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Atma-Sphere M60 monoblocks + ML ESL 11 = Inferior combo

Hi guys,

Today I borrowed home a pair of pure OTL-Tube M60 mononblocks to combine with my ML ESL 11s (which base are partially driven by a Class-D amplifer of 275 watts) with very poor results. Unfortunately, although the M60s where only to cater for the diaphragm panels (at least in theory), when combined with the speakers, the soundstage collapsed, vocals felt muffled and absent deep into the sound picture, almost hidden away, and the base went out of control (got larger and louder in a negative way). I also lost details. The Monos are a pair of brand new demos and shined this morning together with a pair of smaller Vivid monitors.

My current SS - a Bryston 4B3 delivers so much better combined with the ML ESL 11s. Someone that can explain what I did just experience? I thought that OTL tubes and High sensitive Martin Logans of todays generation where to be a marriage in heaven.

Kind regards 

 

  

andy_wonderwall

Showing 4 responses by decooney

decooney
2,334 posts
 

@andy_wonderwall Look here, Agon 2016, a partially related thread and replies.  

 

decooney
2,334 posts
 

Your 4B3 is the better ticket to the show for those particular MLs. 

decooney
2,334 posts
 

@andy_wonderwall no worries, and sharing some of the same, probably should have mentioned I run custom made hybrid electrostatic speakers on dual mono tube amps myself. 6ohm, 93db sensitivity would seem easy to drive. Not as much as I hoped with prior attempts using lower power parallel single ended amps in strapped triode mode. Back and forth I went with higher powered tube and revisiting some capable SS amps to find the best match. Your Atma 60 amps and your 4B3 amps are both on my bucket list. I can imagine your 4B3 amp lights those MLs up. When I put a good SS amp on my hybrid ES speakers, it does open a larger door and deeper room into what a capable electrostatic speaker can do.

If I had your Atma 60s I’d be fast on the hunt for a good matching speaker just to be able to truly appreciate and hear those fantastic tube amps. Your 4B3 solid state would be a nice match for my own speakers, and have kept that on my favs list to acquire as a future keeper amp. Lucky challenges to have, you have great taste, happy listening to both :)

decooney
2,334 posts
 

@andy_wonderwall have you tried pairing up a really good tube preamp in front of your Bryston 4B3 amplifier?  If not, this can yield another very nice result too.  What  preamp are you using with your Atma M60 mono tube amps now?

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