MERIDIAN AUDIO ESL-2812, ESL-2912 data

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PRESS RELEASE

November 2012

Press Contacts

Tim Bowern [e-mail]

Murdo Mathewson [e-mail]

Above: Quad ESL-2912 (left) and ESL-2812 (right)

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REFINING A CLASSIC: QUAD ESL EVOLVES

Quad painstakingly improves one of the most lauded loudspeaker designs of all time to
create the ESL-2812 and ESL-2912 – the companyʼs best electrostatic speakers yet

Cambridgeshire, England -- When Quadʼs founder, Peter Walker, gave full-range electrostatic loudspeaker

technology to the world with the original ESL in the 1950s, he single-handedly smashed preconceptions of

what a hi-fi loudspeaker could sound like. Since then, this legendary British audio brand has continued to

refine Walkerʼs design through successive generations, maintaining an enviable position as maker of one of

the most distinctive speakers ever devised, one that is loved, respected and admired throughout the world.

Indeed, many audio critics and hi-fi aficionados refer to the Quad ESL as the greatest hi-fi product of all time.

Quad does not update its ESL speakers very often. The last change came in 2005, with the ESL-2805 and

ESL-2905 (the last two digits in the name indicate the year of launch). These speakers represented the most

significant evolution for years, sporting a number of technological improvements that brought universal

[phone]

www.quad-hifi.co.uk

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critical acclaim. Their greatest sonic asset remained their extraordinary midrange – the most critical part of

the frequency spectrum for music reproduction – demonstrating the effortless clarity, dexterity and openness

that many critics believe is still unmatched.

Now, in 2012, comes the next phase in the ESLʼs continuing evolution. The ESL-2812 and ESL-2912 are the

best electrostatic speakers Quad has ever made, improving upon their predecessors with numerous

refinements that will delight those who already know the companyʼs ESL designs, and astound those who

are discovering them for the first time.

Quad ESL – the original electrostatic speaker

The difference between an electrostatic ʻpanelʼ speaker and the more common dynamic driver type is the

use of an ultra-thin, electrically charged diaphragm, suspended in an electrostatic field to generate

movement and thus sound waves (as opposed to woofer cones and tweeter domes, moved back and forth
by a coil in a magnetic field). The diaphragm in Quadʼs ESL speakers is made from a layer of stretched

Mylar, ten times thinner than a human hair and so light that it approaches the mass of air to which it is

coupled. As a result, there is no inertia inherent in the speakerʼs moving parts and the diaphragm is able to

respond to musical detail and transients with extreme precision.

Quad ESL speakers are among the very few that can reproduce a 1kHz squarewave precisely and cleanly.

To achieve this, they use a system of highly charged ʻstatorʼ elements either side of the diaphragm, coupled

to a power supply that produces the necessary 5kV of EHT (Extra High Tension) charge that controls the

diaphragm. How this extremely high voltage charge is produced and consistently maintained at the

diaphragm to stator interface is the key to the ultra-low distortion of the Quad ESLʼs sound.

Like the outgoing ESL-2805 and ESL-2905, the latest ESLs incorporate multiple electrostatic panels – four in

the ESL-2812 and six in the larger ESL-2912. The two inner panels utilise concentric rings of electrodes to

deliver pinpoint imaging from an ideal point source – a unique Quad innovation that ensures all listeners

perceive accurate stereo imagery. All the panels are held within a high-mass structure of tensioned

aluminium extrusions coupled to stainless steel supports, ensuring optimal transmission of sound energy and

a supremely accurate transient performance.

Improving an all-time classic

The ESL-2805 and ESL-2905 were already great speakers, yet the challenge presented to Quadʼs engineers

was to make them better still, enhancing both performance and aesthetics whilst remaining true to Quadʼs

ESL legacy. They began by improving the power supply for EHT voltage, eliminating ʻcreepageʼ (the

possibility of charge flowing between components on the circuit board) by developing a new two-layer PCB

with 2oz copper, which ensures optimum insulation and distance between contacts and a symmetrical layout

for the components. This new layout also facilitates an improvement in cable dressing, again reducing the

effects of creepage, particularly in high-humidity environments.

New components have been introduced to the power supply, including Vishay metal film resistors and

Murata audio-grade capacitors. Although not directly affecting the signal path, these components have a

significant effect on the consistency of the EHT supply and therefore signal purity when reproducing music.

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Attention has also been paid to the stators themselves. Each stator consists of a layer of copper on a thin,

insulating backing, which is punched with a pattern of holes to make it sonically transparent. The copper is

etched to provide the conductive pattern necessary to re-create the point source attributes of the Quad ESL.

After etching, the copper needs to be insulated from the diaphragm, which will lie in close proximity to it.

In the ESL-2812 and ESL-2912, the insulation material is applied in three coats using a special spraying

technique, perfected to avoid degradation of the EHT charge under high dynamic conditions where the

diaphragm comes into close contact with the stator. These latest versions of the Quad ESL can thus play

louder and handle more power than previous models.

Even so, as with any loudspeaker, it is possible to overdrive the new Quad ESLs. In cases where ultra-high

output power amplifiers are used, power protection will come into play. As soon as overdriving is detected

(by a momentary collapse of the EHT level or through arc detection) the speaker is temporarily muted and

the illuminated Quad logo will flash. In this way, the user is instantly alerted to the overdrive state and can

reduce the volume level.

Distortion from the ESL-2812 and ESL-2912 is so low that if the power protection circuit were not present,

listeners would often be unaware of the extremely high sound pressure levels that these speakers can

generate. For a conventional speaker, the rapidly increasing distortion at higher power levels is an obvious

indicator that the hi-fi system is playing very loudly. With the ESLs, no such distortion makes itself known, as

the speakers will play cleanly up to their maximum potential. By providing visual indication of the overload

condition, the user will immediately know that the system is being played beyond its dynamic capability.

A number of external improvements serve to further enhance the sonic performance and aesthetic

appearance of the new ESLs, both of which are slightly taller, narrower and less deep than their

predecessors. A new net cloth has been specified to cover the elements, delivering superior audio

transparency in addition to a smarter, cleaner look. The underlying grille support sports newly designed

strengthening ribs, reducing the possibility of resonance and ensuring the grille cloth remains under tension

without overstretching.

Matching wood-veneered panels now adorn the top of the speakers and the sides of their substantial bases,

formed from high-density plywood to further damp frame resonances and smothered in layers of piano

lacquer. The shielding cover on the base is embossed with the Quad logo and all typography is now in gold

lacquer paint; the gold-plated cable terminals, corresponding PCBs and wiring have also been enhanced.

Price and availability

As a result of these refinements, the Quad ESL – ever a tour-de-force in the world of hi-fi loudspeakers – has

reached its pinnacle. The ESL-2812 and ESL-2912 can play louder and handle more power than their

predecessors, are more pleasing to the eye, and deliver even greater sonic clarity. Both speakers are

available from November, with an SRP of £6,499.95 per pair and £7,999.95 per pair respectively.

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Specifications

Quad ESL-2812

Quad ESL-2912

Format

Floorstanding dipole with 3° fixed tilt

Floorstanding dipole with 3° fixed tilt

Type

Multiple electrostatic drive membranes

Multiple electrostatic drive membranes

Time Delay

Progressive concentric rings

Progressive concentric rings

Chassis Structure

Heavy-duty composite aluminium/steel

Heavy-duty composite aluminium/steel

Panel Elements

4

6

Maximum Output

2 N/m2 at 2m on axis

2 N/m2 at 2m on axis

Sensitivity

1.5 mbar per volt referred to 1m
(86dB/2,83V rms equivalent)

1.5 mbar per volt referred to 1m
(86dB/2,83V rms equivalent)

Nominal Impedance

8 Ohms

8 Ohms

Impedance Variation

4 - 15 Ohms

4 - 20 Ohms

Maximum Input

Continuous input voltage (rms): 10V
Programme peak for undistorted output: 40V
Permitted peak input: 55V

Continuous input voltage (rms): 10V
Programme peak for undistorted output: 40V
Permitted peak input: 55V

Frequency Response

37Hz - 21kHz (-6dB)
33Hz - 23kHz (usable)

32Hz - 21kHz (-6dB)
28Hz - 23kHz (usable)

Distortion (100dB@1m)

Above 1000Hz: <0.15%
Above 100Hz: <0.5
Above 50Hz: <1.0%

Above 1000Hz: <0.15%
Above 100Hz: <0.5%
Above 50Hz: <1.0%

Power Consumption

6W

6W

Dimensions (HxWxD)

1070x690x380mm

1470x690x380mm

Net Weight

35kg

44kg

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Of all the British high-end hi-fi brands, Quad boasts the longest and most distinguished history. The company has been

at the cutting edge of audio since 1936, continually pushing back the boundaries of performance with technologies both

new and established. In 1953, the Quad II valve amplifier was launched, setting new standards for audio amplification,

and three years later Quad invented the first full-range electrostatic speaker – later known as the legendary ESL 57.

Throughout the ensuing years, Quad products have continued to win worldwide acclaim, building a reputation for

excellence that bears comparison with the most distinguished brands in any field. Quad has been part of the International

Audio Group (IAG) since 1998, following its acquisition from the Verity Group (alongside Wharfedale). The companyʼs

design and technical support teams and much-admired servicing department continue to be based in Cambridgeshire,

England, supported by key personnel who have worked with Quad for decades.

IAGʼs exceptional resources and unrivalled audio manufacturing facilities ensure that Quadʼs current range boasts many

award-winning products, including the latest generation of ESL electrostatic speakers, class-leading valve amplifiers,

dynamic ʻboxʼ speakers and a range of solid-state audio electronics that fuse high-end performance with innovative

connectivity. 76 years after its formation, Quad continues to be driven by the philosophy of its founder, Peter Walker, to

produce “the closest approach to the original sound”.

www.quad-hifi.co.uk

IAG (International Audio Group) is a manufacturer of audio equipment for domestic and professional use, plus

professional lighting systems and luxury yachts. With its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Asia and offices

(including R&D) in the UK and North America, IAG is a manufacturer with a truly global reach.

IAGʼs audio business employs more than 2,000 people worldwide. Its factory complex in Shenzhen, China, is one of the

largest custom-designed consumer electronics manufacturing facilities in the world and benefits from an exceptional level

of vertical integration, with all component parts – even the tooling – made in-house. The Groupʼs domestic audio brands

– Audiolab, Castle Acoustics, Luxman, Mission, Quad and Wharfedale – all enjoy a worldwide reputation for excellence,

with illustrious histories that stretch back decades. Top-class British audio engineering remains critical to these brands,

with world-renowned designer Peter Comeau leading an acoustic design team brimming with international talent.

The combination of rich brand heritage, purpose-built production facilities in China and experienced audio engineers from

around the globe makes IAG a unique proposition in the world of consumer electronics.

www.iaguk.com

For more information, product samples and high-resolution images, please contact Tim Bowern or Murdo Mathewson

Tim Bowern T: 020 8654 8945 M: 07854 966071 E: [e-mail]

Murdo Mathewson M: 07960 018147 E: [e-mail]