My Listening Room
- Thread starter jadis
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Thanks Steve. I have played it only briefly as my power amp is only on 'substitute' tubes. Can't play loud and long. But this little time I have showed me that these Quad speakers are really what they are in terms of realism, palpability and transparency. The Magnepans can be over open and transparent but the Quads just sound finer and more eerie in the sound stage and image portrayal. Waiting for my new set of tubes to refleet my power amp so I can test the Quads longer. It is what I expected it to be, so far.
Yes! Many decades ago I heard an EMI Double Bass Concerto record on a large room with Quad 63s. I cannot forget that presentation. I bought that same LP and played it on my B&W and Magnepans, the realism is not there. So I tested it on these Quads and indeed, that magical realism is there, effortlessly. Like I can 'see' the musicians in front of me and hitting their bows on the violin and cello. Utterly amazing. Female vocals is also sounding the way I remembered. Vivid, palpable and a lot of emotion in the voices.
Steve, I feel Sam's double 57s sound a tad more mellow than mine but has a little less detail and brilliance. All told, both speakers still possess the same smoothness and transparency.
The magical realism of the ESL63, operated in their range, is hard to beat or even equate. They have the musical qualities - tonality and micro-dynamics at any level - and are true physical point like speakers. Curiously they appreciate medium/large rooms.
If the XLFs do not fit my new room because of height, my next system will probably based in ESL63 - four of them in a double L arrangement, mass loaded to the extreme. I will sacrifice the ultimate loudness, but in fact I have found that my friends appreciate my system in warp 9 mode or rock more than me ...
In order to play loud the ESL63 must be helped by the room. I have hope that a vaulted ceiling will be beneficial to them them.
I have a pair of completely rebuilt ESL 63's and a pair of Entec 12-F20 subs which were designed for the 63's. Think full range Quad--just sublime. I may change amps, DACs and my other gear but my speakers and Extreme are here for the duration.
No experience with Sam's stack, but I hosted a stack and ESL63 for some time. The stack needed the Decca ribbon tweeter, otherwise IMHO it would sound unbalanced, too full and mellow. Although impressive with some recordings, it would ultimately lack air and soundstage.
Retrospectively I preferred the sound of a single pair, listened at close distance, to the sound of the stack without the Decca ribbon. And I preferred the ESL63 by a wide margin to any of them.
Totally agree with your findings, Micro. I was a bit weary that these 2812s (the taller one is called the 2912 - with an increase of 15" in height) will not fill up my 16 x 23 x 10 feet room but I am pleasantly happy that they can. Depth is very impressive, and width but of course I never expected them to sound 6 feet tall.
This is how the room looks today. The Quads are in the exact position of the Magnepan 3.7i's. More bloom, more air, more natural bass.
This was the room when you visited, Steve. Amp was still an Audio Research VS115 and the very old Magnepan 2.7s. Presently, the 3.7i's are tucked at the corner to make way for the new Quads.
Hi Jadis. Congrats on the Quads. Once again, in addition to our Jadis and Koetsu history (I have a RSP), we have this in common. I had Quad US 63 monitors for 10 years. Ran them with 50W SET monos (all NOS tubed..GE211's, WE300Bs), an all tube pre, Omega Mikro Planar IV copper ribbon speaker wire...sheer heaven. Still miss it all. I'll be interested in your reactions over time. I had Quad 989s for a couple of years too, not as crazy about those...hmm, almost forgot about the 989s.
I'm happy with my Benchmark but I've thought about in the future maybe taking a walk on the wild side with a "zeel. I keep reading about this sweet midrange.
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