ER Audio Review Of Custom ER Audio ESL IV Electrostatic Speakers

[BruceS]

I have just received my custom ER Audio ESL IV electrostatic speakers. As in I received them yesterday morning.

Here is a cut down version of the fuller review which I have sent to Rob at ER Audio.

On the ER Audio site there was a guy named Gary who was constructing custom cabinets for Rob's electrostat panels. Here’s the link: http://www.eraudio.com.au/DIY_Speaker_Kits/ESL_IV_Kit/Gary_s_ESL_IV/gary_s_esl_iv.html.

I contacted Rob and Gary to get some customised ESL IV speakers in gloss IRIDESCENT ELECTRIC BLUE.

No problems.

I was next in the queue after the order for the overseas customer and I received my speakers yesterday.

They look and sound a treat.

I sent Gary an email this morning giving my impressions, this is part of what I said.

Hi Gary

I am in the middle of my third listening session.

I am through with my special ‘test’ tracks and am now listening to favourites!

Wow!

My expectations are exceeded!

Great!

I am expecting things to get even better as the speakers run in!

Then things will get even better again when I get my Sugden amp and am able to used balanced cables.

Lots to look forward for.

As I reflect on the sound improvement here are some thoughts.

The mid-range is great.

I guess that is why I use acapella music to test out speakers.

It is like there is even more mid-range!

There is no doubt in my mind that the mid-range is way better than on my spectra 22s.

I am able to, as it were, dig down deeper into the recordings.

I am able to hear the individual singers voices much better than before.

The highs are good - think they are a bit better than on my spectra 22s.

The speakers don’t seem as directional as my spectra 22s.

I moved them further away from the wall, maybe 6 inches, but did not notice any difference.

You can see the tape on the floor in the pictures.

Up until now I had never heard a speaker better than my spectra 22s.

And, I think that I have heard every electrostatic except the Janszens and the SoundLabs,

As well as ultra-expensive horns and actives and everything between.

I take my acapella ‘test’ CDs to the HiFi shows and I am always amazed at how poorly some of the big name ultra expensive speakers sound!!

Still remember how I asked the guy running the ’H’ room (with his $25K+ big name super well reviewed speakers) if he could play a track.

He was utterly embarrassed as he returned the CD after playing my track!

I have never, ever heard anything better than your speakers!!!

I am not a sound stage guy but these speakers do a great sound stage!

Base wise I think they are on a par with my spectra 22s but would expect the base to improve as they run in.

As I am listening now I continue to be amazed at the clarity and detail of tracks that I have heard a hundred times.

It is almost as though I had previously been listening with ‘waxy ears’ and now the wax has been washed out!

Or, as they say, a veil has been removed,

Bit of a cliche but it is true.

I feel that the speakers just fit my music room perfectly!

A little smaller than the spectra 22s but that is not a problem.

And!!!

So much more beautiful!!

I am enclosing a few pictures.

Hope you like them. …

Ahh the detail!

Big thanks to you and Rob for providing me with some beautiful speakers.

Beautiful in both sound and looks!

Thanks again.

Cheers

Bruce

Here is the reality, the pictures and my descriptions don’t really do the speakers proper justice! But they do give a starting point!

Hope people find this helpful.

Bruce

 

I am sure that in due course Rob from ER Audio will post my full review on his site.

Here is the link to ER Audio: http://www.eraudio.com.au/index.html

Meanwhile I hope to draw some attention to this wonderful product and share some of my joy with my fellow audiophiles.

Here are some pictures

First one speaker in my music room.

Then a speaker without the grill cloth at Gary's house.

Thirdly both speakers in my music room.

 

 

[Steve M]

Nice project and good review @BruceS …the finished speaker looks really pro.

 

I am a big fan of the ER Audio products, their electrostatic speakers sound super fast and hyper detailed - above all others, in my experience. This is due to the thin 3.4 micron membranes, proprietary conductive coating and panel charging arrangement.

 

You need to build this Transmission Line subwoofer for them next. It’s the best of a dozen I have built over the years, for electrostatic spkr matching.

http://www.quadesl.com/diy_esl1.shtml

http://www.quadesl.com/speaker/diyesl/tl_cad.pdf

 

Cheers,

 

Steve.

 

Edited August 19, 2021 by Steve M

[BruceS]

Thanks for your comments Steve.

I think that we are on the same page regarding ER Audio electrostats.

Concerning the sub information,

I have filed the links away.

Thanks.

Will say that I have two (sealed) ML Dynamo subs,

But the thing is that I rarely turn them on!

Tried using the crossover built into the spectra 22s and also the crossover on the Dynamos and did not like either.

When I actually us them I just run them in parallel.

Just a question - do you own ER Audio electrostats?

Bruce

[TS23]

Hi Bruce

 

I think the answer to your question of Steve is "Yes, among many, many other wonderful speakers".

 

SteveM Audio System (stevem1960.blogspot.com)

 

About 3/4 of the way down the page your will find his comments on the ER Audio ESL-3.

 

Cheers

 

B

[Grant Slack]

On 18/08/2021 at 10:55 PM, BruceS said:

The mid-range is great.

I guess that is why I use acapella music to test out speakers.

It is like there is even more mid-range!

There is no doubt in my mind that the mid-range is way better than on my spectra 22s.

 

Hi Bruce,

 

This sort of comment never impresses me. It is a sure sign that the speaker lacks spectral balance. That’s why you will see people saying the ESL4 midrange still can’t match a Quad 57 — which is even more unbalanced in favour of midrange.

 

However, it’s great to see some promotion of the local exotica!

 

cheers

Grant

Edited August 22, 2021 by Grant Slack

[BruceS]

Hi Brynderwyn

Thanks for the SteveM link.

No doubt about it Steve has an incredible big picture knowledge of everything audio related!

Small picture as well!!

It seems that there is very little that he does not know and has not seen!!!

It also clear that he loves the ER Audio ESL III,

He just keeps coming back to it!

Maybe four or five times, maybe more!

No doubt about it that he loves electrostats also.

On top of that he loves the midrange.

He says: I've been a firm believer that realistic music reproduction in the home centers around a good midrange. If your loudspeaker is able to do the human voice very well, then the rest of it will fall into place in my experience. If the human voice is muddled (even to the smallest degree) then everything will tend to sound not quite coherent.

He makes it clear that he, like all of us, has his own set of 'what is important' criteria.

That is something that differentiates audiophiles - our differing criteria.

I guess that I am coming from a similar position to Steve and that is ultimately why I love electrostats.

I remember a Melbourne HiFi show a number of years back.

I had just come out from a number of 'poor mid range' rooms and walked into the Lenehan room and had got talking to Mr Lenehan himself. During the course of our conversation he made a remark that stuck in my mind and explained everything, 'It is very difficult to do a good mid range.'

Along the way Steve pointed out that he really likes Gales.

I had the wooden Gales (not the chrome end ones) before I purchased my spectra 22s.

A very nice speaker.

Will make a couple of additional comments.

I noticed how my Quad 606 amplifier got pretty hot running my spectra 22s.

Now, with the ESL IVs it barely gets warm!

I had been told that it presents the amplifier with a very easy load.

I have tried putting the speakers a lot further away from the back wall and this really helps.

One last thing, which makes me a little sad.

There is Rob, over in WA with ER Audio, a leading edge world class audio manufacturer, not to mention a lovely guy and he does not seem to get a lot of credit or attention.

When was the last time he or ER Audio was mentioned here, or on the Planar Circle, or on the Planar Asylum????

Well, that is the end of my ramblings.

Thanks again for answering my question and drawing my (& our) attention to Steve's blog.

Appreciated.

Bruce

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Steve M]

Nice write up @BruceS …and I would clarify that I am not exclusively an electrostatic loudspeaker user and feel that a well implemented conventional speaker can be just as good and advantageous, in terms of macro dynamics that a louder playing speaker can do over a quieter one.

 

I can understand your rapture over the ER Audio electrostatic panels - they probably exhibit the lowest levels of distortion of any loudspeaker technology, at the micro dynamic level. I think Grant’s @Grant Slack comments about ‘spectral decay’ has merit and applies to all loudspeakers, more so to box speakers than electrostatics in my experience. About 70-80% of box speakers muck this aspect up, you hear it as a muddling of the soundstage, a lack of sweetness, no ebb and flow and lack of micro shifts in the music ….overall you can make less sense of the timing in the musical performance as the players intended.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

 

 

.

Edited August 24, 2021 by Steve M

[tesla13BMW]

Hi Bruce

 

Good to see these.  I have the panels and am in final stages of building the frames -it has been a long road so farand probably a few months still to complete

 

I am anxious to see how these compare to my stacked ESL57's :-) At least there will be two less monoblocks required.  There is a Pass F5 and Pass F5T V2 on the horizon to run them off (most parts acquired except the expensive bits - transformers and enclosures).

 

My wife loves the curve and the blue, "better than square fronts" she said.  Then i told her they are the panels I'm building frames for.  She couldn't get her foot out of her mouth fast enough knowing how many hours I'm in on the frames!

 

Cheers, Chris.

 

P.S.  Also have a pair of the 505 panels to do something with at some stage - probably on top of a 12" open baffle woofer.

[BruceS]

Thanks for your kind words and informative comments Steve.

Will say that it is not being an electrostat that makes the difference,

But, as it were, a strong performer that makes the difference.

I remember a HiFi show many many years ago,

There was a locally produced electrostat which struck me as very ordinary.

I guess what made me really enthuse about the ER Audio ESL IV,

Apart from, what is to me at least, were the great looks!!,

Was the 'surprise factor'.

I expected them to sound better than my spectra 22s,

But not that much better!!!

Not substantially better.

I thought that I was already pretty close to as good as it gets!

I had expected a fairly minor all around improvement but I was shocked by the level of improvement!

Another aspect about electrostats is the lack of a box.

When I went to a Melbourne HiFi dealer about fifteen years ago to have a demo of a preamp.

I arrived on time but the owner was busy with another customer, so he said to me, "Bruce, I am a bit held up, help yourself, listen to anything that you want."

I took the guy at his word and listened to all of his expensive speakers as well as the preamp which I had gone to listen too.

I had at least an hour on my hands, maybe more.

When the owner (George) came back he asked me what I thought.

I told him that I was shocked that all of these ultra expensive speakers just did not sound right.

He replied, "Bruce, you were listening to the box!"

I think what most appeals to me about electrostats is the ultra low distortion and the lack of box colouration.

Thanks for sharing with me (& us!!) your knowledge, experience and wisdom.

Much appreciated.

Bruce

 

 

[BruceS]

Hi Chris

You are in for a treat!

I would be shocked if they don't sound very substantially better than the Quads.

And, they are going to look a whole world better.

I think that your wife is going to be really pleased!

If you decide to do a paint finish they need to be polished and polished and polished again - then maybe again as well after the painting.

My paint was a two pack epoxy done by a professional painter.

But it will be all worth it.

I believe that Gary who made the frames for me spent a lot of time getting the looks (what he calls the WAF) just right.

I assume that the Pass is a class A.

I have a blue Sugden class A on order,

I believe that these speakers really shine with class A.

I am expecting a further sound improvement when it arrives.

Rob's 505 panels appear to be pretty good - they go down to 150hz.

Could make a nice centre channel speaker (plus sub) if you are that way inclined.

Hope you will keep us informed on your progress.

Bruce

 

[tesla13BMW]

Hello Bruce

 

I will be keeping wood finish - stained a light mahogany i.e. touch of red.

 

The Pass F5 is 25W Class A per channel.  the Pass F5T will be built to 50W Class A per channel.  I don't think either will be good in Brisbane Summer

 

But, I do have a pair of Plinius 100W monoblocks that could come back into service (MA102 - these were the forerunner to the SA100).  At least they are selectable to how much class A and therefore how hot they run.

 

not sure if the Earle Weston Troubadour will be up to the task. 

 

Re. your comment to Steve about listening to the box. I am working towards a three way active open baffle.  8 channel DAC is done and crossovers performed in an Intel NUC.  I have everything for a pair of 3 channel amps (ESP101 one high power and two lower power) and the mid and tweeter drivers.  But, the wife stepped in and said I can't work on concurrent projects - finish the speakers first! Can't blame her really :-)

[BruceS]

Just noticed that my fuller review of the ESL IVs is now up on the ER Audio website.

Here is the link: http://www.eraudio.com.au/DIY_Speaker_Kits/ESL_IV_Kit/Bruce_s_ESL_IV_s/bruce_s_esl_iv_s.html

Also the New Zealand customer has his review posted as well.

It is well worth while giving the whole website a thorough perusal.

Bruce 

[BruceS]

I have received a question regarding the size of the speakers.

Here are the sizes:

Height, 146 cm, 4.8 feet;

Width, 53.5 cm, 1.8 feet;

Depth, 38.8 cm, 1.3 feet.

Someone told me that the pictures are slightly difficult to get scale from.

I have also added a side on picture.

Hope people find this helpful.

Bruce