Quad ESL57s - panel rebuilds....
Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 11:50 am
Does anyone know of an expert in Ireland who has rebuilt their own ESL 57 panels? I picked up a pair 6-9 months ago, and finally got around to fitting rebuilt EHT units into them (documented fully at PFM: http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/show ... hp?t=68029) - while cleaning them up inside it became apparent I have some arc damage to one of the bass panels (which I didn't think was supposed to happen - but this panel has had liquid spilled on it at some point) and one of the treble panels.
The treble panel arc burn is causing distortion and onset of further arcing at (very!) high listening volumes.
That means I need to do some DIY panels (I will do them all I guess, in for a penny, in for a pound) - a scary prospect! I'd love to talk to someone who has "been there, done that"!
And are there any carpenter audio enthusiasts out there? I've bodged some period stands onto my ESLs to raise them a bit - but they chrome and don't really match, plus are still not high enough, plus I would like to have something I can mount my monoblock valve hybrid SE amps into (see pics below). I know if I do it, it will be a bodge job - I'd like someone that can make it look nice! Is that you Fran? :) Some photos below, at the end of the post.
The ESLs sound fantastic as is (rebuilt EHT units made a big difference to bass!), and the SEs are a perfect match for them (ousted my Mark Levinson No. 29). I want to make them perfect though!
Edit to add: if anyone has a set of ESL 57s that need a complete rebuild please let me know, the worse the condition, the better (ie; cheaper!) - I am after a set so I can rebuild panels without taking mine offline, and a spare set of power supplys and output transformers would allow for some interesting DIY mods later on (ie; biwiring ESLs :D).
Thanks, Richard
The treble panel arc burn is causing distortion and onset of further arcing at (very!) high listening volumes.
That means I need to do some DIY panels (I will do them all I guess, in for a penny, in for a pound) - a scary prospect! I'd love to talk to someone who has "been there, done that"!
And are there any carpenter audio enthusiasts out there? I've bodged some period stands onto my ESLs to raise them a bit - but they chrome and don't really match, plus are still not high enough, plus I would like to have something I can mount my monoblock valve hybrid SE amps into (see pics below). I know if I do it, it will be a bodge job - I'd like someone that can make it look nice! Is that you Fran? :) Some photos below, at the end of the post.
The ESLs sound fantastic as is (rebuilt EHT units made a big difference to bass!), and the SEs are a perfect match for them (ousted my Mark Levinson No. 29). I want to make them perfect though!
Edit to add: if anyone has a set of ESL 57s that need a complete rebuild please let me know, the worse the condition, the better (ie; cheaper!) - I am after a set so I can rebuild panels without taking mine offline, and a spare set of power supplys and output transformers would allow for some interesting DIY mods later on (ie; biwiring ESLs :D).
Thanks, Richard