Posted by Lew on October 28, 2003 at 08:17:38:
In Reply to: Thanks, and it sounds like SL's are delicate and finicky. posted by Steven Evanson on October 28, 2003 at 07:52:09:
The reasons for your disparate experiences with the two ESL speaker brands are directly
related to the differences in their design and performance. The Acoustat hasn't been re-
designed for at least a decade, so it has older, thicker, heavier mylar which may in fact be
more durable but does not give quite as transparent a sonic picture. The Acoustat uses a
much lower bias voltage derived from a "wall-wart" and has a closer spacing between
stators and diaphragm, reducing its ability to produce low bass. In addition, the Acoustat
bias voltage cannot be adjusted for changes in humidity, etc. Finally, the Acoustat is a flat
panel, whereas SL stretches the very thin mylar on an arc in a frame. This can stress the
mylar and may indeed induce little holes in it, especially adjacent to the frame itself, in
relation to shipping and handling. Once in place, the mylar settles in and holes do not
occur. For all these reasons, the Acoustat may be less troublesome than an SL, but I think
your experience with your particular set of M3s is also anomalous on the negative side
compared to the average SL owner experience. (I am somewhat shocked to read that your
two speakers are not identical in construction; I am not aware that there are two versions of
the M3 or any M series spkr.) It's quite likely that the situation could be put right by the
factory, and you would then have years of trouble-free performance from the M3s as well.
But it sounds like your mind is made up. Talk to a Quad owner sometime.