QuadESL-57usedQuad ESL-57 Super Clean, Upgraded, Sound FabulousFor sale is my beloved pair of Quad ESL-57s. These came to me from the second owner with no feet installed and likely were in a ML stacked system all of their lives. These speakers were made in 1...2250.00

Quad ESL-57 Super Clean, Upgraded, Sound Fabulous

Listing ID: lis6c7hg Classified 
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Condition
8/10
Payment methods

Contact seller after sale to pay viaCertified check, Personal check or COD

Ships fromWaltham, MA, 02451
Ships toUnited States
Package dimensions48.0" × 48.0" × 18.0" (30.0 lbs.)
Shipping carrierUPS
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For sale is my beloved pair of Quad ESL-57s.  These came to me from the second owner with no feet installed and likely were in a ML stacked system all of their lives.  These speakers were made in 1978.  

The speakers were thoroughly cleaned internally and old solder joints were removed and carefully remade.  Cardas binding posts were installed ($100).  The back screens were stripped, the 35 year old burlap removed and the interior surface was painted black.  You don't need any burlap when the speakers are not against the wall and are used in a reasonable sized space.  Percy Audio best damping sheet was applied to the transformer part of the cages, insuring good damping without blocking aft sound.  New power cords were made using shielded power cables and the original Quad power plugs.  New power lights were installed.  New felt was installed behind the tweeter panels. 
 
New oak "spider" legs were purchased from the Dutch Quad specialty retailer and installed ($650).  Purpose built supertweeter brackets were made and supertweeters were developed.  These started with the housing and ribbon electromagnetic driver from a British outfit and modified with RTX multicaps and very expensive audiophile wire wound resistors, matched to the Quads in both frequency and volume by calculations and ear ($500).  These extend the Quads output to beyond 35Khz, adding air and detail definition that makes these speakers fully competitive with any system in a moderate sized space.  PC-OCC supertweeter cables are included.
    
I considered having these sent to the one of the several excellent Quad refurbishers out there, but concluded that this pair sounded excellent and did not need any service at this time.  I don't have the boxes available so this will be a local sale.  I will be happy to deliver within a couple of hours driving time from 02451.  You can have shipping arranged through UPS and I will be happy to bring the speakers to a nearby UPS store (0311 is one closest to me).    

I used these speakers for about a year in my main system, until I got Electrostatic Solutions modified 988s.  The 57s then became a part of my 70s vintage system, but it is used very rarely.  They should really be enjoyed by an owner that will play them often.    

The price of $2250 is a steal for a classic in excellent upgraded condition that will stand head and shoulders above most modern competition. The 57 is very special and its' sound bests the later Quad effort in some (my wife says most) sonic qualities, the main one being sound density.  The old Quad has the lifelike fullness that the 63 and later models struggle to achieve, though ES upgrades bring them very close.


Original cherry side rails and short legs are available, but the new legs are much better, both sonically and visually.

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