jasee wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> jasee wrote:
>>> "Dave Plowman (News)" <dave@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
>>> news:50750c013edave@davenoise.co.uk...
>>>> In article <eoidnfkKspGxQdDXnZ2dnUVZ8lWdnZ2d@bt.com>,
>>>> jasee <jasee@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>>> I can't remember being particularly impressed with the original
>>>>> quad electrostatics particularly with full orchestras and organs,
>>>>> as in certain organ concertos, really almost disappeared. I really
>>>>> couldn't see what the fuss was about. And I remember the quad 405
>>>>> amplifier I bought becoming so noisy that I sent it back.
>>>> You're a few years apart. The original '57 would have been driven
>>>> with Quad II valve amps. Or even just one. The first Quad
>>>> transistor amp was the 303. Early 405s used a poor op amp which was
>>>> changed for a better one shortly after introduction.
>>>>
>>>> The original '57 was very room sensitive. Was your room approaching
>>>> a cube? The bass output seemed to disappear in those. Worked best
>>>> in a long room with the speakers across the narrow wall. Of course
>>>> it only went down to about 40 Hz in the best of circumstances. And
>>>> the lack of resonances made it appear bass light compared to a
>>>> honky cabinet speaker.
>>> I borrowed the quads for about a couple of weeks in London and they
>>> were with valve amps and yes the room was more of less square and
>>> the particular organ had a low 32cycle (IIRC) note which you simply
>>> couldn't hear at all. The 405 I bought myself later but changed for
>>> a Raford transistor amp which was simply worlds better. Never did
>>> like valves anyway.
>> The Radford WAS good, from distant hazy memory.
>>
>> These days, with FET outputs and as long as you are prepared fr an amp
>> that runs fairly hot, you can beat bipolars hands down really, and
>> knock valves into the middle of the last century, where they belong
>> ;-)
>
> Quite right!
>
>> But there is no incentive to do that. People Want Valves, and a tranny
>> amp handbuilt and tuned costing £700 is simply not there marketing
>> wise when it come to the pure red glow of a few EL34's..
>>
>> I liked the ELS for classical at modest volume, but they were hopeless
>> for jazz or rock. My favorites were horns..good horns, with either
>> bass reflex for the bottom, or infinite baffle. Never did build any
>> concrete bass horns..
>
> Transmission lines were the answer, Radford built a good one as did IMF
> (IIRC), but there were lots of homemade designs.
>
>
Not for rock they weren't.

Too much dealy in em. Bass drums and guitar sounded crap...