The two postings above are excellent, and I just want to bring an amp to your attention that would do very well with planars, ESLs, ribbons, or dynamic speakers. I own the Innersound "ESL" amplifier, and currently use it with Martin-Logan CLS IIz speakers. It is purpose-built to drive electrostatics, and is rock stable into the low impedances typically seen at high frequencies with ESLs. I have also used this amp to drive Acoustats, Innersound Eros, Gallo Nucleus Ref. speakers, and Apogee Duetta Signatures, all with ease. It is able to provide the large voltage swings that ESL speakers need, and also sufficient current for speakers that require it. Sound Lab owners have commented very favorably about the ESL amp when used with these speakers.
It is rated at 300 w/ch into 8 ohms, and 600 w/ch into 4 ohm loads, (and stable at 1 ohm.) Balanced & RCA inputs, 45 lbs. in a compact package, runs cool in operation with no protection circuitry needed, due to its (18!) bipolar transistors per channel, each rated at 250 watts. All this and it sounds great, with no distortion, very extended high frequency response, and world class dynamics (even with ESLs.) If you get the amplifier / speaker combination cooking, the rest of the system will perform to its maximum.
For more detail go to "www.innersound.net", and check recent reviews in "The Absolute Sound" Good luck!
It is rated at 300 w/ch into 8 ohms, and 600 w/ch into 4 ohm loads, (and stable at 1 ohm.) Balanced & RCA inputs, 45 lbs. in a compact package, runs cool in operation with no protection circuitry needed, due to its (18!) bipolar transistors per channel, each rated at 250 watts. All this and it sounds great, with no distortion, very extended high frequency response, and world class dynamics (even with ESLs.) If you get the amplifier / speaker combination cooking, the rest of the system will perform to its maximum.
For more detail go to "www.innersound.net", and check recent reviews in "The Absolute Sound" Good luck!