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ESL-988 & ESL-989

Electrostatic Loudspeakers
Instruction Manual

CONTENTS
IMPORTANT NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
PACKING LIST AND UNPACKING THE EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
GUARANTEE AND PRODUCT REGISTRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
ACCESSORIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
CARE AND MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
CONNECTION PANEL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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IMPORTANT NOTES
European Union Directives
Quad equipment is designed to comply with the legal provisions of EU Directives
89/336/EC and 72/23/EEC. The standards which have been applied were those in
force at the time of the introduction of the product.

The product bears the CE mark:

Compliance cannot guarantee perfect performance. In the very rare circumstance

that you experience problems you should first try to locate and remedy the origin of
any disturbance. A further option is to relocate the Quad equipment in order to
reduce the interference. Your dealer should be able to provide assistance if the
problem persists.

FCC Rule 15 Class B

This equipment has been tested and complies with the limits for a Class B device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by
one or more of the following measures:
Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna
Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a mains circuit different to that
to which the receiver is attached
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help
This Class B apparatus meets all the requirements of the Canadian Interference
Causing Equipment Regulations.

Information to the user

Alteration or modifications carried out without appropriate authorisation may
invalidate the users right to operate the equipment.
It is always good practice to switch off equipment before connecting or disconnecting
signal leads. This will prevent unpleasant and loud noises coming from the
loudspeakers and avoid the risk of damage to equipment.
This equipment is double insulated and does not need a safety earth. It is
important, though, that any equipment connected to it is earthed according to the
manufacturers instructions. This becomes more important as the number of units
which are connected together increases.

Noise Pollution
Please be aware that very high sound pressure levels can cause permanent
damage to your hearing and also severe annoyance to neighbours.

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INTRODUCTION
The Quad ESL loudspeaker is a full range electrostatic loudspeaker doublet. It
consists of a very light electrically polarised diaphragm suspended between two sets
of concentric annular electrodes. Signal is fed to the electrodes via sequential delay
lines causing the diaphragm to move and the motion of the diaphragm produces a
sound pressure pattern which is an exact replica of that from an ideal source placed
some 30cm behind the plane of the loudspeaker diaphragm.
WARNING: The Quad ESL loudspeaker has very high internal voltages. No
attempt should be made to remove the protective grilles or the baseplate.
Amplifiers which are not short circuit protected may be damaged by the
protection circuits in this loudspeaker and should not be used with the Quad
ESL.

PACKING LIST AND UNPACKING THE EQUIPMENT

The packaging contains the following items:
The Quad ESL loudspeaker

AC power lead 3m with 13A 3 pin plug (3A fuse), QUKES23

(UK only)

Instruction Manual
Warranty Registration Form
One set of packing materials comprising:
One set of packing pieces
One cardboard carton
One polythene protective bag
Consult the dealer from whom you purchased the equipment if any of these items is
not present.
The Quad ESL loudspeaker is completely assembled. To remove it from the packing,
spread out the flaps from the open end of the cardboard carton and then invert the
complete pack on to the floor, taking care not to let the contents slide out. Lift off the
cardboard carton.
Please retain the packing materials for future use or return them to your dealer. If
you decide not to keep the packing, please dispose of it sensibly. The paper and
plastics components are recoverable and may be taken to an appropriate recovery
service.
Please retain the user manual and the information concerning the date and place of
purchase of this equipment for future reference.

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GUARANTEE AND PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Your Quad equipment is guaranteed against any defect in material and workmanship
for one year from the date of purchase (proof of purchase required). We ask you to
complete and return the enclosed Warranty Registration Form (UK). This will also
enable us to keep you informed of future Quad products. Within the guarantee
period, Quad will undertake replacement of defective parts free of charge provided
that the failure was not caused by misuse, accident or negligence. Your statutory
rights within the territory in which you purchased the equipment are not affected by
this guarantee.
Quad carries out a regular review of its products and reserves the right to adjust the
specifications and performance from time to time.
There are no user replaceable or serviceable parts inside this equipment.
Unauthorised attempts to service or modify this product will invalidate the warranty.

SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS
If your Quad equipment requires servicing you should return it to the dealer from
whom the equipment was purchased.
If you are abroad and there is no suitable dealer in your area, please contact the
distributor for the country in which it was purchased or Quad Electroacoustics Ltd.
Equipment returned for service should use the original packing. You should enclose
a brief note with your name and address and the reason for returning the equipment.

ACCESSORIES
Quad accessories are designed to match Quad equipment and to provide the best
possible performance.
Please contact your dealer or Quad direct for further information.

Item

Order No

AC power lead 3m with Euro/13A 3 pin plug (3A fuse)

AC power input connector Euro/straight

QUKES23
PSR0413

Note: We do not supply loudspeaker cables terminated with

4mm plugs nor the 4mm plugs themselves.

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INSTALLATION
The ESL loudspeaker requires an energising voltage for operation and therefore
needs to be connected to an AC power supply.

Checking the AC power supply

The ESL loudspeaker is designed to operate on one range of AC power supply only,
50/60 Hz. Either 200-240V or 100/120V. The correct operating voltage is clearly
marked on the base. It may be changed from 220V to 110V operation or vice versa
by a suitably qualified technician.
Before connecting to the AC power supply check that the voltage range
marked on the base corresponds with that of the supply.

Connecting to the AC Power Supply (UK only)

The ESL is supplied with an AC power lead with a moulded 13A 3 pin plug with 3A
fuse. Do not cut off this plug or use it with its fuse cover removed. If however for any
reason the plug has to be removed then it must be disposed of and under no
circumstances plugged into a 13A socket outlet. A suitable plug can be fitted, as
explained below:
IMPORTANT: Fitting a mains plug.
The wires in the mains lead are coloured:
Brown = Live

Blue = Neutral

The Brown wire must be connected to the terminal marked L or coloured Red. The
Blue wire must be connected to the terminal marked N or coloured Black. If the
lead also has a Green/Yellow wire than this must be connected to the terminal
marked E or coloured Green or Green/Yellow.

Note: When a fused 13A plug is used a 5A fuse (ASTA approved to BS1362) will
be adequate for a typical Quad system. For other types of plug, then fit a 5A fuse
either in the plug, or adaptor, or at the distribution board. If in doubt consult a
qualified electrician.

Connecting to the AC Power Supply (other markets)

The ESL should be supplied with a power lead terminated with the correct plug to
match your local regulations. If the plug is an incorrect type or if you experience any
problems with installation you should consult your dealer or local Quad distributor.

Connection to the Amplifier

Audio input is via binding posts. For runs up to 10m a cable with a rating of 6A
(24/0.2mm) should be adequate. Longer runs may require heavier cable. The basic
rule is that the total resistance of the cable should not exceed 5% of the loudspeaker
impedance, ie 0.4 Ohms. Inductance should not exceed 1mH per metre and
capacity can be ignored.

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Each loudspeaker should be connected to its appropriate amplifier output so that the
two pairs of wires are connected in the same way, to ensure that the speakers
operate in phase.

Switching On and Off

The on/off switch has a rocker action; press the bottom to switch the ESL on and the
top to switch it off. A red LED next to the on/off switch indicates that the speaker is
on.

Amplifier Requirements
The ESL loudspeaker should be used with an amplifier of output capability between
20V and 30V rms (40-100W into 8 Ohms). The impedance characteristic is
essentially resistive and presents no problems to the amplifier. The ESL protection
circuits limit the maximum input voltage to 40V and there is no volume benefit from
using an amplifier with an output greater than 30V rms (100W into 8 Ohms).
Amplifiers with an output capability in excess of 35V rms (150W into 8 Ohms
approx) may be used but with caution see Loudspeaker Protection.
If the Quad 405/2 power amplifier is used, the amplifier voltage limiters should not
be fitted.

Loudspeaker Protection
The ESL loudspeaker is fitted with a protection circuit, incorporating a special device
called a multifuse, which prevents damage from excessive programme input signals.
Should the loudspeaker be severely overdriven, for any length of time, the circuit will
operate and effectively reduce the drive to the loudspeaker, causing a reduction in
the volume level with some loss of quality. If this occurs, then the volume control of
the amplifier should be turned down. After a delay of a few seconds to allow the
circuit to reset, the volume can be increased, but only to a point below which the
protection circuit initially functioned, otherwise the circuit may operate again.
Persistently overdriving the loudspeaker will cause the multifuse to completely fail,
necessitating its replacement by a qualified engineer.
The above conditions are unlikely to occur in normal use or with amplifiers with a
power output rating of less then 100W. Steady state signals in excess of 10V rms
should not be fed to the loudspeaker.
When the AC power to the loudspeaker is switched off or disconnected, the signal
input protection circuit operates to prevent excessive signals being fed to the
loudspeaker elements though care should be taken to ensure that the
loudspeakers are not driven for long periods (minutes) with no AC power applied.

Positioning the Loudspeakers

However good the loudspeaker, the final results will depend very largely on the
acoustic characteristics of the listening room and the position of the loudspeakers in
it. Do not be afraid to experiment with both position and orientation and make a point
of trying some of the less obvious as well as the more obvious positions. The
benefits obtained from the time spent doing this can be very rewarding. The subject
of room acoustics is complex and beyond the scope of this manual. It is assumed
that the loudspeakers will be used in a room with moderate reverberation, neither
too bright nor over damped. Furnishings can alter the acoustic characteristics of the
listening room, and here common sense is the best guide.
The loudspeakers have constant directivity over a wide angle in both horizontal and
vertical planes, so the response does not vary with the height of the listeners ears
from the floor.

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When experimenting, it is preferable to use good recordings or works with which you
are familiar in the concert hall or good quality speech.
The ESL loudspeaker, being a dipole source, has considerable advantages over
conventional loudspeakers in terms of room placement. No energy is radiated in the
plane of the diaphragm and as a consequence, the respective axial room modes are
discriminated against. Normally the loudspeaker is placed at an angle to both
horizontal room axes and will excite both sets of horizontal axial modes, 3 dB less
than with a conventional source and discriminate entirely against the vertical axial
modes.
The loudspeakers should be placed at least 60cm (2 ft) from the rear wall of the
listening room and angled towards the listener and never in corners or alcoves or
behind furniture. Because the ESL is a totally homogeneous sound source it will be
found that they can be placed considerably further apart than normal, broadening
the stereo sound stage. Close proximity to the side walls is not detrimental to
performance. Simple geometry will show that if the ESL loudspeaker is placed at an
angle to the side wall, there will be no audible reflection at the listening position.
The ESLs are provided with optional floor spikes which screw into the four threaded
holes in the baseplate. The heights of the individual spikes can be adjusted to
ensure that the loudspeaker sits securely level on the floor.
Take care to avoid the tips of the spikes which are quite sharp.

ESL BASE AND SPIKES

Programme Material
A small note of caution. We believe that a pair of Quad ESL loudspeakers give a
more realistic picture of an acoustic event than has been possible before, but only if
the best source material is used. They are very revealing of faults in recording
techniques and ownership of these loudspeakers will cause you to re-assess the
virtues of your collection of recordings.

Loudspeaker Phasing
If there is any doubt about the way the loudspeakers are connected, their phasing
can easily be checked by playing a mono source when the sound should appear to
emanate from a point midway between the two loudspeakers. If this is indefinite,
then the connections to one of the loudspeakers should be reversed. When correctly
connected, the loudspeakers will give a definite centre sound source with more full
bodied tenor and bass registers.

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CARE AND MAINTENANCE

The grille cloth may be cleaned with a soft brush or a hand held vacuum cleaner.
They are protected against the ingress of dust etc. Periodic servicing at two year
intervals is recommended to keep your speakers in pristine condition. Great care
has gone into the selection of materials to ensure long term stability under a wide
range of temperatures and humidity. In countries where the relative humidity
regularly exceeds 90% it is recommended that the listening room be air conditioned
for optimum performance.

CONNECTION PANEL

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ESL-988 SPECIFICATIONS
All measurements made with a 230V AC supply.

Maximum output

2
2 N/m at 2m on axis

Sensitivity

1.5m bar per volt referred to 1m. (86 dB/2.83V rms)

Impedance

8 Ohms nominal

Maximum

Continuous input voltage (rms): 10V

Programme peak for undistorted output: 40V
Permitted peak input: 55V

Directivity Index

125 Hz
500 Hz
1 kHz
8 kHz

Axis band limits

(low level)

-6 dB at 35 Hz 3rd order
-6 dB >20 kHz

AC Input
(double insulated)

220-240V or 110-120V
See rating details on base of unit

Power fuse

63 mA anti-surge, 200-240V
100 mA anti-surge, 100-120V

Power consumption

6W

Dimensions

Height 94cm (including 10cm base) , width 67cm,

depth 31.5cm (including terminals)approx.

Weight

Net 20.5 kg approx. Gross 23 kg approx.

5.0 dB
6.4 dB
7.2 dB
10.6 dB

The right is reserved to alter performance and specification as required.

This equipment complies with the radio interference requirements as laid down in
EEC (European Economic Community) regulations.

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ESL-989 SPECIFICATIONS
All measurements made with a 230V AC supply.

Maximum output

2
2 N/m at 2m on axis

Sensitivity

1.5m bar per volt referred to 1m. (86 dB/2.83V rms)

Impedance

8 Ohms nominal

Maximum

Continuous input voltage (rms): 10V

Programme peak for undistorted output: 40V
Permitted peak input: 55V

Directivity Index

125 Hz
500 Hz
1 kHz
8 kHz

5.0 dB
6.4 dB
7.2 dB
10.6 dB

Axis band limits

(low level)

-6 dB at 30 Hz 3rd order
-6 dB >20 kHz

AC Input
(double insulated)

220-240V or 110-120V
See rating details on base of unit

Power fuse

63 mA anti-surge, 200-240V
100 mA anti-surge, 100-120V

Power consumption

6W

Dimensions

Height 133.5cm excluding feet (including 10cm

base), width 67cm, depth 31.5cm including terminals
approx.

Weight

Net 25.3 kg approx. Gross 28 kg approx.

The right is reserved to alter performance and specification as required.

This equipment complies with the radio interference requirements as laid down in
EEC (European Economic Community) regulations.

10

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IAG House
Sovereign Court
Ermine Business Park
Huntingdon
Cambs
PE29 6XU
England
Telephone: +44 (0) 1480 447700
Facsimile: +44 (0) 1480 431767
email: info@quad-hifi.co.uk
website: www.quad-hifi.co.uk

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Instruction Manual for Electrostatic Loudspeakers ESL 988 and ESL 989