Electrostatic speakers and low volume resolution

Going back to an earlier discussion where I asked advice regarding the use of tubes with electrostatics, I kind of abandoned the idea because a number of issues arose that were a little involved for me to get comfortable with. One of the main ones of these was the prospect of finding a tube amp with a 2 ohm tap and whether using the ZEROS at the 4 or 8 ohm tap would accomplish the same thing. Based primarily on Atmasphere's explanation I assume that both approaches are viable and equal(?) in their ability to handle these extreme loads. I'm not claiming any kind of complete understanding of the relationship of feedback to distortion or its control, but my gut tells me that the ZERO approach using "normal" taps from the amp would be the better choice, if for no other reason than having greater latitude in choosing an amplifier.

Once again, I find myself in a discussion that exceeds my experience and level of expertise but realize that just because I can't hear anything above about 8000Hz doesn't mean that those frequencies above that level don't contribute to distortion. However, in regard to those "shunt approaching" frequencies described, there are no musical instruments, at least in the base harmonic, that come near 20KHz. If my understanding is correct, then, does this mean that using the 4 ohm tap with the electrostatics may be acceptable at low to moderate volumes?

^^It might be, but when you use the 4 ohm tap of most tube amplifiers, the output transformer often has a loss of bandwidth at both extremes and some are better than others. The ZEROs take care of that problem by allowing you to use a higher impedance tap where the transformer is more efficient and the amp makes less distortion.

While fundamentals of instruments don't go that high, harmonics of them certainly do.

Good, I guess my understanding wasn't THAT far off. Based on what I've learned in these discussions, then, I am interested again in trying a tube based power amp with the ZEROs. I will still keep the Peachtree Nova as a preamp for its latitude of source connections and keep the ML's partly because they're new and partly because, having used electrostats for 35+ years, I'm habituated to their sound. The next step will be to decide on an amp. Atmasphere, does it make a difference whether the ZERO unit is located at the amp or speaker end of the cable?...I'm considering using the naked ZERO but, based on cost considerations, it will be awhile before I make these purchases.

Atmasphere, I read your article on the development history but forgot to ask an important question. Would it make sense to try impedance matching with my SS amp first before buying the tube amp to see if that improves my low volume issue? Also, if I plan to use the ZERO might I just as well get an OTL amp?

We do have customers that have had Martin Logans and our amps for extended periods- one guy still has the same speakers (CLS2s) and a set of MA-1s built in 1990. So you can use OTLs.

Paul Speltz, who makes the ZEROs, has a letter from Steve McCormick that states that his solid state amps sound better driving 4 ohms through the ZEROs than they do direct, and Steve's amps drive 4 ohms without difficulty.

IOW even solid state amps make more distortion when driving lower impedance loads (this can be seen in the specs of any solid state amp), so the ZEROs can be used to reduce that distortion. Since the ear translates distortion into tonality, the result should be smoother sound.