Any Opinions about Innersound ESL amps?

We're a tube kinda couple, but when my wife and I compared the Innersound ESL amp to our 400 watt customized Melos monoblocks, an ARC VT-200 and Threshold Stasis SA-2's we were mighty impressed. We tried the combo on the Eros and our old full range Acoustats. We highly recomend it for electrostats.

Well, based on the excellent feedback about the Innersound amps, I decided to take the plunge and order a couple of Innersound ESL Monoblocks. After I get them, I'll post a comparison with the Marsh a400s right here!! Thanks for all your help, folks!

Wow....am I happy!! Finally, an audio decision that worked out. I received my Innersound ESL Monoblocks from Innersound and I am incredibly impressed. I underestimated the difference that moving from the Marsh a400s (330 w/ch. 4 ohm)to the Innersounds (1200 w/ch. 4ohm) would make. The Martin Logan CLS IIz's, like most electrostats are a difficult and reactive load. I thought the Marsh was doing a pretty good job, but it would occasionally go into protect mode at high volume.

The new amp does just about everything the Marsh did well. Pure rich detailed sound without coloration. The Marsh was a bit extreme in the high end and I'm finding the Innersounds to be a bit more refined in that area. But the major difference is the expansive soundstage and energy of the extra power into the electostats. The tight midbass punch is superb. Symphonic music, in particular, sounds more realistic.

My next step is to compare the Innersound coaxial speaker cables (which I'm currently using) to my Tara The One Reference speaker cables. I sent the 10 ft pair back to Tara to have them cut into a 6ft pair and a 4 ft pair and reterminated. They should be back next week and I'll post the results here.

Also, I should say that Roger Saunders has been great to work with at Innersound. He has spent a lot of time on the phone with me explaining about the science of electrostats and his amps.

Needless to say, I'm a happy camper in audio nirvana!!!

Great to hear! Roger really turned those amps around for you fast,didn't he? Roger does cultivate customer loyalty, doesn't he?

WOW !!! Great to hear the results that you're getting and glad that you're happy. So far, it sounds like you're "sold" on those babies.

As to the difference between 330 wpc and 1200 wpc, i can believe that it would make a difference, especially with a reactive load such as E-stat's. However, i think it has more to do with the design of the amp / interface with the speakers more than anything.

I'm basing this on the fact that i was running my HT mains with a conservative 900 wpc ( 400+ from 200 Hz up and 500+ below that ) and then switched to a single amp that does 1200 wpc at that impedance. While 900+ wpc should have been plenty, i could still drive the amps into compression and it would get smeared at "volume". With the newer amp, the sound is effortless and NEVER sounds strained. Even at 117 db's at 10', the sound is completely clean. Due to the complete lack of grain and "smearing", it doesn't even sound "aggressive" at that level.

I would imagine that your situation resulted in similar findings. Since the amp is not being "pushed" nearly as much or run up into the "danger / protection" zone, it probably sounds far more open and relaxed with greater bass control / impact. While most folks would consider the 330 wpc that you were running to be "big power", they will never know the difference that BIG power makes in terms of ease, definition and control. Sean
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