Source: Press Release, Last Accessed: 2025/07/01

Quad painstakingly improves one of the most lauded loudspeaker designs of all time to create the ESL 2812X and ESL 2912X – what they say are the world’s finest full-range electrostatic speakers.
When Quad’s founder, Peter Walker, gave full-range electrostatic loudspeaker technology to the world with the first Quad ESL in the 1950s, he single-handedly smashed preconceptions of what a Hi-Fi loudspeaker could sound like.
Quad does not update the ESL often – in fact, there have only been five generations since the original ESL, later known as the ESL 57, launched in 1957. This was eventually replaced by the ESL 63 in 1981; then, in 1999, the ESL 988 and ESL 989 arrived. This was the first time a new ESL generation was split into two models – the 988 was similar in size to previous ESLs while the 989 was a larger speaker. These were replaced by the ESL 2805 and ESL 2905 in 2006, followed by the ESL 2812 and ESL 2912 in 2012.
Thirteen years after the last revision, a sixth Quad ESL generation is now ready to launch in the form of the new ESL 2812X and ESL 2912X. The result of an extensive review of ESL design and manufacturing processes, the new models introduce upgrades to the electrostatic panels and operational electronics, together with redesigned, UK-built audio transformers and a new “stealth” aesthetic.
According to the press release, the new ESL X models’ performance has been elevated by enhancements in three key areas. Firstly, the electrostatic panels, which are technically the same design as their predecessors but have been improved by refinements to the manufacturing process. Alongside these panel improvements, the operational electronics have been split from a monolithic PCB design into three fully independent modules. The system now comprises a high-voltage multiplier module, a control and protection module, and a low-voltage signal module. Together, these modules form an integrated unit designed for optimal performance and reliability.
By physically segregating the 5.25kV multiplier stage from the sensitive low-voltage circuits, Quad has significantly diminished stray high-voltage electric fields. This isolation strategy not only minimizes interference and crosstalk but also markedly enhances stability and noise performance.
The audio transformers are critical to electrostatic speaker performance, and the new ESL X models incorporate an improved, made-in-the-UK design, refined and supervised in quality control by Quad’s renowned service team led by Rob Flain. Their wide bandwidth ensures a flat response extending to beyond 18kHz, creating an effortless sense of airiness and extension.
Aesthetically, the traditional wood trims have been removed to further modernize the design, allowing the ESL 2812X and ESL 2912X to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, almost fading into a shadow in low-light conditions. The intention is to allow them to all but “disappear” within the room despite their physical size, leaving nothing but the music to effortlessly fill the space in front of the listener.

For more information: https://quad-hifi.co.uk/

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