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
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.
The whole issue of low impedance Apogee speakers and the H2O's ability is irrelevant. Since this is not the case for the A1's, discussing an amp that handles sub 1-ohm loads is a "don't care" issue in this thread.

Pure and simple, if you have invested in a $15k speaker like the A1, you need to put the same amount of attention to find an amp of the same calibre to hear what you paid for with the speaker. Again, pure and simple - the H20 does not cut it to convey the many awesome strengths of the SoundLab speakers. We can talk all we want about driveability, but again, this has nothing to do with musicality - the portrayal of space, silence between the notes, dynamic contrasts, ability to play material with a high level of low frequency extension and not have the mids and trebles crumble at the same time, etc., etc., etc.

The CAT amp is not euphonic at all, and the one JL-2 will not generate that much heat. You really should try to hear this to get an idea as to what your speakers are capable of. And try to get the H20 on loan so you can even more greatly appreciate the CAT's ability. Once you hear it, the H20's will be gone.

John
Thanks to all of you who responded to my questions. The problem has been resolved - at least for now. This morning, I arranged to purchase Bob Crump's personal pair of JC-1s from his estate. For those of you who don't know, Bob lived in Houston, about 40 miles from my home.