Electrostatic pros and cons.


I recently saw a feature on the program, "how it's made" on electrostatic speakers and it piqued my interest in them. I was wondering the pros and cons of them, their placement, space needs, sound, etc. Any advice would be appreciated.









128x128giantsalami

The Finnish company Gradient made OB/Dipole subwoofers for both the QUAD 57’s and 63’s. Though the subs used dual dynamic cone woofers, they being employed in OB/Dipole fashion allowed them to blend better with the QUAD’s (because of the inherent advantages of OB’s, and the dipole characteristics shared between speaker and sub) than any sealed, ported, or infinite baffle sub.

Ad a reminder (I have spoken of them here before), Rythmik Audio and GR Research designers Brian Ding and Danny Richie have collaborated on a joint product, their OB/Dipole Servo-Feedback Subwoofer. A very unique sub (or even woofer---it can be used up to 300Hz), THE sub for QUAD’s, and any other dipole speaker, whether ESL, magnetic-planar, or ribbon. Or even dynamic---Siegfried Linkwitz used OB/Dipole subs in his loudspeaker kits, very similar to the Rythmik/GR (and almost as good ;-) . Whart, you should really look into the Rythmik/GR for use with your QUADS, and even your horns!

Electrostatics are very fast and transparent. Can any woofer match ?
This is all BS, you need big panels and right amp, no hybridization please.
Bill, time to replace your horns/not horns with something like JM Labs Grand Utopia.
Electrostatics are very fast and transparent. Can any woofer match?

Yes but my experience is with a bi-amp set up and woofer array. I think the Sander’s Sound speakers are a great example of a hybrid speaker. The Martin Logan speakers I have heard, not so much.
"Mr Salami" classic response!! That induced a nice laugh here!
Kudos to Duke (and his speakers)


@bdp24 - I don't want to mess with woofers on the Quads at this point. (There's a Rythmik 12" with a paper cone in that room for the theatre system-it's where we watch movies-altogether separate system). 
I have a pair of 15" Rythmiks running with the Avantgardes, and they are pretty dialed in. I'm good. ":)