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Offered is „ESL 57“ by Quad from the category „Standing Speaker“ on audio-markt.de - the online market place for high-end. The advert with the number 6867974349 ends on 07.11.2026 at 10:31 o'clock.
That asking price is a strong deal: at €590, it sits well below the €1,002 25th percentile and far under the €1,099 median for recent comparable EU listings.
For an ESL 57 in good condition, that’s the kind of price that makes sense if you want to get into classic Quad electrostatics without paying collector money. The draw is obvious: that open, box-free midrange and uncanny vocal realism still win people over decades later. At this level, the main upside is value, especially if the pair is complete and working cleanly; just make sure the panels, sockets, and transformers are healthy, because age-related service needs matter more than cosmetics on these.
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.
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