Electrostatic speakers

Just curious but how many full range electrostatic spoeakers are out there these days? Obviously I am aware of quad - but has anyone heard those giant Soundlabs?

 

i have not heard the Soundlabs, they "look" impressive though...I have however heard the Quads, at least the older 63's and can quite easily see why people love them, in fact, I may get some myself in the future, after I have sorted out my amp. I think that ESL's and not just quads offer things that some cannot do without, and that are simply not available with conventional speakers.

 

I also found the metaxas emperors ... bad vibe about the company on the web though.

http://www.metaxas.com/pages/masnewfiles/index.html

 

Don't forget about Kings audio, very good aparently, as of course will be the new quads. However, with the quads costing as much as a small car, it is hardly surprising there are not that many users around, a freind uses martin logan aerius i, which can be had for as little as 1250 secondhand.

 

Arent ML hybrids?

 

How much juice do you need to power an ELS that large?

Looks thirsty. Ice Cold in Alex thirsty.....

:guiness:

DT

 

Yes they are, sorry I just noticed you wanted the full range jobbies, much more expensive / large...

 

They look good, expensive?

 

Hugely so - but everyone slags them off online as a company.

 

I'm pretty sure sounds of music have a pair of the large SoundLab's. They will also have the new Quads so maybe you need a trip down there in the near future.

 

Mmm... I dont approve of his tactics - does anyone else stock them in the UK?

 

Soundlabs are notoriously power hungry.

 

I would imagine a huge pair of brystons would do the trick. Can they do real bass?

 

Only one speaker that really cuts in this catagory nick.
Apogees

 

Well that was the other option - apogee originals I suppose?

Have you heard the soundlabs WM?

 

Surely apogee are not electrostatic, but ribbons?

which basically means they are a heavy membrane requiring huge amounts of power compared to electrostatics are a very light membrane.... so less power required but won't go loud and limited bass

 

Martin Logan did have Electrostatic only speakers, the CLS, CLS II & CLS IIz were not Hybrids.

Don't forget the McKinlay ESL's available in the UK as kits. A very good article in Hi-Fi World a couple of years ago. As far as panels go, only the very top Apogee models would be on a par with the thin membrane McKinlay's (IMO).

Apogee's are not ESL's they are Ribbon's, they do not need a mains power feed.

If it is panels you are looking for, the new models from Graz at Perigee are reported to be far better than Apogee's (Apogee's with Quality Control).

There was alos a Naim Audio Electrostatic in the mid 1970's.

 

The electrostatic force is much weaker than the electromagnetic force so ES is very insensitive even though the membrane is lighter.

 

Alanbeeb, not all of the Apogee ribbon's use a membrane backing.

The larger Apogees (as with some the new Perigee's) are foil only Ribbons.

 

Then also look for Magnepan. I have always lusted after a pair of MMG’s just for a second system.