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Soundlab Speakers - Budget Amp Suggestions

I have tried to read as much as possible about different types of amplifiers capable of driving electrostatic speakers. Thanks to everyone for the great articles and discussions. In particular, I am looking for a ss amplifier that can drive Soundlab speakers. The Soundlabs have a low impedance at high frequencies and a high impedance at low frequencies. A high power ss amp that can drive difficult loads appears to be the ticket (I'm not interested in tube amps). High current is needed for the high frequency/low impedance (but not necessarily high power) while the high voltage (albeit at lower power) can drive the high impedance at low frequencies.

While looking for speakers I came across the Soundlab speakers and really liked the sound. I basically blew my budget on them, which for me is not a bad compromise because I don't want the speakers to be the weak link in the chain.

So this is what I have:
1. Two Soundlab A-1 speakers (1992 vintage)
2. One Soundlab B-1S subwoofer (pre 1990) - This is a stereo subwoofer having two separate inputs to drive each interior panel.
3. The A-1s have the toroidal and impedance upgrade.
4. I had all the speakers reskinned with the px mylar.

There will be some type of crossover between the A-1s and the B-1S (the frequency and type of crossover is undetermined at the moment)

I believe that having the B-1S reduces some of the constraint of having the highest power amplifier to drive the A-1s (e.g. 500-600W) since a lot of the bass will be coming from the B-1S. I was told to limit the power to the B-1S to a 400W or less ss amplifier. I am thinking that perhaps I could get away with a lower power amplifier for the A-1s because of this scheme. Please let me know if I am wrong.

As I said my budget is limited. I have about 1.2K and perhaps up to 2K to spend on an amp. The amp I have targeted is a Sunfire Cinema Grand Series II 5-Channel amplifier that outputs 425W a channel. The channels driving the B-1S won't be delivering a lot of power as the impedance is 16 to over 30 ohms. The amp should be able to drive the A-1s adequately. As a side note I have a couple of amps (Crown K1 or Citation 7.1 which output between 300-400W) that I could use to drive the B-1S if needed.

Are there some vintage or other budget amps that I should be considering. Is my analysis wrong? Any suggestions on crossover frequency? I appreciate any and all input. I want to thank every one in advance for their thoughts.

Regards,
GWHO

gwho
gwho OP
47 posts
 
I understand the statement of not spending the money and will consider this option. I am a little disappointed. I would assume that there were some excellent sounding amps capable of driving my speakers manufactured in the 1990s and early 2000s that would be heavily discounted in todays market. I will admit that I am not up on the changes in amplifiers over the last decade. In fact my previous system was over a decade older than the Soundlabs. Have the changes in amp designs been so significant that I would hear a substantial difference even with my twenty year old speakers?

I did look up the Innersound amp and it seems capable of easily driving my speakers. I will keep my eyes open for one of these amps.

I had read a couple of responses that said the Sunfire amp 400w or 600w sound good with these speakers which is why I was looking in this direction. It was also within my price range.

Thanks for all the responses
rrog
1,958 posts
 
"Have the changes in amp designs been so significant that I would hear a substantial difference even with my twenty year old speakers?"

Absolutely not, but not all amplifiers will sound good with electrostatic speakers. All electrostatic speakers that I know of have the impedance characteristics you mentioned in your Soundlabs with a low impedance in the high frequencies and a high impedance in the low frequencies. This can bring out a lean sound with certain solid state amplifiers. However, this never seems to be a problem for tube amplifiers. Unless an amplifier is designed for use with electrostatic speakers like Innersound or the TNT 200 I mentioned I would not buy an amplifier without being able to audition it with your speakers.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
If you are willing to buy a used amp, a Rotel RB 1090 be a good choice. It should have no problem driving your speakers.
gwho OP
47 posts
 
Rrog thanks for the tip on amps designed specifically for electrostats. The tnt amp is an older design. I assume that one can pick one up cheaper than the Innersound. Have you ever compared the two. Does it come close to the Innersound SQ?
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,377 posts
 
The inner sound amp would be perfect and right in your budget. They are great sounding amps and it nice that they sound as good as they do and don't run super hot and draw a lot of power at idle. I have had the esl 300 and now the dpr ref 500 and they are both great sounding. It might take a little persistence to find one used.
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