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Tube Amps vs Sanders ESL Amp for Electrostatics

Fellow Audiogoners, I  am considering the purchase of electrostatic speakers and an amplifier. I am a fan of tube amps but due to my preference for electrostatic speakers that place special impedance demands on amps, I am also considering the Sanders ESL amp. Does anyone have experience with the Sanders ESL Amp and tubes amps for electrostats such as Martin Login etc. Thanks in advance for your feedback. Much appreciated. 
audiofool1
chuckie
74 posts
 
Hello Audiopool1
I own NAT se2se amps and do have not a problem driving my Soundlab Ultimate II speakers. I think they are using the GM70 tube now but I have the older model with the 211 tube. Getting everything synergistically  working together will pay great dividends. I can assure you the NAT  se2se amps WILL be more than what you need to get your electrostatic speakers to sing. Hopefully this is not your first excursion into tubes but having preamp, cables, power cords, placement of your speakers will reap great rewards. I know thats pretty much the standard response around here but it took patience and a little frustration to get my system to where its at currently as far as sound goes. No more merry-go-round  for me.  I have no dealer or no affiliation with NAT products. Just my.02 cents. Hope it works out for you but patience and synergy is the "KEY".

Hope this helps
Chuckie
audiofool1 OP
36 posts
 
Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated.

jsm71
141 posts
 

I think it all starts with what electrostatic speaker (or any other speaker) you are considering.  You always need to pick an amp that will drive it well and provide the tonal character you are looking for.  I used a Sanders Magtech amp with two different speakers and found the match to be great with one (Maggie 1.7) and blah with my current speakers, JansZen zA2.1 ESLs.

I now use a tube amp with only 40 watts/ch with the JansZens and I know of other JansZen owners also using tube amps, none over 100 watts/ch.  Not all ESL speakers are an easy load for an amplifier.  The JansZen zA2.1 speaker is fairly easy on the amp.  The Sanders ESL amp was designed for ESL speakers that may be a difficult load.  I've read a number of glowing reviews for Sanders amps with Martin Logans for example, but I've also read where some ML owners (not the flagship models) use tube amps.  So, it comes back to what make and model are you considering?  In the end you have to be willing to try different amps.  Make the speaker selection first to drive the amp decision.  

audiofool1 OP
36 posts
 
Thanks for your input. I have been trying to audition different amps. So far I have heard PrimaLuna Dialog as well as others with KT88, KT120, and KT150. Thus far i liked the I have liked the KT150 best. I have not yet auditioned any solid state amps with the ML speakers. 
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