For those audiophiles who'd like to own a Quad 988 but lack the budget,
or the room, or both, which of the non-ES speakers come closest to that
magical electrostatic sound? [Answers from friends have ranged from
well known current brands (Dynaudio) to discontinued models I didn't
know about (DCM Time Window).]

I understand Quad have their own box speakers now. You'd expect them to
produce the family sound, but do they? How do they do against Proacs,
Dynaudios, Spendors? (I don't have a Quad dealer near me to check them
out myself.)

Please nominate your candidates for a poor man's 988, poor in money but
more importantlly poor in square feet.

In article , Alex wrote:
For those audiophiles who'd like to own a Quad 988 but lack the budget,
or the room, or both, which of the non-ES speakers come closest to that
magical electrostatic sound? [Answers from friends have ranged from
well known current brands (Dynaudio) to discontinued models I didn't
know about (DCM Time Window).]

You might look at the low end Magnepans. They are pretty inexpensive, and
while they don't have the solid low end that you can get from the ESLs, they
do surprisingly well given the small surface area.

Used Quad ESLs are available out there at reasonable prices, though, and
Sheldon Stokes (www.quadesl.com) does a fine job of rebuilding broken ones.

I understand Quad have their own box speakers now. You'd expect them to
produce the family sound, but do they? How do they do against Proacs,
Dynaudios, Spendors? (I don't have a Quad dealer near me to check them
out myself.)

I have never heard them.

Please nominate your candidates for a poor man's 988, poor in money but
more importantlly poor in square feet.

Where the Quads really shine is in small rooms... I think the real problem
with them is that they aren't able to produce good low end in a large room.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Alex" wrote in message ...
For those audiophiles who'd like to own a Quad 988 but lack the budget,
or the room, or both, which of the non-ES speakers come closest to that
magical electrostatic sound? [Answers from friends have ranged from
well known current brands (Dynaudio) to discontinued models I didn't
know about (DCM Time Window).]


I have a pair of Ruark Paladins and have seen them described as having 'a
sound not unlike electrostatics'. They are extremely nice and Weasel Breath
at The Emporium had a pair listed at £500 last time I scanned his ad. An
easy 89 dB and go down to 38 Hz (215 mm bass cones) - rendering a sub
*utterly* redundant....

(Beautiful 'furniture' if nothing else.... ;-)

"Alex" wrote in message ...
For those audiophiles who'd like to own a Quad 988 but lack the budget,
or the room, or both, which of the non-ES speakers come closest to that
magical electrostatic sound? [Answers from friends have ranged from
well known current brands (Dynaudio) to discontinued models I didn't
know about (DCM Time Window).]

I understand Quad have their own box speakers now. You'd expect them to
produce the family sound, but do they? How do they do against Proacs,
Dynaudios, Spendors? (I don't have a Quad dealer near me to check them
out myself.)

Please nominate your candidates for a poor man's 988, poor in money but
more importantlly poor in square feet.

**The old Duntech Crown Prince. Very ELS-like. With bass.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

"Dodge McRodgered" wrote
IME a big part of the ESL sound is in the soundstaging. Nothing but a
Planer sounds quite like a Planer.

"Oh no, man! Heavy!"


--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

When it first came out, the LS3/5a (mfg. by Rogers, Spendor, Harbeth, KEF
and several others) was compared to the original Quad ESL by Stereophile.
I'm not sure the comparison was really valid -- the spatial qualities are
very different -- but there's a certain tonal commonality to them.

Peace,
Paul

"Dodge McRodgered" wrote in message
...
"Alex" emitted :

For those audiophiles who'd like to own a Quad 988 but lack the budget,
or the room, or both, which of the non-ES speakers come closest to that
magical electrostatic sound? [Answers from friends have ranged from
well known current brands (Dynaudio) to discontinued models I didn't
know about (DCM Time Window).]

For a box speaker, Yamaha NS1000 perhaps??

**Nope.


IME a big part of the ESL sound is in the soundstaging. Nothing but a
planer sounds quite like a planer.

**Not IMO. The big reason why ESLs sound like ESLs, IMO, is the coherent
nature of a single, full range driver and the lack of cabinet diffraction
problems. Very few manufacturers have managed to get moving coil driver
systems to deliver a coherent wave-front. Dunlavy did, with the Crown Prince
(but not the Sovereign). I heard them in the same room (within minutes) as a
pair of Martin Logan CLS and the comparison was surprisingly close. Except
for the bass, reliability, maximum SPL capacity, etc, etc. Dunlavy paid VERY
careful attention to the crossover and cabinet diffraction effects. The
result was a very ESL-like speaker system. With bass.

Whilst I have not done direct ESL comparisons, I reckon the B&W 802 Nautilus
probably comes mighty close too.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Orthodynamic speakers -- ie, a conductor on a flat plastic substrate.

Trevor Wilson wrote:

: Very few manufacturers have managed to get moving coil driver
: systems to deliver a coherent wave-front. Dunlavy did, with the Crown Prince
: (but not the Sovereign). I heard them in the same room (within minutes) as a
: pair of Martin Logan CLS and the comparison was surprisingly close. Except
: for the bass, reliability, maximum SPL capacity, etc, etc. Dunlavy paid VERY
: careful attention to the crossover and cabinet diffraction effects. The
: result was a very ESL-like speaker system. With bass.

Dunlavy that good?

Dodge McRodgered wrote:
"Fleetie" emitted :


IME a big part of the ESL sound is in the soundstaging. Nothing but a
Planer sounds quite like a Planer.


Oops.. that should be "planar".


"Oh no, man! Heavy!"


Have you been munching on Camberwell carrots??

Some of the young ones on uk.rec.audio will appreciate the joke.
Don't know about the rest of you though.

--
Eiron.