Amp/ preamp for electostatics and why

Welcome to the facanating world of Electrostatics!

I've had a pair of Accustat Spectra 22's for over 15 years now. Speakers with boxes, no boxes, baffles and horns all have come and and gone, a few stayed but the Accustats are still in my main system. Clearly I thoroughly enjoy them...but they are quite difficult to drive.

Amps that I have tried in the past included, Hafler DH200, Forte 3 used as monos. Was also romanced by a smattering of tube amps. Tried my Cary SL80 not enough juice I know! Had a pair of Quad II's, then Audio Research vt100 2's both seemed to work reasonably well but then there was the heat issue. I even once tried my little DEcware se for grins...

That being said even having the stats actively xovered at 80hz they still, if driven hard enough could pop the B+/- rail fuses on any of the amps mentioned. In some cases it was worse, that's how I ended up w/ the mono Forte configuration.... killed a pair of output devices on each side of the amp's!

About 2 years ago I ended up making major changes to the front end in support of adding vinyl as an additional source.

Out went the DIY DACT and Purist Audio passive pre's and in came a Modwright 36.5 along w Dan's SWP 9.0se phono pre. Still using the Forte units, the system really began to open up and sounded excellent. One problem that remained was when driven hard the amp/s would still blow a rail fuse and the fun was over...

My advice would be to listen to what many folks here have already said and find a really good Class D amp to follow a tube front end. This in my opinion is the ticket to audio nirvana.

I've first hand knowledge since adding a pair of Nuforce 9 SEv2's. They completely blew away my Forte amps! More detail, micro-detail, air and most importantly getting the sound stage / imaging correct. Given that most of the stats I've heard have a rather narrow sweet spot, you will be in for a real treat when you get things dialed in.

This combination of tubes and class D far exceeded anything I've experienced before. They drove the stats without a problem. Ok, every once and a while I'd overload one and it would go into protect mode, no fuses so just a reset of the circuit breaker and we're back to enjoying the music.

BTW, I've sent the Nuforce se2's to be upgraded to the se3's. Should have them back next week!!!

Your listing experience may vary so by all means try to audition as many amps as possible. Your local dealers and many internet direct vendors often times have great loaner programs.

Hope this helps,

Ralph, It is a fact that electrostatic speakers and OTL amplifiers work well together.

The big Beveridge 2SW and 2SW2 used OTL amps and the Acoustat X had direct drive OTL amplifiers also.

I have always been curious about who designed the Beveridge amps. I thought it was Modjeski, but he said he didn't. Do you know who it was?

I have always been curious about who designed the Beveridge amps. I thought it was Modjeski, but he said he didn't. Do you know who it was?

Rrog -- This article, written by Harold Beveridge's son, doesn't answer the question, but you might find it of interest:

The History of the Development of Beveridge Speakers

Regards,
-- Al

Al,
Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the develpment of Beveridge speakers.

Ron

I have a full-range Acoustat system, and I have both the VK-30 and VK-42se preamps from BAT. I can't comment much on amps because I use Acoustat direct drive amps. I will say that when I drove my Acoustats through interfaces and a conventional amplifier, it seemed like the damping factor played a role. One of the best I heard was a Crown Macro Reference on a pair of model II speakers. It was very extended and controlled in the lowest octaves.

Back to the preamps, I think the BATs are excellent. You may want to try some good NOS tubes in your VK-30. I tried both the Telefunkens and the Siemens disc-getter 6922s in mine. To my ear and in my system, I thought the Siemens were great. Very linnear top to bottom and a somewhat lean, fast, extended bass. The Tele's were a little laid back for my tastes.

Ultimately I like BAT's own VK-42se better - it is more detailed and more accurate, and it has world-class bass reproduction, at least in my system.

Hope this helps - happy listening!