The Quad 2805 Review Part1: The Anticipation

In an earlier post, I went on and on and on (and on) about the tremendous crush I have on the Quad ESL.  I droned on about the history of this hard-to-live-with but highly regarded speaker.  I even went so far as outlining all of its faults and foibles, and how I was able to look past them in my mental fantasy of them and still like the idea of the speaker.

Quad c1960 ... note the lack of man-cave

And I realized like a stormy relationship, it might never work.  And it might never be compatible with our idea that every family member should be part of the fun given it's narrow "sweet spot*" and fragility. I would love to take a test drive someday of the originals, but I think in my heart of hearts, the later version would be the easier one to live with ...

*The so-called sweet spot is the small place, usually making an equilateral triangle with the speakers where you get the best sounding tonal balance and stereo effects.  In some speakers it is large, say the size of a couch, and in some speakers it is teeny tiny as in "hold your head in a vice" small.  Generally professional reviewers make a note of this but it doesn't count for or against a speaker.  In the world of this blog - it's pretty important.  One-person speakers won't cut it.

Before going much further on that subject, I have to give a brief bit of explanation as to why I would even have a wandering eye, and take you back to a rather formative experience at the audio show we went to in April (first audio show, dear?). 
As we were making our way through sweaty, hot, crowded hotel corridors, going into room after room laden with stereos, all seemingly belting out Hotel California, or some forgettable bland female vocalist, we decided to take different rooms if for no other reason than to speed things up in what was turning into a too-long day.  I was going across the hall to ask some inane question about some sort of component whose price tag it turned out was only (barely) affordable to a banker hot with a bailout financed bonus.  Kathy went into a room with two giant panels-as-speakers and what looked for all the life of me like a tube amp of cartoonish proportions - as if Lego's Duplo dabbled in high end audio.  The speaker was called the Leonardo, and as you probably guessed it was from Italy.  When I went into that room to gather Kathy up so we could continue down the rooms in what amounted to a slog, she refused.  She wanted to stay put and told me, in the nicest way you can when you are in a place only half-willingly, but found something really cool - to sit my ass down.

Leonardo Speakers w/Amp by Duplo?

After only about 15 seconds of listening all I could say was wow.  The room was playing some classical music and reasonable volume - and if you closed you eyes, you could make out the placement of instruments across the orchestra - you could pick out instruments there just the way you could in real life in a concert hall of modest proportions.  There was none of the hyperreal zip and zing that so much of the rest of the show had - the kinds of effects and details that impress but in the final analysis fall a lot shorter of what things really sound like - and less spendy setups would sound more natural.  Here were a pair of speakers that seemingly brought it all to the table - realism, detail, and natural sound with a room filling image.

Kathy leaned over to me and whispered ... "The guy said they cost sixty-five.  I know it's a lot, but if we move some money around, and economize a little we might just be able to swing it.  I think these might be it."  Her enthusiasm was easy to hear.  And since Kathy has never ever ever suggested buying anything audio anywhere near this price, let alone at a crowded, cacophonous audio show, it got my attention.  But something was wrong.  Duplo-style amplifiers generally aren't cheap.  I had never heard of these speakers before, either - and they looked very very solid, as in "you can't afford it" solid.  I stood and went to the guy manning the room ...

"Excuse me, how much do these go for?"
"Sixty five."
"Sixty five hundred, or sixty five thousand?"
"Thousand."
"Ok ... thanks..."  I tried, not very well, to contain my shock.  Though I suspect he got a lot of that reaction except at the couple of Bankers at which these were undoubtedly aimed.

Kathy overheard - I could tell because she looked disappointed, and quickly got up and said we had to go now, and we weren't going back into the room again.  Something about it being so far out that it wasn't worth fantasizing about.  I'd expect some comment about needing to win the Lottery, but she uttered nothing as we quickly left the room.

So ... I am trying to figure out what to call this situation?  I really don't know except I am thinking it is an Audiophile Smackdown.  The cost is so high, it takes a small act of will to not be offended.  (I failed, I was offended. Those Leonardos are now dead to me! Even if we win the lottery) But, also, if you get past it, you realize that high end audio electronics is one of the least innovative, slowest moving segments in electronics (a bit like luxury mechanical watches - pretty, yes, the height of an obsolete technology, but innovative it is not), and that can work in the favor of a savvy audiophile of modest means.

So ... you can usually bet that when someone reaches a high water mark at a high price, there is usually a lower priced example that gets most of the performance nailed down for a lot less.  Perhaps decades ago.

The Venerable Quad ESL63:  Started in 1963, released in 1981

Enter Quad.  They have been in the electrostatic/panel business for over 55 years (and in audio since 1936 - 77 years!)- and have seen Johnny come latelies come and go.  Their latest offerings are closely based around a product released in 1981, which itself began development in 1963.  We'll just have to see what Quad brings to the table - While the new versions are in the $8-12k range, there are a ton of used ones from $2-6k, depending upon the model and circumstance from a number of reputable re-builders (you can take your chances at eBay, too for less than this - but you get the idea). 

A note as to price:  The Quads are one of those things that cost a lot of money, but represent a decent value for it.  It feels strange to type that anything, even used, that is north of a couple of kilobucks is a "killer deal" ...  but when you consider the sound and performance of its price peers, and what more expensive speakers bring to the table, the price seems to be a relative value.   And those peers and equals all bring different strengths and weakenesses.  I suppose the nearest speakers that pack similar sorts of value are Magnepan and Martin-Logan - but they are also panel speakers.  I suppose I am seeing a pattern here ...

If it knocked our socks off,  we certainly couldn't buy them, so saving towards them would be the reality for us if we decided they were "must haves." After a wedding, a bunch of unplanned expenses surrounding some home repairs, sick animals and other things cropped up - we're not relishing the idea of any purchases anytime soon. But sometimes an itch just needs to be scratched - and it will either get it out of your system, or allow you to set your sights for later.  Yeah ... we'll go with that one.

After our foray into New York, and buying a new DAC and turntable over the last 18 months, Kathy is pretty well audio-ed out as far as new major purchases (not to mention fiscal reality). Still, she agreed to go to a demo I arranged with a shop in Buffalo to hear an example in the Quad family - provided we also spent time at the Albright-Knox Art Museum which was having a Pop Art exhibit (Andy Warhol, Roy Liechtenstein, etc.) - given I love Pop Art as well, and the rest of the museum is one of the best in North America for Modern Art, it was an easy compromise.  Plus there was the hope that these would give a taste of those wonderful Leonardo's ...

Pop Art, or Kathy's reaction to Brent's Obsession?

The Quad 2805

The ESL63 was in production from 1981 to 1998, and then there was a refresh (ESL988 and 989), making incremental improvements to the panel, protection circuits, and the 989 added an extra panel to improve the bass response, the 988 was simply an updated ESL63. Those saw them through a sale to a holding company "Verity Group" who never gave them the capital investments they needed, and Quad was sold a few years later to a Hong Kong holding company IAG group, who did make a serious investment in Quad, which brought the latest incarnations, the 2805 and 2905 ESL speakers (incremental improvements over the 988 and 989), and also transferred all production into China.  Unlike a lot of such transfers, the build quality, ruggedness and consistency improved a lot in this deal.  R&D is still done in the UK, though.

The Quad 2805 ... looks a lot like the ESL63, huh?

The shop informed us that Quad is no longer imported into the US anymore - the US distributor went bankrupt, rumor has it - and the IAG group is looking to find another distributor.  Given the longevity of the marque and the "blue chip" reputation, it is likely someone else will pick them up - but when, nobody knows.  They had a pair they were happy to let us demo - even though we were up front with them that our purchase horizon if everything went well was 9 or more months out.  (I think it is really really important to be absolutely up front with high end dealers about this sort of thing - and to make sure to darken their doorway when it is convenient for them as well under those circumstances - most are in it for the long haul, but new customers from the next town over are potentially long term ones as well).



I think it is safe to say I was prepared to be impressed, having read over the various reviews in the audiophile press, such as the ones here and here.  I think Kathy was more skeptical. (Going just for the museum, dear)

So we will see in part 2 where we listen to an actual pair! (sigh)