Best Integrated for Martin Logan ESL 13A

I have the 11As and would recommend against McIntosh.  I had them paired with the MC452 and it was just too warm for the speakers.  Some instruments, especially strings and piano, just didn’t sound realistic to me.  I spent a lot of time and money trying to work around the amp with various components and cables but finally gave in, trading the amp for a Luxman 509X.
ML speakers have a slight roll off in the highs so sticking with a Luxman is a good idea.  I now have the 509X paired with the Lumin T2 and it works well, not bright.  Though if you are looking for a lush sound Luxman may not be the best choice.  Luxman tends to be neutral, transparent, and crisp, though very smooth, never fatiguing.

At your budget 509X is a great integrated.  In my opinion to move a step higher you would need to go at least double your budget.  I demoed quite a bit of different integrates and separates in the same budget with the 11As, including the Gryphon Diablo 300 which is significantly more expensive.  For me, Luxman had the best bang for the buck and sound combination.

erdoc12356
Best Integrated for Martin Logan ESL 13A

 Made for each other, Gryphon Diablo 120 or if you can up the $$ the 300
Big, sweet high Class-A bias sound, that can drive down to 1ohm no sweat, and that’s what’s needed with all ML ESL’s
https://gryphon-audio.dk/shop/integrated-amplifiers/diablo-120/

https://gryphon-audio.dk/shop/integrated-amplifiers/gryphon-diablo-300-integrated-amplifier/

Cheers George

I did an extensive A/B listening session with Diablo 300 and Luxman 509X paired with ML 11As (using same source components and cables).  The Gryphon sure has raw power, but found it to bright on some few songs, borderline fatiguing. Some songs sound great, others sound a tad harsh. First impressions of the Diablo 300 compared to the Luxman 509X was that something was off with the Diablo.  The 509X had less bass impact but was smoother across the board.  This of course is my opinion specific with the 11As.  I am sure others may like it.

I had a similar experience the first time I heard the Diablo 300 at another dealer, again paired with the ML 11As, this time with DCS components as source.

The Gryphon sure has raw power, but found it to bright on some few songs, borderline fatiguing.

This is totally the opposite of what the sound is like, not just with the Diablo but the whole Gryphon range, if anything the sound signature of all Gryphon amps is on the darker side of neutral and always has been. And reviews back that up, not that that means anything.

Something was wrong somewhere if that was the case, and you came to that conclusion, of "borderline fatiguing", unless it was just giving what the recording was like, which is a good thing, as it’s not masking then and had better transparency of the two amps.

Cheers George

@georgehifi As I said, it really is a personal preference.  From my experience the overall sound signature is as you describe it but when pushed the treble can get a tad harsh.  This is playing recordings that I know well so that's not this issue.

It is a great integrated though and I can see why other like it.