The late J Gordon Holt (d. 2009), founder & former Editor of Stereophile gave a quick summary in 1985 of "why designers have persevered for over 40 years in refining the electrostatic" (loudpseaker).

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mostly cons in my experience with pure 'stats like quad, martin logan, acoustat, stax.

hybrids are a different can of worms...

Some interesting and varied viewpoints across these articles/reviews etc. Thanks Owen.


I'm in the hybrid camp with my Sanders: my 10Es are ESL panels atop TL bass drivers. 


For further digestion, for those inclined:   

sanderssoundsystems.com/technical-white-papers/68-esl-speakers-white-paper
sanderssoundsystems.com/technical-white-papers/56-transmission-line-white-paper
www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/sanders-model-10e-hybrid-electrostatic-loudspeaker/


I've commented elsewhere on DL how I got to my Sanders, after hearing Martin Logans firstly.
IMHO the pros of electrostatic reproduction considerably outweigh any cons.
My favourable listening experiences with ESLs have not diminished over the years, in fact my satisfaction just grows.

Cooksferry was impressed with Stevie RV digital via ESL. Wait until you hear MFSL vinyl Dead Can Dance: Into the Labyrinth and MFSL vinyl Ry Cooder Paradise and Lunch...(Front end: WandTT/Wand Arm/HanaSL) ...

I see the matey who has the 10Cs on TM has bidding to $1,530, closes Sunday. Could be an opportunity for a canny ESL Fanboy?

Oh and what about those reviews that say 'these speakers are so good they almost sound electrostatic in presentation'  - I'm yet to see a review that says 'these ESL are so good they almost sound like dynamic speakers' 

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

I cant see my changing from my ESL57s anytime soon. However even I would admit that they are not everyones cup of tea.

I’m watching the Sanders spkrs on TM, but suspect there will be a flurry of bids just before closing.

A nice looking Quad system was listed on TM recently, including amps, tuner and ESL63s, but closed yesterday without bids - seller could be better off selling the items separately. - www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1931606839

Never heard an electrostatic - hope to one day.

Hey Sub,

If you are ever down this way you have an open invitation to pop by for a good listen

Feb 8, 2019 14:16:17 GMT 12 foveaux said:

Oh and what about those reviews that say 'these speakers are so good they almost sound electrostatic in presentation'  - I'm yet to see a review that says 'these ESL are so good they almost sound like dynamic speakers' 

Except maybe in the LFs (full range stats, that is.)

I have never owned stats, but have grown fairly familiar listening to a set of Acoustat 2+2s over the years.

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It's good that, by and large, the latest stat designs are more reliable and easy to drive than ever.
I totally enjoyed my brief re-acquaintance with cartridgeguyonline's Quad ESL57s. There mightn't be another speaker capable of such midrange resolution. They can still muster a satisfying listen, 62 years (wow!) after they were invented.

AMR-iFi R&D

Feb 8, 2019 18:09:30 GMT 12 cartridgeguyonline said:

Hey Sub,

If you are ever down this way you have an open invitation to pop by for a good listen

Thanks, if I get your way will certainly pop in for a listen!

the stax f81, within it's very narrow operating window, one of the finest stats ever.
coherence and lucidity that makes a quad sound like it's broken.

counterpoint to those who say stats have no bottom end.

Dear me! Where are the moderators when you need them?

to get real bass from stats, first make them BIG

Feb 11, 2019 16:28:24 GMT 12 Citroen said:

Dear me! Where are the moderators when you need them?

Must be looking at, I'm sorry, listening to that bottom end!

Wish all packaging and/or removalists came like that!😳

AMR-iFi R&D

you seen the ups girl ?

from the absolute sound issue 99 nov 1994

the obsessional electrostatic - dan sweeney

electrostatic loudspeakers extend a dangerous allure both to the consumer and the loudspeaker designer. once you purchase one, you may never be satisfied with conventional cones and domes technology, and once you design one, you may find yourself embarking on a one-way career path that can only end in death or retirement.

what is the nature of the obsession ?
the siren call of the matchless midrange is part of it - perhaps the most of it - but there's also an undeniable intellectual appeal to the design, and for those who like to ponder the mechanics of sound reproduction, the sublimely simple but powerful design concepts informing the modern electrostatic almost carry the force of revelation.

phew !

Acoustat 1+1's

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Steve Guttenberg's opinion...

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paul mcgowan's 3c worth

Good informed opinions.
Like most of us, their viewpoint varied as time passed.
Seems the constant in one's audio journey is change: there is always a better mousetrap coming along? (emphasis on trap?!)
As Citroen says:  "It would be a terribly dull world if we all liked the same thing." 

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

it's a phase audiophiles go through.
like owning an italian or french car.

would love to hear a pair of these....

I always regret not being able to hear these stats, which Dave Whittaker owned back in the 90s - early 200s.

Beveridge 2s have front-only output, with 'acoustic lens' or 'wave-guide' front loading, providing phase-coherent, cylindrical wavefronts across the room-width.

They had Roger Modjeski OTL tube amps built into the bottom.
Dave was pretty excited by them but unfortunately, electronic problems with Dave's set meant that they spent most of their time non-functional.

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Feb 27, 2019 9:37:24 GMT 12 michaelw said:

it's a phase audiophiles go through.
like owning an italian or french car.

I'm stuck in that phase!😉

But I do miss the THUMP of a good dynamic speaker (which would be useful on the one Metallica album I have, which was gifted to me).

Most of my listening these days is jazz (free/improvised mainly), neoclassical/electronica or indie singer songwriter. I think that my Martin Logan's do these very well.

As I have mentioned here before, I have a pal who has has a VERY audiophile system & it is built around Acoustats.

It is vinyl-only, in a dedicated room with heavily modded DD TT, MC cartridge, linear tracking tonearm, bespoke hand-built preamp & heavily modded EAR tube amps (soon to be replaced by hybrid tube-SS amps).

I have heard this system many times & undoubtedly a stat-based system is alluring & highly satisfying.

As always in this game, it's a case of where your priorities happen to lie - and that can develop & change over time.

Loudspeakers are the least perfect (highest distortion) piece of music-reproduction equipment in your system

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

to get impact and thump from a stat they need to be BIG

celebrity endorsement