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Quad ESL 57 Electrostatic Loudspeakers JPurchased these three years ago when I was running a few systems . I have consolidated to one system so these have been sitting idle . Panels all working fine and sound beautiful as quads do . I can’t tell you much of their history and am simply asking what I paid for them . I have taken pictures across them so that you can see panels only couple very minor blemishes and look very good . I don’t have all the screws for the side woods . One belgin plug is a bit rough - ie bakerlite broken but still functions fine . I have decent packing crates for them
This is a buyer’s market for this category: at A$900, this sits well below the A$1,197 25th percentile and far under the A$1,463 median, so it reads as a strong deal rather than a merely fair one. For a classic Quad ESL 57, that’s the kind of pricing that should get attention if the speakers are substantially complete and basically functioning.
The reason they stay sought-after is simple: when healthy, ESL 57s do midrange realism and image purity in a way few speakers can match, especially on vocals, strings, and small-scale acoustic music. The upside is big if they’re in decent condition, but with this design the key buyer checks are just as important: panel condition, bias/power-up behavior, transformer health, and whether any restoration has already been done. At this price, a clean, listenable pair is very appealing.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Quad, the venerable British hi-fi brand, traces its origins to 1936 in London, when engineer Peter J. Walker founded S.P. Fidelity Sound Systems, soon renamed the Acoustical Manufacturing Company. Relocating to Huntingdon in 1941 after wartime bombing, the firm shifted from public address gear to domestic audio amid post-war demand for superior sound reproduction. Walker's pioneering ethos—prioritizing "the closest approach to the original sound"—defined Quad from its early QA12 amplifiers, adopted by the BBC, to the iconic Quad I of 1953.
The brand excels in amplifiers and electrostatic loudspeakers, revolutionizing both categories. The Quad II power amplifier of 1953 introduced cathode coupling for vanishingly low distortion, while the 1956 ESL 57 delivered the world's first full-range electrostatic speaker, employing a massless film diaphragm for unparalleled transparency and transient speed. Quad advanced into solid-state with the 1967 303 and transistor designs featuring innovative "Triples" output stages, later expanding to integrated amps like the 99 series, moving-coil speakers, and modern electrostatic models such as the ESL 988 and 989.
Today, under the International Audio Group since 1997, Quad holds a prestigious position in the high-end market, revered by audiophiles for its unyielding pursuit of accuracy over trends. Its heritage components command vintage collector status, yet contemporary offerings maintain a niche boutique appeal among discerning buyers seeking refined, distortion-free reproduction that honors Walker's legacy.
See all Quad listings on RADAR.
