I have just purchased the latest Sound Lab M1

Hello,
I purchased a pair of the M1's in Spring 2006, but I no longer have them in my system. If they have the teroidal transformers as mine did, you will need a tremendous amount of power. I purchased the Atma-Sphere M-2's based on Soundlabs recommendation and it was not enough power. Perhaps the VTL 750's would do the job, but I can't say for certain. My understanding is that Soundlab uses the solid state Parasound JC-1s at audio shows. I do not know how the Parasound JC-1s sound or if they actually have enough power. I hope you have a positive experience with your Soundlabs.
All the best,
Dennis

Although I'm a perennial advocate of tube amps with electrostats (and have sufficient experience with SS amps and stats -- not all bad BTW) there is one SS amp I would like to audition if I had the opportunity -- i.e. if a friend had one, or something easy like that ;-) And that's the amp currently made by Sanders Sound Systems:

http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/index.htm

Roger designed these amps (300W stereo and 800W monoblock)specifically for electrostats -- BTW he designed the Innersound Eros electrostatic speaker before starting his new company. Go to his website and read the white paper and other info. It's very interesting. I've not heard one as I say, but that would be my first consideration for an SS amp for those great Soundlabs!

Dennis, you are the only person I've heard of saying Atma-Sphere MA-2s not being adequate to drive Sound Labs. There are quite a few happy owners out there using that combination, and for that matter MA-1s with the power supply boost option. You didn't say whether your M-1s did not have the backplate impedance update which is particularly useful when driving the speakers with OTL amplifiers. Additionally, did your speakers have the higher efficiency panels and (gray) high voltage bias power supplies?

Disclaimer: Sound Lab and Atma-Sphere dealer.

Dennis,

Several things here. First, I agree with Brian regarding the Atma-Sphere MA-2s. His questions are valid - are you sure that the speakers have both of these updates? I can answer one of your other questions as well. The JC-1s have more than enough power for SoundLabs. I owned these amps before my present ones, bringing me to my final point on which I can offer an informed opinion. Ayre MX-Rs are, in my opinion, truly outstanding amps and are well suited to the SoundLabs.

Other amps that owners seem very satisfied with - the previously mentioned Atmas, the VTL 750s that you spoke of, Wolcotts, CAT JL-1 and JL-2, and the big Pass amps. I can tell you from experience that the Rogue Zeus sounds great on them but ultimately gives out too early.

Mike