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One of my 63's suddenly seems less loud than the other... some of the time. The way I perceive it is as a shift of soundstage in the direction of the stronger speaker. I swapped the speakers out and the same speaker still seems quieter. Mono audio similarly seems shifted from dead center to the stronger speaker.What could account for this? As I understand it each Quad speaker is comprised of four panels. Could one of the panels be failing? Or is it more likely a proble with the speaker's internal transformer and associated electronics. Anyone know where in the Dallas area I can get 'em serviced?
Appreciate any help you can offer. It's really harshing my mellow, if you know what I mean.
Follow Ups:
This is a sign that one or more panels in that speaker is going bad. At times, leakage on the panel(s) becomes excessive and pulls down the sensitivity. Typically, but not always, if you look at the offending speaker in a dark room, with the grille cloth down, you will see some faint twinkling or corona on the offending panel(s).You can also confirm a leaky panel by pulling the little round rubber boot on the back of the speakers. This is located right above the on/off switch. When the panels are working normally the flasher unit should blink every few seconds. When the panel(s) starts to leak and the sensitivity drops the flasher will be lit continuously. When the leakage stops and the sensitivity returns to normal you will see the flash rate return to every few seconds.
Unlikely it is the EHT board. When they go bad the sensitivity drops and does not return.
I am not aware of anyone in the Dallas area that performs repair work on Quads. Galen Carol Audio in San Antonio has been an authorized dealer for many years and may do repair work. I do rebuild panels and Wayne Picquet in Longwood, FL is another rebuilder that does excellent work. QS&D in Virginia can supply you with new factory panels. You might have to ship the speaker for repair or find someone locally that can remove the offending panel(s) for repair.
In the short term, running them at slightly lower SPL levels will keep the leakage in check and maintain the sensitivity.
I'll examine the flasher unit in the next few days and report on what I see.Is it significant that this problem happened rather suddenly. The problem seems unrelated to spl level. Even played rather quietly, I have the same issue.
When you write "when the leakage stops and the sensitivity returns to normal" are you implying that this problem is in some way intermittent?
Thanks for your help!
Sounded like it was an intermittent problem based on the description in your original post. Sometimes the sensitivity is low in one speaker?The ESL63 can be quirky, especially as they age. The symptoms you describe sound typical of an ESL that is getting up there in age. Intermittent sensitivity drops, oddly enough, can sometimes be worse at lower SPL levels. I have a set right now that has the same sort of problems at low SPL, but when really pushing the speaker will play all day with no loss in sensitivity. It won't be long however, before the sensitivity drop is constant.
These problems tend to just happen with very little warning. Intermittent or constant sensitivity drops, whistling, rustling noises, pops & snaps, all seem to happen rather suddenly. ESL63 panels like to fail in spectacular fashion at times!
- sigh - this is very disheartening news. Even though the speakers are 20 years old, for about 13 years of that time they were boxed, unused. I'll examine the flasher unit as you suggest.I supposed a panel replacement is not a do it yourself project for most people. There are four panels per speaker, right? I wonder what a replacement would cost.
Thanks again,
Drop me a private email. I can give you some idea of the cost for repairing a panel(s). Removing/replacing the panel(s) from the speaker is not too hard if you are handy with a soldering iron and screw driver.Coating degradation and/or glue failure are the common problems with ESL63 panels. The glue dries out over the years even if the speaker is not being used.
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