tube amps and electrostatics


What kinds of experiences have people had mating tube amps to electrostatic speakers (full range and/or hybrids)? I love the sound of both separately, but am concerned about the reactance of electrostats with tube power. I already own the CJ CAV-50 and am looking to upgrade my speakers with something in the $2500 range. Thanx, Dave
dabble
No he didn't he, used the word "increased emphasis" where he should have used the word "linear", as in flat in regard to frequency response.

Cheers George
Anyone ever heard a decent Icepower amp running newer Quad ESLs? That's something I would like to hear.

When I was auditioning for new speakers a few years back, the Quad ESL demo I got at a local dealer hit the bullseye for the sound I wanted, running of CJ amp gear, save for the punch in the bass not being up to snuff with the best I had heard. I tend to think as that as always the main problem with Quad ESLs at least from what I have read and heard with most any amp out there. The rest is more shades of grey amp to amp.

Increased emphasis for a SS amp versus tube in general sounds right to me. The FR with the SS may well be flatter as well, if not perfectly flat.

HEy but then there there is the old nasty odd order harmonics that muck with our ears due to NF issue with the SS amp for sure.

There may be no single right answer, at least on paper. Only our flawed ears know what they hear for sure always.
Mapman, most Class D's I know off and some I have tested are greatly troubled by loads that go under 3-4ohms, and ESL's can dip to below 1ohm.

Cheers George
GEorge,

I think you are right about that in general, from what I have read.

Still, not all Class D amps are created equal. I think I have read of some cases where they have worked well with very low impedances in some cases. It would be a concern, but you never know for sure till one tries. I'm wondering if anyone has?
Al, as most here already know, is one of the more knowledgeable contributors on this website. I feel really fortunate that we often agree :)

Al did indeed get it right, as usual. The problem you often run into when trying to use solid state with ESLs is not enough bass and too much treble. When you look at the impedance curve of nearly any ESL, its easy to see why- it is common that the amplifier will be trying to make nearly 10x more power at 20KHz than it might be at 50Hz!

The thing is, as pointed out earlier, the ESL has a low impedance at high frequencies due to its capacitive nature and *not* because it is less efficient at that or any other frequency. It is the latter fact that is often understood by many, (apparently) including Georgelofi; this is why his comments can be safely ignored.

Of course there is not nearly as much energy at 20KHz, but the result is easily heard as brightness. That, coupled with the normal brightness associated with solid state amps (due to odd ordered harmonic distortion) is why such amps do not usually make the best choice for ESLs- even those meant for transistors.