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Electrostatic Speakers

I have been lusting after a pair of electrostatic speakers for my entire life. When I was a kid the Infinity Servo Static was the big dog in town. I heard a pair of stacked (4) QUAD electrostatic when Mark Levinson was saying they were the only speakers up to his standards.

So, It was with great excitement when I ordered a pair of QUAD ESL-2912 speakers. I set them up in my listening room and they were fantastic. Even the bass was impressive, tight and went very low. However not the bass output one would get from a big powered sub-woofer. One night I was playing internet radio and I heard thunder. I walked outside and there was no rain. The thunder was coming from the speakers! Not loud but deep and tight.

I have owned lots of speakers over the years. I sold stereo systems for years when I was younger. I worked for AR for a few years. In all those years I have never heard any speaker that came close to the QUAD ESL-2912 for clarity and transient response.

Then one day the party ended. One of the speakers made a loud single CLICK, just one and then back to normal for days. Then it got much worse. It clicked and thumped every few hours. Then it clicked and thumped every few minutes.

I sent an email to the Distributor asking what to do. No answer. I sent a few more emails, no answer. The clicking was making me nuts so I removed the back cover and disconnected the panel, there are five, that was making the noise. All was back to wonderful except the left speaker was a bit softer in volume than the right speaker.

Over the next few months I sent more emails and my tone turned angry. Finally they sent me a replacement panel. Before the replacement panel arrived more panels went bad in the first speaker and then the second speaker.

Next we shipped both speakers to the factory repair center. Six months they returned with banged up cabinets, torn speaker cloth and one speaker still not working!

So my $ 13,000.00 dream speakers have bitten me. Years ago I had KLH 9 speakers (also full range electrostatic) and never had trouble with them until they died and couldn’t be rebuilt.

Any of you have experience with QUAD electrostatics? Some people say a rebuilt pair of the old ones are way better than the new ones. I assumed that new modern manufacturing methods would have made the new speakers super reliable.

Thoughts?? Am I within my reasonable rights to sue these guys?
davidclarke
sksos
32 posts
 
I’ve been an electrostatic guy for many, many years going back and forth with panels and conventional speakers over 35 years. Had the original ML CLX (had no bass but boy a midrange to cry over) and then Sequels and Sequel II. Just couldn’t get the bass/panels to integrate well. Then 20 some speaker later I bought the new Sound Lab Majestic 545’s (had them custom made in Birdseye Maple) was very excited but after 3 months and with many different amps just could not get them to sing. Roger West was kind enough to take them back. Boy I really wanted them to work. Went back to cones then about a year ago decided to try the Sanders 10e speakers. WOW! WOW! Yes amps make a huge difference and finally have settled on ones that make me forget about everything but the music. Maybe just maybe I’ve found audio nirvana at least I’m not looking or even dreaming any longer.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to ALL

(Dealer disclaimer)
radni
83 posts
 
I have been using since last 6-7 years, Electro Stat speakers from a company from India called Cadence Audio . I have their flagship model ARCA, which are hybrid type with 12’ woofers. With 91.5 dB sensitivity and 8 ohm avg., my 35 wpc tube amp drives them comfortably.
I had upgraded the capacitors ( OIMP V-Caps) , Resistors ( Duelund CAST carbon ), internal wires, etc.
I find them to be very precise and especially on mids and highs , they are terrific !
I thoroughly enjoy them and do’t think of going back to cones .
I do’t think they have established dealers network in USA , so these ARCA  from Cadence Audio may not be familiar in USA.

jhills
323 posts
 
My favorite of all speakers, over the years, was, without question, the Apogee Duetta Signatures. They require a bit of space and at 2 ohm, demand a great deal of good power, but when set up properly, they make the closest thing to a live performance, I’ve ever heard.
Now that I no longer can handle the scope and volume of a live performance, for the many hours that I spend listening to music at home - I am much more interested in a speaker that will create a large, detailed, yet musical stage at more moderate levels. I can’t help but believe though, that either the Sanders or the Sound Labs would do an incredible job at that or full size orchestrate alike...Jim


chuckie
44 posts
 
I presently am a "long term owner" of Soundlab Ultimate II's. I purchased them back in 1999. My Soundlabs have the "original panels" and I can say with utmost confidence that my speakers have kept me satisfied and never a moment have I ever considered another speaker! My original panels have "never" been back  to Soundlab for any reason. I have covered my panels since the beginning of this odyssey with bed sheets  when not in concert status. I do not know for sure but maybe this has helped to keep dust at bay and contributed to their longevity.  They are never over driven . My amps are NAT Se2Se  and the sound is to die for. Getting the components and cables up stream to your satisfaction will greatly pay big dividends not necessarily the most expensive or exotic products.  Each listener has their biases I have mine. My Soundlabs have kept me away from the merry-go- round upgrade disease .... many many  THANK YOUs to Dr. West for his creation.  I don't visit here too much anymore it can keep me  state of "what if" . My nirvana is here listening to my babies. Happy Listening.... 
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