Solid State Amps for Quad ESL 57?


My system is feeling pretty tube-y and I was looking for suggestions of a solid state amps that people are liking with their original Quad ESLs. Looking for more speed and more of the bass I know the Quads can put out if set up right.
dhcod

Showing 6 responses by kalali

An extremely educational thread, even for non-Quad ESL owners like me. So based on the facts presented earlier, it appears that the ESL speakers do not follow the same amplifier requirements when compared to  "dynamic" or cone design speakers. In other words, even though almost ALL speakers can have significant fluctuations in impedance over the frequency response curve, the demands on the partnering amplifiers are significantly different based on the speaker design. As another example, I've posted a picture of the impedance curve for my (ESL) speakers - Martin Logan Aerious i, and according to the preceeding discussion, my "voltage source" amplifier is not handling the the peaks - midbass and midrange, properly. So by extension, this begs the question that every ESL speaker manufacturer should either develop and sell a matching amplifier or almost all ESL speaker owners out there will not be able to take full potential of their investments. The latter would be a sad compromise.

http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/MLAFIG1.jpg
If you watch the Fremer's tour of Audio Research plant, they showed two listening rooms; one with SF Aida's - obvious choice especially since they are owned by the same company, and used mostly for tours, and another in the back with Magnepan 20.7 used by the engineers to help with component selections and optimization. FWIW, the tour video is available online. One data point.

https://www.upscaleaudio.com/collections/new-used-specials/products/quad-ii-classic-monoblock-amplifiers-used

No affiliation.


"People who say that some speakers are not better for some kinds of music than for other kinds---that a speaker good at one kind will be equally good at another---are imo mistaken."

Those of us who can't afford the "perfect" speakers, resort to multiple room/system set ups for listening to different types of music. It might be a wash at the end cost-wise but it offers the opportunity to buy more toys to play with. 

This must be how people get hooked on drugs; following this discussion - with no interest in or prior knowledge of Quad speakers, then all of a sudden a pair of 57s come up for sale on the A'gone, completely restored in an incredible shape and affordably priced (for me), which can be paired with a Quad amp for sale on the opposite coast from a very reputable dealer, all a click away on my PayPal account. You guys are exactly what my parents warned me about....

Atma-Sphere M-60 Mk. 3.3:

80 wpc @  16 ohms

60 wpc @ 8 ohms

45 wpc @ 4 ohms

So, is this the right "type" of amplification for these Quads? 

By the way, magnificent piece of audio jewel.