Why ESL?

[Masterlu]

GT in OZ... Welcome!

[GaryProtein]

Originally Posted by Gordon

.
. . . .I'd be interested in hearing why some of you chose ESL's over cones and domes.

Gordon

There's nothing like a ribbon. Period.

[GaryProtein]

Originally Posted by bakerman

That rug really ties the room together...

Looks like a lot of Photoshop was was done here.

It certainly looks that way. It also seems like that room is way too big for those speakers.

[MtnHam]

In my 50+ year quest for great sound, I have owned many different speakers, and have come to understand my preference for planars. Quads were my intro which led me to Magnaplanars and Martin Logans. About 10 years ago I decided I was really ready for the "best" and did extensive research and auditioning. Reading online I discovered, to my surprise, many experienced planar lovers preferred a brand I had never heard nor seen- Sound Lab. Since then, I have owned 4 different pair of Sound Lab ESL panels, each bigger and better than the last. IMHO, there is NOTHING finer! A single driver that delivers full rich natural timbre down to 24hz without the need (and problems) of a multiple drivers, crossovers, or a subwoofer.

Yes, they are huge and need to sit out in the room, and the WAF is poor. Yes, they are extremely revealing and thus need a great source, top notch electronics and a powerful amp. But the result (when done right) exceeds anything else I have experienced. Like being in the concert hall, the sound is glorious no matter where in the room you are located, or even in the next room as my wife prefers. No beaming, no off axis fall-off. No limited dynamics.

I do not understand why Sound Labs are so under appreciated on this forum. If any AA member would like to visit my home and experience what great ELS's deliver, please PM me.

[A.Wayne]

Originally Posted by GaryProtein

There's nothing like a ribbon. Period.

I myself prefer first place ribbons to second or third place ribbons ...

[A.Wayne]

Originally Posted by MtnHam

In my 50+ year quest for great sound, I have owned many different speakers, and have come to understand my preference for planars. Quads were my intro which led me to Magnaplanars and Martin Logans. About 10 years ago I decided I was really ready for the "best" and did extensive research and auditioning. Reading online I discovered, to my surprise, many experienced planar lovers preferred a brand I had never heard nor seen- Sound Lab. Since then, I have owned 4 different pair of Sound Lab ESL panels, each bigger and better than the last. IMHO, there is NOTHING finer! A single driver that delivers full rich natural timbre down to 24hz without the need (and problems) of a multiple drivers, crossovers, or a subwoofer.

Yes, they are huge and need to sit out in the room, and the WAF is poor. Yes, they are extremely revealing and thus need a great source, top notch electronics and a powerful amp. But the result (when done right) exceeds anything else I have experienced. Like being in the concert hall, the sound is glorious no matter where in the room you are located, or even in the next room as my wife prefers. No beaming, no off axis fall-off. No limited dynamics.

I do not understand why Sound Labs are so under appreciated on this forum. If any AA member would like to visit my home and experience what great ELS's deliver, please PM me.

I heard SL 's for the first time 30 yrs ago and have always thought them and acoustats to be the best of the genre .

Never did hear the Beveridge , they were also highly rated ...

Regards ...

[asindc]

The first time I heard music through Martin Logans, a pair of Claritys in the same room as the Vienna Acoustics I was there to audition, I was hooked. In comparison, all but the very best box speakers sound as if the music is trying to escape the box! I love the sound of MBLs for essentially the same reasons.

[josh358]

Originally Posted by MtnHam

I do not understand why Sound Labs are so under appreciated on this forum. If any AA member would like to visit my home and experience what great ELS's deliver, please PM me.

I could be wrong, but the sense I have is that the Sound Labs are widely considered above and beyond, but out of reach for most because of size and expense.

[asindc]

Originally Posted by josh358

I could be wrong, but the sense I have is that the Sound Labs are widely considered above and beyond, but out of reach for most because of size and expense.

Yep, that's it.

[Toccata]

I just love the lack of coloration, detail, and utter realism of ESLs--they simply disappear and leave you the music. I have yet to hear a pair of "box" speakers that offers those traits to such a degree as ESLs. They may be out there, but the price is probably prohibitive! Now, box speakers may play louder/offer more "slam" and often sound better for amplified/electronic music (rock, metal, blues), so part of you choice may come down to your musical preference, too.