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August 30, 2007 - 11:37am
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Quad 12L active vs. Wharfedale 8.2 active
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Hi Bob,
Firstly, I did not know these speakers were "active", which usually means self-amped. Anyway, I'm not directly familiar with these models, but I have been listening to Wharfies for 20 years and currently have Pacific Evo 400's, 100's and an Opus Center in my surround system. The Opus is slightly different than the Pac. Evo's but blends in pretty seamlessly. It is beefier than the Pac. Evo Center and better for my large room (480 sq. ft.) on DVD-A, SACD and movies. When I had a smaller room (140 sq. ft.) my Wharfedale Diamond 7.2's were spectacular and hard to beat in their price range. Those smaller drivers can move quickly on transients. They were best for jazz and acoustic, but could also rock.
A side-by-side comparo with the 57 ESL's and your "cousins" should reveal quite a difference. The ESL QUADs are in a different league and that early model was extremely pure, flat and detailed with less bass and dynamics than the coned QUADS and Wharfs. However, the mid-range was so sweet it practically spoils you for any other speaker once you've spent some time with them. Too bad they were difficult to drive and keep repaired. My roommate and I were always frying panels, even with a custom built triode amp and modded Harmon Kardon Citation IV preamp. Good thing he was an electronics engineer!
I'm 55 and years of concerts and loud music have affected my hearing also. Enjoy while you can. Regards...
Hello, your ears are a year older than mine, and I'll bet in better shape.....
I almost bought a set of ESL 57 years ago, they had no bass and the treble was so so, but as you say the midrange was like no other speaker I had ever heard before. I ended up going with a pair of Magnapan MG-I's, they seemed a little more reliable, and fit my needs better at the time.
I have to say though, I've never heard a speaker more balanced than the Quad 21L & 12L, I'm sure there are many others that are just as flat and neutral, I just haven't heard them. These and the Wharfs are the only ones that have come close to that midrange sound I heard from the ESL's years ago. Some think these are too balanced?? Meaning they have no signiture sound to them whatsoever.
It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it pleases me. They also have the benefit of having better extension at both ends compared to the ESL-57. Have you ever heard the 21L's or the 12L's? I think you mentioned you haven't, but if you ever get a chance to hear them, I think you might be surprised. It might even take you back to the days of the ESL 57. It sure is easier to position them in a small room.
BB
Hi BB, I haven't heard the QUAD conies because I live on the northernmost coastal corner of CA below the Oregon border where high end audio does not exist. People in Crescent City think Bose cubes are the ultimate! There are no places within hundreds of miles to audition good stuff with the exception of Larson's in Medford, OR and sound Advice in Eureka, CA. They carry a mix of Paradigm, Klipsch and Mirage (between the two of them) with some esoteric, but mostly mass-market source components. My buddy Dennis has put together a nice mid-fi system with Onkyo and Paradigm, but when my Wharfs are tuned in with the right discs, they sound a little purer and mucho dynamic.
The reason I started listening to Wharfedales years ago was because they were made by the QUAD parent company and I was so enamored with the 57's, so I figured that they would share some kind of design philosophy anyway. I have not been disappointed considering how little they hit the wallet. My wife would never allow big electrostats in the house, so I was able to sell her on the rosewood cabinets of the Pacifics after she heard how good the little Diamond 7.2's sounded. I was an early adopter of the Pacific Evo line (all my ser. #'s are below #100) and bought them online from an authorized dealer in Georgia- he got in trouble with the factory for that. I got 2 400 towers, 2 100's (instead of the surrounds- for multi-channel music)and the Evo center for $1475 delivered. I love them, but if you check my digital posts they are tragically revealing the inadequacies of my newest acquisition.
I'm new to this forum stuff and I'm running a little long, so goodbye and good listening with your excellent QUADs! Roger
Hi
I am considering these 2 speakers mentioned (Quad 12L and Wharfedale 8.2 active) for desktop nearfield listening - low to mid level volume only. A third one I am considering is the Tannoy Precision 8D. Any comments on this one?
i hope i can be of some help. for the past year i have used a set of quad powered nearfield monitors (11L's) hooked up to a musical fidelity cd-pre24 in my business office. they sound & look great. if i was in my house i would want a little more bass but in an office setting the bass would be disruptive. i could not find tannoys in my area when i bought these bought now that i have them i am thinking about a set of 12's with a sub to replace my speakers in my office at home where bass would not be an issue.
Oncable, Ondonner, Onblitzen,
I've had good luck with both. If you're going to use them in a working office, with different people in & out and also using your desk, I'd use the Wharfedale. It has a black laminate surface that wipes up very easy from cup rings, food stains, whatever. if on the other hand you want a nice gloss black piano finish the Quads are the way to go. Remember the Quads port in the back, and as a result of the two ports in back they had to reduce the size of the heat sinks on the amp. You'll have to also move them out farther from the wall. The Wharfs port in the front and seem to run much cooler. They both seem to share the same amps and drivers. It seems to come down to how much the piano finish is worth to you, or your spouse. The only con I have with the Wharfs, is the same one everyone does. They have without a doubt the worse design for a removeable grill I've ever seen. If you don't take the grills on and off like I do, then this won't matter to you. Hope this helps.
BB