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
The UcD based amps do have a slight interaction. Less than ICEpower based amps. I have extensive experience with both.

The gang at Hypex is confident that it will handle low-Z loads. Tell the truth, I have never tested them that way. (We only offer the UcD version for HT applications, and you most likely won't find 'stats or Apogees there.)
It's been suggested that speaker impedance variation with frequency might affect operation of the output filter of digital amps. Perhaps that explains why Magneplanar speakers, with their flat resistive impedance, respond so well to powerful digital amplifiers.
Eldartdford, I wonder if there might be more to it than that. My Thiels have a rather steady resistive lower impedance load, yet, I don't know of anyone touting these amps with those speakers. A_rt has suggested that these amps tend to get bright into lower impedances. We are all very much aware of Muralman1's enthusiam for his H2O's on his notoriously low impedance Appogge's. I suspect that Muralman1 might disagree with me here, but, my experience with the Appogges have demonstrated a distinctive downward sonic tilt (the opposite of my Thiels). This just might explain why he is experiencing such joyus synergy.
Unsound, you may have a good point. Apogees have historically been known as downward tilting sounding speakers, especially the Scintilla.

However, "bright" is a symptom I can't abide. I detest any sort of distortion. My speaker's highs are as sweet as a soft center Sees candy.

Muralman1, Distortion is distortion, whether it's tilting up, down, or elsewhere. Now if you find particular distortions either more or less objectionable, well, that's something else and all together more understandable. After all that's probably the basis that we all use to put our systems together in the first place. The point I was trying to make was that if digital amps are bright into low impedance loads then in your case it was unlikely to exacerbate the problem and could even help to neutralize one. It may just demonstrate that though opinons vary they may all be correct within given circumstances. It may be that digital amps like other technologies may be specificaly appropriate. Eldartford and A_rt may have identified specific attributes that currently may help in deciding whether or not this technology may be appropriate. Furthermore since this is a relatively new technonlogy we may not have seen all that digital amps have to offer. The future certainly looks interesting.