I’ve only heard ESL57’s a couple of times, once quite extensively at someone’s home. Here they were driven by a computer source with Naim DACV1/NAP100. I thought they sounded really excellent in some ways and startlingly different from anything else I’d ever heard. The complete lack of any cabinet colouration was a revelation and very compelling. I couldn’t live with them as to me thay made music sound unrealistic in the sense that it lacked solidity and presence. I’ve heard it said about the ESL57’s that they are like a window on to a recording. They let you look (hear) into the room with the musicians rather than bringing the musicians into the room with you. Both approaches are equally valid and like the LS3/5a I can well understand why some people absolutely love them and nothing else will do for them. But just not my cup of tea at all.
Did you get a SN3 instead of the N50?
When Arcam released their A25+ Class G I listened to it at Richers back to back with CA’s EXA100 through Platinum MA’s (I have Arcam’s SA20 Class G).
The CA is a well put together amplifier but I did not think it bettered the Arcam in any way other than a slightly firmer bass. That was with large speakers. With smaller ones I can imagine the sound can come over as perhaps somewhat lean. The Radia 20 seemed more dynamic, more ‘musical’. I went home immediately listening to my SA20 and instantly knew why I kept it for so long. Yes, the Radia 20 may have have been a slight improvement, I don’t really know, different speakers, but considering the Radia is cheaper than the CA, has a better DAC (even my SA20 has a ESS 9038 over the CA’s 9018) perhaps a better phono stage (Arcam’s traditionally have good ones) the Cambridge seems at least slightly over priced in comparison.
no, I bought another NN50.
1 feeds ATC SCM 11, other feeds AlChris TX9’s. The EXA100 drives som PMC p5’s.
The aggro trying to source a SN3 to my desired condition was overwhelming, plus I got a brand new NN50 at ridiculous pricing [again].
On a side note, I found the EXA100 outperformed the SN3 (more resolving, more bass control to my cloth ears in fact) and it’s a HIFI bargain in the relative sense…..
EPOS ES14’s are really nice sounding speakers. 