Tír Na HiFi

Dowser wrote:

Fran wrote:Has anyone rung the fella to see what the story is? If I was at home I think I would need to be restrained!

Although what I really want is another set of 57s so I can stack them!

Yes it is all your fault Barry!

Sorry guys, I phoned him yesterday on the pretense of checking availability for Barry and fully expecting to hear they were gone - they were not, and he is a great guy (88 year old gent who has owned them from new, and understood completely that the price he was selling them for was cheap). Upshot, I now own a pair of 63s to complement the 57s - logic is to compare my (now) 3 sets of propers speakers (ESL57 and 63, plus SF Concertinos) and then make a decision on which 2 to keep. I absolutely love the 57s, but if I ever need to move to a smaller place (currently lucky to have a dedicated listening room) then they are a bit imposing!

If I resell, they will be offered here first.

Richard

Well done lad. Did you buy them from FP in Dalkey by any chance? Your description fits!
You'll love the 63s, just give them big valves EL34s if you gottem!

You did the right thing. It would have been rude *not* to buy them.

Thanks Both - feel a little guilty to be honest... But indeed Diapason, that was my logic - even given the grief I will/am getting from wife.

It is he Ivor - great guy who I will meet with again (we are kindred spirits, both repairing TVs for a living in our murky pasts :)).

I have some DIY valve/fet hybrid mono blocks driving the 57s currently, only 18-20 watts, hopefully enough for the 63s though.

Richard

Dowser wrote:
It is he Ivor - great guy who I will meet with again (we are kindred spirits, both repairing TVs for a living in our murky pasts :)).

An absolute gentleman and the man I bought my 989s from. He's a legend 'round these parts.

Diapason wrote:You did the right thing. It would have been rude *not* to buy them.

yea-for me!!! heh heh heh...

good score richard. though you were polite in saying you rang up for me, you did what any of us would have done. and it saves me the worry of figuring out how to get them here.

on the other hand, if you decide you like them more than the 57s, you can always sell off the spare set to fran; he's always threatened-er, scratch that-wanted to stack 'em.

and let me know about these speakers in the states...it's always cheaper to set up shipping from here to there. mayhaps i can find a cheaper way to get them to you.

-b

Thanks Barry - it really was the reason I picked up the phone (after reading Fran's post), but by the time it was ringing I went into selfish mode! I'll PM you tomorrow re the duff 57s, maybe we can work something out. Thanks again.

Ivor - round here too now.

Well done lad!

And yes if you decide to offload the 57 you know where to go! And you might - sound is similar from both but different enough for people to have preferences.


Fran

He-he Fran - I suspect my SFs will be for sale, although for sure stranger things have happened and I suspect mission control is not going to necessarily agree with me ;-)

Fran wrote: sound is similar from both but different enough for people to have preferences.
Fran

A good description.

Wired them in last night - wow, the difference a properly working set of panels make on imaging is just incredible! Started listening around half nine, wife dragged me to bed at half 1 this morning with a sore ass from sitting on the floor (need to get some stands!).

I find the 63s sound better than the 57s, but that is due to the panels needing a rebuild on the 57s I suspect. The big plus is the incredible imaging, and the extra bass power is nice (but again, I know 1 panel in my 57s is down on output, so it is not a fair comparison).

On a slight downside they seem to sound a bit recessed, or like they have more to give somehow - hard to describe (if it was a turbo engine I was tuning, it basically needs a bit more ignition advance). Maybe this is the point source configuration thing?

However, small quibble in the big scheme of things - they sound fecking fantastic, best audio reproduction I have heard. But I will now be rebuilding or replacing the 57 panels before I can make a final call on which I prefer! Sorry Fran...you'd only electrocute yourself if you did them like Barry anyhow :)

Me very happy with my budget purchase - I quickly cranked the wick up a bit on them this morning, and they are very clean at higher volumes too!

Richard