Quad ESL 57's...Best Spkr Cable?


I'm interested in other's experience with wiring the Original Quads, and what differences various cables have made in sound reproduction.... Thanks!
perambul8
Use a flat cable from Nordost, Goertz, or Magnan. You'll find that many cables have a chestiness in a baritone voice that these cables do not. Do not confuse this with an absence of warmth or bass.
In my experience electrostats do well with a wide, flat cable. This geometry minimizes time smear related to the skin effect, wherein low frequency signals travel in the conductor and high frequency signals travel along the surface, resulting in slightly different arrival times. Most speakers are smeared enough that this makes little difference, but not a full-range electrostat. A wide, flat conductor tends to give better clarity and dynamic impact with an electrostat.

A wide, flat geometry also has very low series inductance. An inductor rolls off high frequencies, and the lower the speaker's impedance, the lower the rolloff sets in. With most speaker/wire combinations, any rolloff is well above the range where it can have an audible effect. However, because electrostats have a very low impedance at high frequencies, they are more susceptible to series inductance in the speaker cable reducing the sense of air that comes with an extended top end.

I own and sell electrostats, and I also own and sell Magnan Signature cables, but I think well of the Nordost Valhalla and the Goertz. I know of at least one Original Quad refurbisher who uses the Magnans in his reference system.

Congratulations on owning a pair of Original Quads. That's one of the finest speakers ever made.