Seems like there is a lot of dialog with watts and playing loud. I own Electrostats and Maggie's. All of my amps are Monoblocks pushing out over 700 watts per block. Sometimes I play them loud, but most of that power is for the dynamics, power in reserve for the speed, control and peaks that will make those panels sing. You can play loud with any amp, if you like distortion. The high wattage, high amperage power amps are what's needed to get the most out of your panels at any listening level.
Electrostatics and tubes
I am looking to get some new to me speakers, I've been looking at options and would really like to try a set of planars "electrostatics". I have read or heard somewhere that as far as speakers go they tend to be inefficient (85 to 89) vs.90+(db) on the Klipsch or Dali's I've been tossing around as a standard speaker option. I guess my question is would I need to worry about any over heating issues. I plan on using plenty of power with a set of VTA, M-125's to power them. I am looking at a lower budget set maybe Martin Logan ESL 9's or Magnepan 2.7i . Just wondering I would hate to over heat a few hundred dollars worth of tubes if I don't need to. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ don't roast me to bad I cry easy 
thanks.
Showing 4 responses by gumbedamit
@hotrod6871 If all I ever drive is a Honda Accord, it would be fine to get me from place A to B. I would never know the excitement of stepping on that pedal, hearing the engine rev and deep sound of the exhaust note coming from the rear. I would never know that feeling of coming up on a curve in the road, stepping on the excelerator as I reach the apex. If I drove a Corvette or Farrari, I would know all those feelings. A low watt tube amp will give you all the excitement of the Honda. You will hear sound from your Maggie's or Electrostatic speakers, but you won't feel the music. Most of the tube people will say, they play just fine, they would on a highly efficient speaker. And since they are driving the Honda, they don't know the difference. I would say, buy a used Classe Amp, one with 200 watts and over. You'll be able to find one on this site for around $2000. Test it against the tube amp you want to get. Those older amps hold their value and if it doesn't work out, you can sell it for what you paid. I am not downing tubes, my front end on my Maggie system is a Bottlehead Foreplay, backed by Classe CAM350 Monoblocks. My Acoustat Spectra 33's are backed by Acoustat TNT200's Monoblocks by Roy Esposito. All this to say, I've been around the block with panel speakers and I know what drives them best. Enjoy the Music |
@bdp24 Steve also has a review stating how he doesn't like Electrostats.. |
@bdp24 I've owned Maggie's from MGIIIa's up to my current 20 1's. A friend of mine once owned a set of Acoustat Spectra 11's. I was amazed how well they imaged compared to my then MGIIIa's. The bass sucked, but the imaging was great. A few years ago I had the opportunity to get a set of Acoustat Spectra 33's and build on that. The larger panels and the seemless integration gave a much better sound over the 11's with increased imaging and bass response. I use a sub for the bottom end which helps with slam and SPL. Do they sound better than the Maggie's, no just different. FYI: I don't need a sub for my Maggie's. Enjoy the Music
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