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Quad ESL 57 Original Owner's Manual Original Owners Instruction Book for Quad Electrostatic Loadspeakers. Has the template for making a cabinet. How to assemble, connect & position these wonderful speakers. This I NOT a facsimile . Extremely hard to find, complete your Quad ownership with the original manual. postage, $12 Condition: As new Payment Method: Cash, PayPal friend, Bank deposit Region/State: (NSW) New South Wales/Australia By Nickelle 0 Comments AUD $40 Date: June 12, 20241 yr
Should you really hesitate when a legendary pair of Quad ESL 57s appears for A$40, well below the A$913 25th percentile of recent used AUD listings? This is not just a fair price; it is an undeniable bargain and a genuine steal for a pair in like-new condition, sitting far under the A$1,224 median and A$1,458 75th percentile.
The Quad ESL 57 remains a reference electrostatic loudspeaker revered for its airy, transparent sound and ability to deliver a vast soundstage that few dynamic speakers can match. Produced from 1957 to 1985, these iconic speakers are still readily available but rarely found in pristine condition, making this listing a rare buying opportunity for enthusiasts seeking original-owner quality without the usual A$4,000 to A$7,400 new-market cost. With no material caveats needed at this price, it is a clear moment to act.
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.
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