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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 4 responses by stephenlloydwebber

stephenlloydwebber OP
4 posts
 
they're the original quests.

yeah, I don't doubt that there will be a major compromise because not only will the amp be lower wattage, but it will also be dirt cheap.

at this point, the class T amp seems like the right move.
stephenlloydwebber OP
4 posts
 
Yes, and here we're hitting on the relative idiocy of my original question. I want to keep my speakers but use a low watt amp, which also needs to be cheap, given my current financial straits, where audio equipment lists low.

If I got rid of the speakers -- ow, wow, there I'm already getting misty-eyed at the possibility -- I would need to purchase new speakers in addition to a new amp. The goal is low wattage but also dirt cheap, unless somehow I could get new efficient speakers and a low watt amp for the same price as a low watt amp for my electrostats.

I just really like the sound of the speakers and I happen to live off-grid. When the sun shines I can use a high power amp, and when the sun doesn't I can use my new/used ________ amp, which only cost me $___, I'm happy to say.
stephenlloydwebber OP
4 posts
 
Yeah, we use a battery bank for nighttime use -- 6 volt golf cart batteries wired in series and parallel @24volt, then to a 4000w magnum inverter for 120/250v. We don't run anything at 24 volts because the inverter is pretty efficient and 24 volt requires thicker cable (higher amps for same watts @120v).
Having a separate battery for an amp would keep the amp from draining the main battery bank, and so the wear and tear would only be on a single battery. Though it would need to be charged separately and wired separately, which is a pain and an expense, somewhat. It's a cool idea, though my existing amp would drain a single battery in no time, and if I continued with that idea, I would have to have a big secondary battery setup for the amp, which for me would be silly.

For now I am thinking that a used Parasound zone v2 looks good-- nearly same price as dayton amp, which looked good except that it would be pushed to high distortion with electrostats.
stephenlloydwebber OP
4 posts
 
UPDATE.
I went with the parasound zamp v2. It's lower wattage than the v3 which was a perk for me in this case. Using my SAE preamp (which uses 9watts), and this amp (at normal levels uses about 15 watts), plus a couple for the speakers (they plug in), I'm only pulling about 30 watts.
It sounds great. There's a lot less meat on the bass, but I am not complaining. I am happy with this setup.
When the sun is shining and I want to plug in the 100 pound beast (H/K Citation 16), I can do that, and it'll sound better. But I am in no way complaining.
Thanks for all the input.
Hope this thread is helpful for anyone else in a rare situation like the one I have.



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