low end crossed over to save them from those frequencies and hand them off to the subs.

And since they sound sublime and put me off of this sick planet every time I listen I am in orbit to take me away to journey's known and unknown. I usually don't mess with things until a problem arises and they have been spot on for many years now.



 

RE: Outstanding Quad Service, posted on October 9, 2020 at 08:56:18
George S. Roland
Audiophile

Posts: 1470
Location: N W Pennsylvania
Joined: March 20, 2004
 Agreed!
I'm happy to acknowledge Kent's knowledge, craftsmanship, honesty and care. He is a blessing and a treasure for his dedicated support of ESL owners.

I have a pair of ESL (57) and 63s he serviced. I couldn't be happier with his work!

 

RE: Outstanding Quad Service, posted on October 10, 2020 at 13:39:20
BE
Audiophile

Posts: 30
Location: Illinois
Joined: December 1, 2014
 +1(NT)
Bill

 

RE: Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 11, 2020 at 16:33:31
kentaja
Manufacturer

Posts: 4614
Joined: March 26, 2001



Unfortunately no matter how well maintained none of them are working close to spec. any longer Given the materials that were used at the time especially the film in the bass panels it just isn't possible. Even if one was lucky enough to find a NOS pair, never opened or used, they would be way out of spec.

That doesn't mean one should rebuild them. I work with people all the time that aren't having issues and hesitate to rebuild them. If the speakers don't have any problems and one is happy with them I say leave them alone!

They are however a far cry from what they once were, what they can be. All of them are very old at this point. My personal pair was produced in 1959, never been touched since they left the factory, still work nicely. But they are way out of spec. I don't plan on rebuilding them since I always have rebuilt speakers around and I like the fact they are factory original and never been touched.

 

RE: Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 11, 2020 at 21:40:08
BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1070
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013
 Kent, could you elaborate on in what regard QUADS (in my case the original "57" model) go "out of spec"? In frequency response linearity, bass extension, sensitivity, etc? Thanks---Eric.

 

RE: Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 12, 2020 at 07:50:54
kentaja
Manufacturer

Posts: 4614
Joined: March 26, 2001
 Hey Eric happy to elaborate.

They degrade in three ways.

The conductive coating looses its mojo over the decades. Too long of a discussion to go into detail but basically this mean is does loose some efficiency over time. In extreme cases about 3dB.

The carbon composition resistors in the filter network go high in value over the decades this is typical with carbon comp resistors. The resistors in series with the bass panels are there to attenuate the bass panels relative to the tweeter panel. As they go higher in value this upsets the balance between the bass panels and the tweeter with bass panels loosing some output. The result is a slight leaning out of the sound overall.

These two areas are no too bad its the third area that is the major problem.

Quad did not use Mylar for the bass panels just the tweeter. I imagine Mylar was quite expensive when production first began so Quad looked for an alternative. What they used was polyolefin, stretch film, Saran wrap if you will.

Polyolefin has lots of plasticizers which leach out over time whether the speakers are in use or not. The film gets stiff and brittle. This results in the bass panels increasing the tension on the film, raising the panel's resonance, as much as an octave, loss of bottom end and dynamics. This is easily measured. System resonance should be in the 50-60Hz range. Old speakers will be as high as 120Hz!!

It doesn't matter how well one maintains the speakers the degradation will occur. And this all has a major impact on performance most dramatically in the bass. The bass is essentially gone.

Mylar work hardens as well but it's time scale is much longer and not nearly as dramatic. Early ESL-63 are approaching 40 years in age and we can measure the panel resonance and see the shift. But even after 40 years it's minimal, perhaps 10Hz, and if all else is well with the panels I usually recommend it be left alone. Not so with any of the original Quads.

Most original Quads are 50 years old it's amazing they still work at all let alone how well they perform it's a testament to the overall correct and robust design. But working as they should? Nope not possible.

 

RE: Try Kent's panels :) (nt), posted on October 12, 2020 at 17:22:38
BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1070
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013
 Excellent, thanks.

 

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