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Using tube amp with electrostatic speakers.

Moons ago I started similar discussions and thought I had been given enough good advice not to approach the subject again. Here goes anyway. I've used Martin Logan electrostats for well over 30 years with quite a few different amps but have recently switched to a tube amp and dynamic speakers with which I am very satisfied.  It consists of the Cary Rocket 88R amp and Serie Reference 3 speakers. 

My brother was visiting last week and was so impressed with the sound that he decided that he might want to try a tube amp also (probably the same one as mine).  However, he is using a pair of SL3's that I gave him years ago and I'm concerned primarily about the current requirements of the Martin Logans as well as other concerns that I'm not thinking of.  I don't want him spending money on something that may not bring him improved sound so would appreciate more advice to pass on to him.  He currently uses a Rogue Audio SS amp with his SL3 speakers and, to me, it sounds very good. 
jimbreit
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,861 posts
 
One last thing, most ESL's are really not very neutral. Almost all can benefit significantly from digital EQ from the midrange on up.

I find that ESLs can be quite neutral! You are correct though that if there is a problem on the amplifier side, it will be from the midrange on up that it most likely manifests.
rlawry
484 posts
 
Ralph, Erik, thank you for the detailed explanation of how electrostatic speakers work with different types of amps.  A nice education.
erik_squires
16,235 posts
 
Hi @atmasphere

To your own ears be true. :)

Best,

Erik
tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,597 posts
 

Ralph, I think that there must be some other reason that ML designs their panels with such a low impedance at 20khz. It’s such a radical design that there must be a sound quality reason for it, don’t you think?  I don't think anyone would think, I'm not going to buy those speakers, they're not hard enough to drive.

How do you feel about McIntosh gear with their amp-specific autoformers?

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,868 posts
 
I'm going to assume the original Quad ESL is not amongst those considered "really not very neutral". That would be quite silly.
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