Sanders ESL Power Amp & Mono blocks

Hi Kiwi

Well whether it is the Cabasse @92db/w or the much less efficient Vandersteen 2CE SigII @86db/w, the ESL stereo amp had the same basic neutrality about it. You don't get the "edge" or digititus when listening to CDs. While the 2CE SigII has the upgraded tweeter, it was a significant degree smoother and controlled with the ESL amp driving it. How I ended up with the ESL amp is because I loved the purity in the mids/highs, in many ways similar to the much more expensive Dartzeel amp.

I also had the opportunity to hear the ESL Monos driving the big Dynaudio Evidence Temptation, which aren't exactly easy loads despite the 90db/w rating. It handled these big speakers with ease and had tremendous control off the woofers. You can hear this when the music gets complex at fairly loud SPLs, and it doesn't break up, or show stress as in muddling of the soundstage.

The dealer which sold me the Sanders also carried the ModWright, so it was a natural choice. Perhaps I should have waited for the 36.5 with the separate power supply, but the price difference pushed that out of my budget. However with the NOS Amperex 7119 in place of the 5687 tube supplied in the SWLP9.0, this pre takes on a very special presence and transparency which is very hard to surpass.

Hi Cmk,

Yes, i was wondering about 36.5 ref but by itself its nearly double the price of the SWLP9.0. Still, other than the optional separate PSU [which looks pretty hideous IMO]but apparently meaningfully improve the audio quality it also comes with balanced connectivity which may float your boat depending on whether its true dual differential or if the rest of your system is configured this way.

Did you do a side by side comparison of the Sanders and Modwright pre? What specifically did you not like about the Sanders pre?

Hi Kiwi

Well I heard both combinations at the dealer's showroom. The Sanders is typical SS sound, very clean and leaning towards the lean/thin side. The ModWright had more body straight off, but does not sound euphonic like older generation tube amps. Perhaps its me, and you might want to get another opinion from Cerrot, who has the complete Sanders system.

You are right about the balanced operation which IS a good thing with the ESL power amp. I did try driving the amp direct via the balanced outputs on my Benchmark DAC, and it was a marked improvement over the SE connection.

The sound from my system isn't lean at all. I do run fully balanced (preamp to amp is Tara Labs RSC Air one balanced and amp/crossover are Tara Labs The One Balanced). I do use Shunyata Python power cables on all components through a Shunyata Hydra and I'm sure it helps. CD player is the Esoteric X03SE (also Tara Labs The One Balanced, Shunyata Python Vx Helix)); tuner is Macintosh MR78 (modded) with Tara Labs RSC Air One single ended (preamp only has one balanced input) and TT is VPI TNT Jr/Benz Micro Glider L2 with Cardas phono cables and phontostage to preamp uses Tara Labs The One single ended. I have Cera pucs under both the ESL amp and crossover/bass amp and Symposium Svelt shelfs under the ESL speakers and fat pads under the preamp. Looking back to the system prior to the power conditioner/power cable upgrade and before putting the speakers on the svelt shelves, and cera pucs under the amps, I could now say that the sound may have been a little lean, compared to the sound I have now. The system now is absolute bliss. SACD is pectacular, as well as very well recorded redbook CD's. It is a very revealing system. Anything other than well recorded CD's don't really want to make me sit there an listen. Vinyl sounds great as well as FM and squeezebox (through Benchmark DAC and CI power supply--also Shunyata Python and Tara Labs RSC Air One). It is a very non-fatiguing, very musical sound. Wide, tall and deep soundstage and it is very easy to hear where each instrument is. You can easilly distinguish steel strings from nylon, violins from violas. The dynamics are excellent and background incredibly black. In Jacintha Goes To Hollywood. Que Sera Sera, in the opening accordian piece, you hear the keys lifting under the fingers of the accordian player. The system benefited alot from the upgrades. I listen mostly to small jazz combos, vocals and classical. Broke put with some 30 year old classic rock vinyl over the weekend (hadn't listened to them in years) and was floored by the sound. I received the 3 SACD set Jazz at the Pawnshop last night and just couldn't stop listening. You just felt where each instrument was and I actually felt they were in the room with me - work night so no wine either!

Hi Cerrot,

Thanks for the feedback.

Out of interest have you tried using the unbalanced connection between the Sanders pre and pwr amp and compared that to the balanced connection? Reason i ask is because the internal circuitry of the Sanders pre-amp is not balanced. A balanced input amplifier converts the signal to unbalanced for operation through the preamp. In theory at least the unbalanced connection should be superior - but i wondered if you had tested that in practise.

Second, have you tried any other pre-amps with the Sanders power amp? If so, would you mind sharing what you tried and what your assessment was?

Some of the differences in experience between you and Cmk are bound to come down to your respective taste in musical presentation.

Cheers