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Atma-Sphere M60 monoblocks + ML ESL 11 = Inferior combo

Hi guys,

Today I borrowed home a pair of pure OTL-Tube M60 mononblocks to combine with my ML ESL 11s (which base are partially driven by a Class-D amplifer of 275 watts) with very poor results. Unfortunately, although the M60s where only to cater for the diaphragm panels (at least in theory), when combined with the speakers, the soundstage collapsed, vocals felt muffled and absent deep into the sound picture, almost hidden away, and the base went out of control (got larger and louder in a negative way). I also lost details. The Monos are a pair of brand new demos and shined this morning together with a pair of smaller Vivid monitors.

My current SS - a Bryston 4B3 delivers so much better combined with the ML ESL 11s. Someone that can explain what I did just experience? I thought that OTL tubes and High sensitive Martin Logans of todays generation where to be a marriage in heaven.

Kind regards 

 

  

andy_wonderwall
decooney
2,358 posts
 

Your 4B3 is the better ticket to the show for those particular MLs. 

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

Agree with the comments citing a classic case of inappropriate amplifier-speaker impedance mismatch. Impedance load is more critical here than speaker rated sensitivity.  These amplifiers are very fine but are not intended to drive lower impedance speaker loads. Pair them with an appropriate speaker and they will perform at a high sonic level.

Charles 

audition__audio
1,698 posts
 

Autoformers do affect the sound of your system! I am not saying that they are not an option and may be better than the wrong load on an OTL amplifier but they do affect the sound. How could they not as they are a complication/break in the chain?

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
4,261 posts
 

I am a fan of sensitive speakers and low powered amps....   While I think ML sound very good it's not really my thing.

THE most important match is the speaker / amp interface.    It is irrelevant of price.  I proved this when using high quality amplification with modest Klipsch kg 1 bookshelf speakers .  They sounded so good with a good tube preamp and amp that you would have never guessed I paid $50 for them.  It was the electronics that made them sound way better than they had a right to 

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