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I have an ESL-63 pair of speakers and 2 quad mono block amplifiers of 40Watts each. Does anybody know what pre-amplifier is recommended?
Quad ESL-63 compatable pre-amplifier
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back in the day, the Quad II tube mono blocks had a proprietary cable / connector connection with its matching Quad Pre amp with the same connectors. Many people have modified the Quad II monoblocks so they have the popular female RCA connector. I did this when I had my Quad II monoblocks (which I regret selling). If I reall the power from those Quads were like 15 - 20 wpc. I used an Apt P2 pre for that setup.
If you are referring to the new re release of the Quad II monoblocks - pretty much any pre should work. Great setup you have there. The ESL-63 speakers are not that efficient so if you like to listen loud you probably need another amp.
If you are referring to the new re release of the Quad II monoblocks - pretty much any pre should work. Great setup you have there. The ESL-63 speakers are not that efficient so if you like to listen loud you probably need another amp.
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Im basically afraid of arcing and damaging the ESL's. So I'd like to know what recommended preamps do you suggest together with my 2 40 monoblock amplifiers. (2 amplifiers-40watts each)
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Ok, I have to come clean. I am writing about this topic because of my dad. He's the one who actually bought the Quad ESL-63's and despite writing that I already have the quad monoblocks, I dont but rather my dad is on the verge of buying them (almost $3,000) and he wanted me to ask here on the forum about what pre amp to get.
I know absolutely nothing about stereo equipment or amps or preamps, but am trying to search and learn as much about them as possible. At this point I dont even understand why a speaker system with amplifier(s) would require a pre-amplifier?
Anyway, I have tried googling "amplifier with Quad ESL-63", "ESL-63 speaker amplifier system" etc, but I just can't seem to find any info relating to these speakers, about which amps or pre-amps to use.
I bought or rather my dad pushed me to use my "computer know-how" of sites like ebay to buy these speakers. Now Im being pushed to learn and find out what amplifier(s) or at least pre-amp to get that will make these speakers sound good but that will also not "arc" or damage the speakers.
Is there anyone who can direct me to a good place to learn what amps and pre-amps are compatible with these speakers? Also, what specs am I to look for and understand? And for whatever reason, my dad has been convinced that only "tube" amps and pre-amps are to be used with these speakers, so if anyone has any good links and primers to just learning enough so that if I do one day, hopefully soon, become knowledgable enough to decide on the amplification system, that I will not have to worry about arcing or damaging these speakers, and hopefully also make a good sound compatible choice? (No pun intended) Any more help is much appreciated.
I know absolutely nothing about stereo equipment or amps or preamps, but am trying to search and learn as much about them as possible. At this point I dont even understand why a speaker system with amplifier(s) would require a pre-amplifier?
Anyway, I have tried googling "amplifier with Quad ESL-63", "ESL-63 speaker amplifier system" etc, but I just can't seem to find any info relating to these speakers, about which amps or pre-amps to use.
I bought or rather my dad pushed me to use my "computer know-how" of sites like ebay to buy these speakers. Now Im being pushed to learn and find out what amplifier(s) or at least pre-amp to get that will make these speakers sound good but that will also not "arc" or damage the speakers.
Is there anyone who can direct me to a good place to learn what amps and pre-amps are compatible with these speakers? Also, what specs am I to look for and understand? And for whatever reason, my dad has been convinced that only "tube" amps and pre-amps are to be used with these speakers, so if anyone has any good links and primers to just learning enough so that if I do one day, hopefully soon, become knowledgable enough to decide on the amplification system, that I will not have to worry about arcing or damaging these speakers, and hopefully also make a good sound compatible choice? (No pun intended) Any more help is much appreciated.
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You might search for reviews of the ESL-63s at www.stereophile.com (or other sites) and see what the reviewers found to work well.
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Any pre-amp will work.
One pre-amp should not cause the speakers to arc any more than another assuming it's in good repair.
Will he be listening to vinyl records? If so he will need a pre-amp with a phono stage for a moving magnet or moving coil or both. Or, a separate phono pre-amp or phono stage to fit between the turntable and the pre-amp.
Any thing with tubes will probably cost more.
My suggestion is to look for an old APT Holman pre-amp. It looks like this (click here) and will do every thing he wants to do and sounds good too!
One pre-amp should not cause the speakers to arc any more than another assuming it's in good repair.
Will he be listening to vinyl records? If so he will need a pre-amp with a phono stage for a moving magnet or moving coil or both. Or, a separate phono pre-amp or phono stage to fit between the turntable and the pre-amp.
Any thing with tubes will probably cost more.
My suggestion is to look for an old APT Holman pre-amp. It looks like this (click here) and will do every thing he wants to do and sounds good too!
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doesn't the esl63 have protective circuits to defend from the arcing problem? regardless i highly doubt a preamp could arc the speakers.
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Like I said, I know absolutely nothing about stereo/audio equipment.
The main reason why Im still thinking about dissuading my dad from buying these Quad monoblock amps is because they are only 40 watts. I know that these speakers are not meant for blasting music, but from what I remember, isn't 40 watts a bit on the low side?
I mean these speakers are massive and since we are obviously going to buy a amplifier system, I would rather go with the amp system that produces the loudest sustainable output, as long as the quality/safety is not compromised?
If any pre-amp will work well, then I would probably just buy a safe selling low priced one on ebay, but again I still want to learn about all this, especially since 40 watts seems pretty little to me. Please correct me on this.
To b curry:
As far as the vinyl records are concerned, I remember my dad had about 100 or so records and I know I have seen some type of turntable in the house, but I think its very safe to say that the first music we'll probably eventually listen to on this system will not be on vinyl records. Funnily enough, my dad was actually saying yesterday, that "vinyl records are making a comeback". I dont know if that was in general or in reference with these types of speakers.
Anyway, I will try to remember that, "phono stage" thing. Obviously I dont understand it, but I think for the price of $200 for the Apt pre amp I just found, I can sacrifice buying this one and then another pre-amp later with the vinyl capability later.
To Thelonesius,
Your asking the wrong person any questions. I dont know anything about stereo equipment. Im just starting. Actually now that I think about it, the reason why my dad is so adamant about these "tube" amps is because someone told him that with tube amps, the Quads can not be arced and damaged. My dad told me when he had these Quad speakers 20 years ago and some random person turned the volume knob, the speakers got arced and destroyed, and that was without a tube amp- so thats all I know about any sort of protective circuits.
Ok, well Im going to start reading at the stereophile site and then probably end up starting a new thread on just amps-again mainly because of my totally unfounded suspicion that the 40 watt monoblock amps are less than speakers of this size should/could be equiped with, but also obviously to learn about this subject. Im very suprised that I couldn't find too much about the Quad speakers here. You have a category for film projectors of $3000 and more, but very few articles/threads on these Quad speakers, which can be had for about $2,000, but anyway, expect to hear some more questions from me pretty soon. Thanks for your help and links and suggestions so far.
The main reason why Im still thinking about dissuading my dad from buying these Quad monoblock amps is because they are only 40 watts. I know that these speakers are not meant for blasting music, but from what I remember, isn't 40 watts a bit on the low side?
I mean these speakers are massive and since we are obviously going to buy a amplifier system, I would rather go with the amp system that produces the loudest sustainable output, as long as the quality/safety is not compromised?
If any pre-amp will work well, then I would probably just buy a safe selling low priced one on ebay, but again I still want to learn about all this, especially since 40 watts seems pretty little to me. Please correct me on this.
To b curry:
As far as the vinyl records are concerned, I remember my dad had about 100 or so records and I know I have seen some type of turntable in the house, but I think its very safe to say that the first music we'll probably eventually listen to on this system will not be on vinyl records. Funnily enough, my dad was actually saying yesterday, that "vinyl records are making a comeback". I dont know if that was in general or in reference with these types of speakers.
Anyway, I will try to remember that, "phono stage" thing. Obviously I dont understand it, but I think for the price of $200 for the Apt pre amp I just found, I can sacrifice buying this one and then another pre-amp later with the vinyl capability later.
To Thelonesius,
Your asking the wrong person any questions. I dont know anything about stereo equipment. Im just starting. Actually now that I think about it, the reason why my dad is so adamant about these "tube" amps is because someone told him that with tube amps, the Quads can not be arced and damaged. My dad told me when he had these Quad speakers 20 years ago and some random person turned the volume knob, the speakers got arced and destroyed, and that was without a tube amp- so thats all I know about any sort of protective circuits.
Ok, well Im going to start reading at the stereophile site and then probably end up starting a new thread on just amps-again mainly because of my totally unfounded suspicion that the 40 watt monoblock amps are less than speakers of this size should/could be equiped with, but also obviously to learn about this subject. Im very suprised that I couldn't find too much about the Quad speakers here. You have a category for film projectors of $3000 and more, but very few articles/threads on these Quad speakers, which can be had for about $2,000, but anyway, expect to hear some more questions from me pretty soon. Thanks for your help and links and suggestions so far.
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I'd buy some nice 25W-50W/ch tube amps. They will soft clip and should reduce the likelihood of blowing the speakers.
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The APT Holman does have the phono stage for a moving magnet.
For a lot of people vinyl isn't making a come back, it never left ...
Stay under about 100 watts. It will be much louder than you care to listen too.
The two 40 watt Quads will be fine. Make sure there in good repair. When Quads are set up well, it's like angels singing.
For a lot of people vinyl isn't making a come back, it never left ...
Stay under about 100 watts. It will be much louder than you care to listen too.
The two 40 watt Quads will be fine. Make sure there in good repair. When Quads are set up well, it's like angels singing.
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Not so much here. More to do with frequency and humidity, stator arc. Don't over drive them as your father pointed out. Maybe your dad had ESL-57's?
Others to look at Quad 303, 606, 909. Coda, Threshold, forte, etc. Does not have to be tubes but, tubes are OK. They like current. You don't need a lot of watts.
Not so much here. More to do with frequency and humidity, stator arc. Don't over drive them as your father pointed out. Maybe your dad had ESL-57's?
Others to look at Quad 303, 606, 909. Coda, Threshold, forte, etc. Does not have to be tubes but, tubes are OK. They like current. You don't need a lot of watts.
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You are worried about arcing with ESL-63s? I have had mine since March 1982, and I have had to replace the panels on average once every 5 years or so - no big deal (apart from the expense) except sometimes the dealers are not too good at workmanship. Here in Taiwan I had to get a repair redone (immediate arcing), but since then I have had no problems. Current period without arcing on one of the speakers is > 6 years.
I have Innersound Electrostatic amps (300 to 600 wpc) with no problems whatsoever.
I am very satisfied with the sound of the 63s after more than 25 years experience, but am looking at the 2905s to audition shortly.
I have Innersound Electrostatic amps (300 to 600 wpc) with no problems whatsoever.
I am very satisfied with the sound of the 63s after more than 25 years experience, but am looking at the 2905s to audition shortly.
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