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Alternatives to Quads

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I've always wanted a pair of Quad ESL63 speakers and have - through upgrades within my system to a Rega P9 turntable, Prima Luna Prologue 2 integrated and Dynavector phono pre amp - now got myself to a point where i think it's worth buying some.
I've hit a snag, though, in that I can't convince my girlfriend (who cannot ever be 'upgraded') to allow them in the house. What would the Quad experts suggest as alternatives (and I know that the obvious answer is that there are no alternatives)? Other Quads are definite no-nos as they are "too big", so what else would get close to their sound and be able to run off my Prima Luna?
Any advice would be appreciated.
PS: the ESL63s will come back into consideration if we can ever afford a place with enough space for me to have my own listening room...

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the earlier Gallos in a 2 or 3 stack - coincident version as the main pair is quite good - cylinder tweeter? IYCFSome!!! - Timbo in Oz 21:31:51 11/05/06 (0)
OR the new Gallo Ref's.
these are spkrs with encloures that sound like the enclosure aren't NOISY ie without enclosures.
And a sphere IME will image as well if not better than ELS as a class.
approaching an ideal source, waves are launched almost as set down by the signal not futzed with by straight edges.
I'd mount them with the main pr well above the other two in a 3 -stack, where thsy sound best, other two should be close to the floor.
NB they probably do need more side wall and ceiling treatment than ELS -
Warmest
Timbo in Oz
The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger
'Still not saluting.'
Read about and view system at:
http://www.theanalogdept.com/tim_bailey.htm
...Lowthers? - Tacoleg 19:12:09 11/05/06 (0)
The only other speaker I've heard that can match electrostat speed and detail. They are big but can go closer to the wall, and do not need to get plugged in either. Living in Manhattan, I can not give up sq. footage for the quads. The other thing is w/ Lowthers you only need 2 or 3 watts of SET amplification, w/8 you can make the walls bleed...
Re: Alternatives to Quads- long - TubeHeadSeth 05:46:11 11/05/06 (0)
I currently own and run a set of sweet ESL57's, ML Prodigy's and ML Aeon's. While I do really love the sonics of the ML IMHO nothing can beat the 57. But with your special "requirements" the Aeon might really fit in, by taking up less than a square foot of floor space- by a little under 58 inches high- and in triple-black they can almost disappear when the lights are dimmed in many surroundings. And they DO sound phenomenal- I currently run them on a brace of Threshold SA-2 100wpc Class A monoblocs from 1984. But a 5-foot tall speaker, however narrow still might not be a "fit"
In that case I would recommend a speaker that totally blew my mind when I auditioned it. Below find a recent quote describing one audiophiles' first encounter with them- taken from a recent audio magazine. I apologize if the quote is too long, but the writing is almost as eloquent as the sound these speakers produce. Some recommendation! And they're shoebox sized.
QUOTE-About ten years ago, Bob Nachtigall walked into a small high-end audio store in San Francisco and casually explained that he hadn�t bought a new �stereo� since his college years and was interested in what �a really good hi-fi sounded like these days.� This is Nachtigall�s recollection of that moment: �I was encouraged to sit facing a pair of utterly plain, ladies-shoebox-sized, rectangular wooden boxes ridiculously perched as if on impossibly tiny ballerina tiptoes atop a pair of Stonehenge-class, rough- cast, gun-metal-gray pedestals. Just as I was beginning to wonder if the proprietor had not taken appropriate notice of my expensive Italian-made suit or understood the meaning of my request to hear his �really good� equipment, he walked over to a stack of brushed aluminum boxes, pushed a couple of buttons, and walked out of the room.
Somewhat bemused and certainly not quite comfortable, I followed him with my eyes as he left the room, then turned back to face the diminutive speakers just at the exact instant when the sound of guitars, drums, and bass so immediately, completely, and explosively filled the room that I can only imagine that the sensation would not be unlike witnessing the Big Bang from an infinitely distant vantage point. The astonishingly detailed intensity of the music coincident with the sublime and magical illusion of hearing and �seeing� a woman�s voice suspended in space left me so stunned that I have no recollection of breathing during the entire experience. I remember some time later falteringly staggering out of the room in a disoriented stupor.�
Ah, to be rendered breathless by reproduced sound (and a great turn of phrase too) is a feeling I constantly seek out.
The loudspeakers were Totem Acoustic Model 1�s. And they're next on my list too, unless a pair of Quad 11L's turn up at a great price first.
Harbeth Monitor 30 or 40, Duke's speakers, Stirling, Gradients, Orion - mark maloof 18:02:35 11/04/06 (1)
Well, they are large, but not wide, but being an Innersound Eros owner, that is one suggestion I can give.
If I did not own electrostatics, Harbeths would be on a very short list of speakers to get. They make their own mid-driver (Radial driver), rather than use a stock OEM speaker. Harbeths are special, with very clear and magic midrange. Not quite up to electrostatics, but pretty damn close. They are very much a music lover's speaker, and something my picky self could enjoy very much.
Also, from what I have read, Spica Angelus are supposed to sound very planar-like. Plus, I think they look cool! (but that's me, I'm weird.) Also, I got to listen to the litte Stirling speakers, a re-make of the classic Rogers speakers. This was at the Rocky Mountain Fest a week ago. While limited in the low bass, they were super clear, open, enjoyable, MUSICAL. One of my favorite sounds at the show, more so then some very expensive speakers. Also, I did get a brief listen to Duke Lejune's Stormbringer speaker, and in my limited listening time, it also impressed me, wish I had time to make it back and listen more sunday.
From what I have read, the Gradient Revolutions are pretty open and neutral. Also, the Linkwitz Orion is supposed to be killer, hope to hear a pair someday. Two friends of mine who also own Innersounds who got the hear the Orions would not give up their speakers for the them, but did admit the Orion was a very, very nice speaker, one that could shame a lot of stuff out there. Not small, though....
- Re: Harbeth Monitor 30 or 40, Duke's speakers, Stirling, Gradients, Orion - Duke 21:27:31 11/04/06 (0)
  Hi Mark,
  Great to see you at the show - thanks for coming by. And thanks for the plug!
  I also like the Orions and sell the Gradient Revolutions. I'm not sure either one is really compatible with Graciouslee's present amplification, unfortunately.
  The Harbeths are a very good suggestion, and in my opinion would work with his amp. Good call!
  Duke
Re: Alternatives to Quads - Cuehead 10:44:13 11/04/06 (0)
I remember reading about the Rogers LS3/5a a long time ago where the reviewer said that the midrange was almost as good as the quad esl 57. There are still companies that make the LS3/5a and it is still highly regarded for around $1800.
Just something to consider...
Cue
Re: Alternatives to Quads - QuadTodd 21:48:32 11/03/06 (1)
I have read a review (but never seen or heard them) that you can hear the family resemblance in the Quad 11L box speakers. Maybe someone else has heard these or the other L models...
- http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/lseriesmodels.htm (Open in New Window)
- I have the 12L's - mdl 05:32:28 11/04/06 (0)
  I have the 12Ls (and had ESL63's many many years ago). The quad L series are excellent. The finish is amazing for the price (living room quality). They sound beautiful, but they do not do what the ESL63 can do (then again, for what they do, no speaker can really match the Quad stats). I would recommend them though. They are a very musical speaker and the price is very good.
Re: Alternatives to Quads - Duke 15:00:37 11/03/06 (0)
The Quads are a tough act to follow, but then you already knew that.
What sort of speaker placement flexibility do you have?
Do your amps have 4 ohm output taps?
I might have a couple of ideas, but they involve speakers I sell so you'd have to e-mail me for more information.
Best of luck in your quest!
Duke
Carolina Audio JTM? Near wall placement ok... - longtimequadowner 11:52:57 11/03/06 (3)
Never heard them, but was always intruiged - should be very coherent and are good at lower volumes - near rear wall placement seems OK too. The only box speaker I ever really liked was the NHT Superzero - very midrange-y when set up right and fed right. If you do some research on AA you'll find some info on the Carolina's. Planars will all have placement issues I think.
The website is here
- Wait until you do get to hear them. - GTF 15:22:02 11/04/06 (2)
  I've had MGIII's, Apogee Caliper's, Fried GII's, Dynaudio 1.8MKII's.
  GTF
  - Almost ordered a pair once - longtimequadowner 15:55:18 11/04/06 (1)
    Almost ordered a pair once - I was moving from a 25x40 room to my current residence, was quite sure that was the end for my Quads. I was intruiged by the single driver, and ability to place near a wall - I had also noticed your posts in the past, when someone sticks with a speaker for more than a month around here it's a miracle (alhtough I've been 20 years with the Quads now). I had (and have) a pair of Sheldon Stokes Heathkit W5M's to run them with.
    As it turned out, my current room is the best ever because the Quads are sitting between rooms with no wall behind for 8' and no wall to the outer sides, and the sofa/wall between them was eliminated through room EQ - monsterous sound, and completely live and transparant. But, if not for that the Carolina's have been the next thing I tried - I epxected slightly different tradeoffs but hoped for the same goosebumps even at low levels.
    I watch for speakers with a prepondernace of owners that have longterm satisfaction - vandersteen, harbeth, quad, even ohms - when people stop buying equipment, I start to get impressed.
    - eeeeeekkkkkksss OHM - GTF 17:06:09 11/05/06 (0)
      I had them too.
      model "H"
      GTF
Re: Alternatives to Quads - moray james 11:38:39 11/03/06 (0)
You could buy an Acoustat 0ne plus 0ne and place them into the front corners of your room. They will work very well there. With the right color of grill cloth they can vanish. They will not sound up to the 63 but you can work on that. If you build yourself some new panels for them and do a little work in the interfaces I think that they can equal or surpass the 63's. That is just my opinion and as they say "that and a dollar won't buy you a cup of coffee" This is however a possible option that I think would make you and your GF happy. A tall line source ESL will take up the smallest amount of realestate in your home and that should please everyone concerned.
As a complete aside I would also suggest that you consider a set of Mordant Short Genie's with sub. I can say at a set of these run off a fine amp with first class front end and set up well are most impressive. If you were to upgrade the crossover parts and build a really solid cabinets for them they would sound astounding I am sure. They are very small and inexpensive. Just an option to perhaps consider to keep bliss in the home. Best regards Moray James.
moray james
Re: Alternatives to Quads - Coffeecupman 09:10:23 11/03/06 (1)
Graciouslee,

Oh, man! All I can say is that you only live once. Only you can decide whether or not to push this issue with your gf (sounds like in this case it should be capital "GF"), but you may find yourself regretting things ten years down the road if you look back and realize that the only reason you didn't have the magic of quads in your life is that you "weren't allowed". It's a slippery slope once you stop standing up for your rights...
I speak as a man who just hooked up his first set of US Monitors - there is no going back. They're delicate and people are probably breaking and abusing them every day. You'd better get some while there are still lots of good sets around.
Would she really leave you over a pair of speakers?
I'm single, by the way :) (no, that's not a proposition). And I like it that way. I'm enjoying a nice break before getting back into the compromise game.
Just thought I should put this side of the discussion out there. I know others were thinking it.
All the best,
ccm
- Re: Alternatives to Quads - graciouslee 09:28:30 11/03/06 (0)
  As I said in my reply to Oz, I have quite a lot (read that as Loads) in the smallish front room already, so I can understand the point made about the Quads being too big - it would be almost like sitting in a giant pair of headphones, which, whilst great from a listening point of view, isn't the most practical when you have friends around.
  The Quads will come at some point, but I need a bigger room first.
Re: Alternatives to Quads - Ozzy 08:31:47 11/03/06 (3)
> I can't convince my girlfriend <

Ok, if you substitute "wife" for "girlfriend", I MIGHT be able to understand. Even then, it's iffy. You have larger problems looming on the horizon than speakers.........

Oz
- Re: Alternatives to Quads - graciouslee 09:15:31 11/03/06 (1)
  3500 vinyl lps, 1000ish cds, 2 turntables (on wallshelves), valve amplifier/tuner/tape deck on rack, all in the same room (our front room) with no problems, plus 1000s of miles travelled with me in order to buy all this stuff, all happily shared together - I don't think I can really worry too much when she politely says that a pair of large Quads in our 11.5' square room is a bit too much even for her. I wasn't sure I'd actually be able to open the door any more, even if I did get the Quads in.
  Thanks for your speaker suggestions, though.
  - ok, that puts things in perspective..... - Ozzy 09:42:45 11/03/06 (0)
    .....sounds like you have a real estate problem, not GAF (that's girlfriend acceptance factor) problem.....
    
    Time for a new room....
    
    Oz
- Re: Alternatives to Quads - Green Lantern 08:35:38 11/03/06 (0)
  Oz; never the one to hold back; was thinking along those same lines...
  ah; love is blind it seems
  
  ____________ _// ________________
  listen
Re: Alternatives to Quads - mbnx01 07:04:18 11/03/06 (2)
I've owned ESL-57's (a couple of times) and this is the only dynamic speaker that reminds me of them. Very High WAF (see recent TAS review for comments on that). One caveat - no large rooms.
- http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=16618 (Open in New Window)
- Re: Alternatives to Quads - graciouslee 09:23:57 11/03/06 (1)
  It's strange - some original Rogers LS3/5 were the speakers I had before my current ones (Spendor BC1), although I never heard them on the Prima Luna as I was using a different amp then. I don't think I could go back to them again as I was never entirely convinced with the way they replayed Black Sabbath in my room, always seeming to make Bill Ward's drumming sound a little light weight. Fantastic speaker in all other ways, though.
  - Re: Alternatives to Quads - mbnx01 19:54:29 11/03/06 (0)
    The new Stirling V2's have a little more bass, dynamics and SPL going for them, but not a lot. If you said, 'Black Sabbath speaker', it's not the first thing that would pop into my head.
    -M
Re: Alternatives to Quads - theaudiohobby 07:00:49 11/03/06 (4)
If size is a problem or more specifically width, as the Quads are wide (I still have my ESL-57, but they now in storage), then some of the Martin Logans should be considered, However my personal recommendation is for the newer model Audiostatics they sound and look stunning, 1ft but 6ft 3in tall.

Music making the painting, recording it the photograph
- Re: Alternatives to Quads - graciouslee 09:20:29 11/03/06 (1)
  Those Audiostatics look superb - do you know what sort of placement they require? How much free space are they likely to need?
  - Re: Alternatives to Quads - theaudiohobby 13:25:03 11/03/06 (0)
    Left speaker : 2'4" from the back wall, 3' from the side wall
    Right speaker: 2'6" from the backwall, 2'1' from the side wall.
    Distance between the speakers is just over 6',
    they work well in this location, placing them further into room will probably deepen the soundstage, but I do not have much room to place with.
    
    Music making the painting, recording it the photograph
- Those look pretty cool - E-Stat 07:52:04 11/03/06 (1)
  rw
  - Re: Those look pretty cool - morricab 08:03:29 11/03/06 (0)
    Sound good too. Won't play really loud so a smaller room is preferrable. I got very transparent sound out of an older generation the AudioStatic ES 100 (looked very similar but without the wave baffle on the back) using tube amps.

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