Best Electrostatic loudspeaker?

I've heard the big Sound Labs. You need a huge room, and even then the imaging is the antithesis of "pinpoint". It's vague and "wispy". Dynamically, they come to life at low volume better than any speaker, but at lifelike playback levels they are DECIDEDLY STRAINED compared to the best ribbons or dynamics in the same price category...AND NOT JUST IN THE BASS.

To Carl_eber: Could you e-mail me which amplifiers you heard the Sound Labs with in your 2-23-00 post? I am a new Sound Lab dealer and am trying to learn which amplifiers work well with Sound Labs and which ones do not, and obviously you heard an amp which did not. The choice of amplifier is crucial with Sound Labs. You would be helping me a great deal by sharing your experience with me. My address is audiokinesis@home.com. Thank you.

Here is my e mail address for responces regarding the soundlab ultimate II speakers. Thanks for your reply in advance. Shane Hofkamp hofkamp585@home.com

Best speakers I have ever heard are the ones I own quad els57s,these are full range and not hybreds like alot of others mentioned,I find site very good and informative as are alot of american sites I have visited,A friend of mine owns the devas these on his system are amazing,call me biased if you will but I am from the home of quads England.

When I was, by one of my advisors, presented with the opportunity to purchase Soundlab's A-1's and decided to do so without knowing very much about them, if you will, imagine being presented with two of the most beautiful pieces of furniture one could imagine. When I hooked them up it changed my life. I have subsequently found the proper way to drive them full range; everything Albert Porter reports above is beyond truth, and this end of my quest for appropriate sounding Jazz and Chamber Music is over. I may change the front end line source, but to have finished looking and longing for amps and speakers is the reward for thirty years of effort. Dr. West deserves a medal; his (small) staff, when I reached them, were very responsive, leading me to pleasurable experience in dealings/ queries; and if this combination is going to be surpassed somebody is going to have to come out of hiding from somewhere.,