2. amps-preamps
  3. 1134479183

Class D Amp For 'Stats?

For a number of reasons, I am considering the purchase of a Class D amp (or amps) to drive my Sound Lab A-1s. Most uses of such amps detailed here and elsewhere seem to have been with 'conventional' speakers, which obviously present very different impedance loads than a full range electrostatic (approximately 40 ohms in the bass, dropping to 2 ohms at the highest frequencies). I would be most interested to hear of members' experiences.
curriemt11
dlstephenson
121 posts
 
I cannot imagine why you would want a Class D amp? Most class D use large amounts of Feedback to deal with transient response. I have not heard a Class D amp that does not sound mechanical except for subs, this is the one acceptable use that I can think of. What type of music do you listen to?
harrahlv
42 posts
 
Hi, Check out the Bryston 4BSt or SST. They were designed to drive the hardest speakers I can think of, the Dayton Wright gas filled electrostatics. I've heard these amps on Audiostatics { which I own} and Quad 63's and even Quad 57's and the amp just cruises and sounds great.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Never mind Distephenson. Either he has limited experience with this new genre, or an inhospitable system hindering their proper function.

See my system review, at:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vaslt&1133363314&read&3&4&
nealhood
199 posts
 
I have a Bel Canto evo-4 and, it sounds outstanding on my Magnepan 3.6's. My favorite amplifier on these speakers. However, I do not like it on Sound Lab U2's as the sound character is thin and bright'ish. Switching amplifiers have an output filter and, this filter will interact to some degree with the load impedance. With Sound Labs, the reactive load impedance varies quite a lot especially in the lower registers. The BC just does not seem happy with the SLs. It's speculation, but I suspect it's not much different with any switching amplifier as they all have have an LC output filter.

The Atmasphere OTL amplifiers are my favorite on the big SL's - the MA-1s and MA-2s in particular. I have spent considerable time with both and, both work great. I have also tried the Wolcott 220s and, the Innersound ESL-300. There is a palpable richness with the Atmasphere's that manage to elude the other amps.
More to discover