Ideal Cheap Low-Watt Amp for Martin Logan Quest


What would be a few ideas for an ideal low wattage dirt-cheap power amp for Martin Logan Quest electrostats?

(Either a power amp or, preferably, an integrated amp.)

OK, so it's a strange question. Electrostats are not the most power efficient speakers. But in my current situation, which is living off grid using solar power, I would like to keep my speakers (ML Quest) and get a small amp. I would like this amp to be dirt cheap and very low wattage. Lets say 50 watts and under.

Suggestions?

Most important factors to consider?

I will keep my current setup (tweaked H/K Citation 16 power and sae pre) for daytime use, but I would really like something for cloudy days and evening/nighttime use. We are on solar power, and at night rely on batteries for power. I love this life, but it does pose a challenge for listening to loudspeakers at night.
stephenlloydwebber

Showing 2 responses by electroslacker

Do you have the original Quests or the Quest-Z? I had (still in basement) the original and they are a tough impedance curve, and may need quite a lot of oomph from the amp. I tried the Mark Levinson ml-27, which sounded wretched. I tried a Classe' CA-200 that dimmed the lights in the house on peaks. I tried the Pass Aleph-0's, which were just boring. The two amps that did well was the McCormack DNA-1 and the Classe' CA-300, and I ended up with the CA-300.
Stephen, Granted, you have a difficult speaker to match with a low cost amp, but I can offer a positive note on the speakers. I bought mine from a dealer who had a used pair, along with a used pair of Apogee Duetta's. We spent most of the day comparing, and although the Duetta's had a fuller sound and certainly a lust factor, all three of us, including the store owner thought the Quests sounded better. So that's pretty good company. The Duetta's would have held their value better, and I would have loved owning them, but on that day, head-to-head, the Quests held their own. A used amp that works with them will still cost you, but you're within striking distance of good sound.