| [ My hifi odyssey. From boom boxes to ESL57 ] |
© Frank Jerke. Berlin (Germany). 2002
Frank Jerke is an audiophile and music lover who lives in Berlin. Frank contacted me during the summer of 2002 asking many questions about the Quad ESL57 electrostatic loudspeakers. All along the summer we were writing emails about these wonderful speakers. Frank asked me all the questions he had about them and I share my little knowledge about these gems with him. After many emails going from Barcelona to Berlin, Frank found a pair of ESL57 and after auditioning them he bougth the pair. I asked Frank to write these lines to explain how he started with hi-fi and how he finally found his Audio Nirvana with the Quads. I supose that this story is like yours, like mine. Starting modestly in hi-fi and improving along the years. I think that Frank's experience represents the experience of all of us and so I publish it here as a example of how he has found the Nirvana and how you can find it. Best regards. Ernest Ruiz.
I liked music since I was very little. When I was 14 years I wanted a hifi system for christmas. I spent many days going around with my parents listening to different second hand equipment. With the money I had, I got something loud and impressing. I bought a Technics turntable, a pair of big Canton speakers (that sounded warm, soft and with a lot of low bass), a Kenwood amp and Marantz tuner. That was how I wanted it then: big, loud and with a lots of flashing ligths. My parents had no problems with the size of the system, specially the speakers, and the ligths, but they had with the volume. They soundproved my room immediately.
When I was 19, I had an english girlfriend and so, I stayed in London for nearly a year. I started to play music and that was the reason why I started to see or hear music in a different way. I had quite a lot of time and I bought british hi-fi magazines and after reading them I went to the hi-fi shops to listen to the stuff (I still read hi-fi test in magazines but I don't believe in it anymore, even knowing that some things are still interesting). Then I knew I wanted something neutral and not very expensive. So my final choices were a Mission 1 amp (that was dynamic and clear), a pair of small Kef speakers (dynamic) and a portable Denon cd-player (very good for a portable, indeed). This system was not that loud as my first set-up, but I heard for the first time more details and a kind of natural sound which made me want more. Perhaps then I was infected by the hi-fi bug and I became a hifi addict.
After my second system, came my third based on a Pioneer CD player (a normal CD Player but with pitch control), an Acoustic Research A03 amplifier (detailed and clear, not agressive), a pair of Monitor Audio Monitor 1 speakers (a small speaker with lovely treble and a good bass, for its size. I'm still using a pair with a Creek amp with my second computer) and a Rega Planar 2 turntable (fitted with a Goldring cartridge). This was the best turntable I could afford. It had a natural sound but the problem was that I had a lot of singles and as you know (if you didn't, now you do) it's difficult to change the speed in a Rega because to do that you have to remove the platter and change the belt in the motor pulley manually. Also I bought a Pioneer tape deck (a good tapedeck with 3 heads). With this system everything was more detailed. The amplifier worked very well with the speakers. It was really fun to listen to this system.
As you can see I was completely infected with the hi-fi virus. The system sounded pretty good but I wasn't 100% happy (editor's note: that's hi-fi illness!) but I knew I was in the right direction.
Two years later I though I could got that system which makes me happy for a long time. I didn't believed anymore in naiv tests in hifi newspapers. As always I went to different shops and I listened to the sellers and what they had to offer. Finally, I stayed with the two I thought I could trust. I must have got them on their nervs because before buying I took lots of equipment with me at home where I tested them with my favorite songs in different variants until I was satisfied (this is the best you can do!). I listened lots of speakers and few were good, but also too expensive. I enjoyed a lot with the Quad ESL63 (a speaker with an unspectacular natural sound, but not as clear as the ESL57. Then I didn't know the ESL57. In that times I could bought them used for only 300-400€). I also liked the Celestion SL600 that were dynamically good with lots of details, a nice soundstage but a touch of plastic sound. I thought I could hear the material they were made of. These two speakers impressed me but voice reproduction and the money made me buy the Harbeth LS3/5. The Harbeth LS 3/5+Rogers LS 3/5a had a natural sound, with detail, a good soundstage and nice voice reproduction abilities. They gave me that magic touch what I'm always looking for. My choices for amplification were a Nytech preamp/power amp combo and a Naim Nait 2 power amplifier (both warm, detailed and musical amps). The turntable still was the Rega Planar 2 (a compliment to it. It grew with my sytem, but I still got not used to changing the speed removing the platter) and the CD still was the portable Denon CD player I bought when I was living London (I wasn't very interested in CD sound at that time and the Denon did his job very well giving a warm sound).
That system made me happy and it still does. Maybe not enough bass for everyone, but lots of details, natural sound and a nice soundstage. A good system for a relaxed session listening jazz, classic and pop. As you can see my ears grew with this system.
So we arrive to 2002. I had time to surf the internet visiting some interesting hifi-links like http://www.audio-nirvana.com, http://www.audioreview.com and http://partner.consumerreview.com/Excite/categories/. Also I visited forums in my country and England. I put special interest in reviews of equipment not being manufactured at that time just to be sure that the reviews were not written by dealers and because I could got that equipment secondhand for a good price. After reading lots of reviews I thought that I would like the following speakers and I checked them in order to choose a pair: Tandberg Studio Monitor (for 300 € I got a sweet, neutral, huge monitor with dry deep bass, good middle and perfect with hihats. I use it to check up my mixes basswise), Ohmwelsh 5 (haven't found or heard one), Celestion SL600 or Kingston (haven't found a cheap pair) and Quad ESL57 (only 550€ used, but a few things to do on them).
Finally I have bought the Quad ESL57. While searching information about the Quad ESL57 I have contacted a lot of people. The most helpful and competent have been Ernest Ruiz, Christian Steingruber and Sheldon Strokes. I guess they have had a hard time with me because I have done millions of questions. I still don't know enough of these speakers. But it is worth 'cause the ESL57 are lovely. I still like the BBC LS3/5 touch, but the Quad makes, in my opinion, everything better. The instruments sound like they should, voices sound so natural and the soudstage is excelent. But most of all they had that magic touch which I can't define. Already with my small sweet Naim2 these loudspeakers are amazing. I'm curious what a nice tube amp can do with my ESL. If you don't care about giving your loudspeaker attention sometime when they ask for it and you like the sound similar to the recording, then this is your speaker. Maybe there are others but not in this price range. Like with everything, it is not for everyone . Hard rock or techno parties are not the best thing for the Quads. If you have the chance to listen to one pair of this excellent speakers, hurry, do it !
In my opinion the speakers are the most important part in a hi-fi system. To build a system I would find speakers I really like and build my system around them. After the speakers I would find and amplifier suitable for them. Then a CD player or a turntable for my needs. I would spend nearly half of the attention or money for the right pair of speakers.
Some final advice. If you're looking for advice about hi-fi and you know anyone honest with a lot of knowledge of hifi and willing to help, like Ernest who helped me a lot with the Quad ESL57, then don't be scared and ask him. (Ernest, I hope I don't give you too much work right now !). I think it is not that easy to find honest people (at least in Berlin) who don't want to convince you that their stuff is the best. If you listen to hifi equipment, listen carefully and let your ears judge. Often it is difficult to be honest with yourself. We try to convince ourselves: That beautiful thing does sound better ,doesn't it?? I have had always my family helping me, showing me the light, warning me not to change the components in the dark. That was often funny with lots of long discussions, but it was worth doing it. Sometimes I find it difficult to find the right stuff for my sound, my music, my money and my room, but I take my time and listen to everything. So thanks again to people like Ernest, my family and my ears which helped me through my odyssey. In this moment I don't feel the need anymore to look for something else. I guess I'm happy with my stuff and that for a long, long time.
Now I'm enjoying with these components:
Over all that hifi stuff I don't forget about the music. There is so much beautiful music from all over the world which needs to be explored. I used to be a DJ for a long time and I have lots of records, believe me. And as more music I know I realize that there is also so much more to be explored. In the moment I listen to Hawaian, jazz, classic and dub music. Good mix! What do you think? I recommend to you to go around with open eyes and ears and you will find nearly in every kind of music or art things you like. I know sometimes it's difficult to find them, but it's worth looking for. The same applies to hi-fi components.
If you have any questions regarding this text, please contact: Frank Jerke.
Best wishes from Berlin
Frank Jerke
Ps. Future dreams:
Let's see what father christmas brings this year! ;-)