Would switching amps make a big difference?

I used to own Rogue equipment

I also had a pair of big Rogue M180 monoblocks here for a while for repair, I put them on my ML esl’s they sounded OK, but couldn’t match the solid state for tight drive and extension in the highs, even on the 4ohm tap.

Cheers George

I’ve lived with ML’s nearly all my life throw in big Acoustat’s before them , they all need an amp that can drive down to 1ohm without sneezing at all, to get the best out of them.

And as wynpalmer4 found out even one of the best Class-D’s at the moment the Hypex NC400’s still was not the answer, and ’probably" neither any of the GaN Class-D’s, sure they’ll make sounds out of them and sound "ok" to those that have never heard them at their best, but is that what you want, "just ok?"

Cheers George

Martin Logan ESL's all dive down to around 1ohm with -phase shift as well in the HF.
As  wynpalmer above found of the three he listened too, the amp best suited was the one that delivers without sounding rolled off or distant in the hf better into that load, the Benchmark, which can give considerably higher current's with lower distortion into those low impedance's. 

Cheers George

cdc2 OP

A strong solid state amp is always a good idea to try with ESLs

This is good advise, get the right amp that can handle Martin Logan Ethos sub 1ohm loads and -phase angles with current and stability.

Stay away from expensive "band aid" fixes like autoformers, save your money and get the right amp for the job instead, your Logans will reward you if you do.

The performance of a solid state amp might sound subjectively brighter but that’s not because it’s tilting up the highs, but because it’s not rolling them off.

I’ve owned many ELS’s this is so true with all Martin Logans, with the right solid state amps that’s stable and that can drive into that sub 1ohm load, you will get the highs that are "there" at the correct intensity and extended, not muted and rolled off.

Cheers George