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Heil ESS speakers - what are your thoughts?

I

Inamelotone

Active Member
Hi guys

I have an opportunity to acquire a pair of Heil Ess speakers, model ESS PS9A, and was wondering if any of you had had a chance to hear those, and if so what your thoughts were? It would be nice to get some specs if anyone knows of a link...

Thanks as always

Inamelotone
 
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I own a pair of PS4As, which are the monitor versions of your PS9As with 10" woofers and a lower crossover point. They sound Very good. I highly recommend upgrading the crossovers from the nasty old electrolytics that they came with to nice polys. I used Solen. I also upgraded the resistors while I was in there. They sound fantastic now. So incredibly clear.. with a sparkling high end. I really enjoy them.

IBJamon
 
Though to be fair my brother has a pair of ESS Model 8s, which are the older version with a power ring heil, 8inch woofer with 10" passive, and no brightness knob and they sound very very good but they don't have the 'body' (lower midrange presence) that mine do. Still sound very good though.

IBJamon
 
Thank you all for your thoughts guys, much appreciated - and thanks so much IBJamon for taking to scan the brochure, esp. in lovely hi-res, worth printing (!)

I take on board your comments re. the crossover upgrades so will look into that as well. I will do some more listening at the week-end & report back in due course...

All best
Inamelotone
 
Heil Tweets go for a lot of money even if the rest of the speaker is trash. If you can get them cheap you can always flip good tweets for a nice price..
 
Very good high end on that unit, still remember the first time I heard it 30 years ago(hooked up to Pioneer Spec equipment)! Honestly, I am not sure that listening experience has ever been topped. If you can get these, do it.
 
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I have a pair of AMT-1D's with the open Heil tweeters. Love the open airy high end they have.
 
OOPS.. I didn't realize exactly what these were,,,, My mistake, continue on without me please..
 
Heils are great. I have the PS4A and an AMT 1C. I love them both. The airiness is special to the open design of the dipole AMT series, but the PS4A is no slouch at all. It sounds a bit 'boxier' and might even have a bit more high end 'bite', but I haven't finished recapping my 1C yet so I can't be sure yet.

IBJamon
 
Of all the microfilm diaphragm tweeters available, the Heil concept makes the most sense to me. One of the few tweeters which can reproduce a Zildjian cymbal realistically in terms of transient response. I was going to build a set one of these years.
 
Well thank you guys - happy to report I picked the speakers yesterday. They are in nice clean condition. If I like what I hear I will certainly think about overhauling the x-overs (any suggestions welcome as to which caps work well!) and I am even toying with the idea of building a new set of cabs. I don't mind the 'walnut vinyl' finish - quite cool in a quirky sort of way - but that unmistakable whiff of formica is not really my thing!

Cheerio for now

Inamelotone
 
Dayton poly caps work well in my experience. Replace the resistors as well, Daytons also work well.
 
Pretty much any Poly should be fine. I had good luck with Solen, though that's all I've ever used so far (not much to compare to). I'm sure you'll enjoy them! :)

IBJamon
 
I've had a few different sets of ESS speakers. If they have the reset on the crossover remove it and install a fuse- it is nothing but problems. I always thought they sounded decent. However, it seems every pair I ever listened to had a big hole in the midrange. Could be just me, I don't know. Thought I would share my concerns though.
 
hatrack71 impressive collection...

Heils are less trouble than e-stats and approach the speed, hence the trouble integrating with cone woofers.

They roll off about 12kHz. 1.2 kHz is a good low xover point. Most designs start way too low. Same problem as vintage mid horns, designers kept trying to push them too low down.

Good points: a flat-ish FR curve, and the dipole ones have special 'air'.

Again, dispersion pattern is hard to match up to cones, same issues as hybrid e-stats. Room treatment can help a lot. A couple of velvet Elvis posters behind each speaker to dampen reflections is stylish statement and acoustically great.

I've gone to e-stats because I'm okay with the extra trouble/placement/amp issues.

Push-pull stators like your Acoustats give inherently less distortion than the squeeze-wave Heils when you go to higher SPL. Course the stats need a bigger room...and bigger wallet...
 
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