Your favorite Electrostatic, Panel spkr

I'm glad to see Sound Lab mentioned so many times. I have owned the same pair of Sound Lab speakers, model A-2, for 35 years. They are the smallest pure electrostatic Sound Labs ever made. They are a two way. Even though I have lusted after the larger Sound Labs, I have never felt the need to upgrade because the smaller size is convenient (they are by no means small however) and Sound Labs have a family sound. With the larger speakers you get more and deeper bass, but the bass on my speakers is quite adequate, thank you, and the tonal quality is similar to the other Sound Labs I have heard, which admittedly is not very many. I did get to spend an evening listening to Jeff Rowlands A-1s, the top of Sound Labs line at the time, with the then new Rowland Model 7 amps, and was still happy with mine. Imaging is amazing since they are a true line source. For years I listened to many other speakers thinking there must be something better out there, but finally gave up. It was pointless. I would consider no other electrostatic brand, and would not be without a pair. I drive mine with 25 watt Mark Levinson ML-2 amps. I bought them used in about 1985, and did have the mylar replaced with the then new thinner mylar back in the early '90s.

Actually, I was reading a post a while ago on DIYaudio.com. It was about the power switch on the ML-2. John Curl answered it and stated that he was not involved in the final layout of the ML-2, he had worked on the project however. Tom Colangelo is credited with the design of the ML-2. I do have a Vendetta Research phono stage however, that was all John.

I first heard the ML-2 around 1980, powering a pair of Magnepan Tympanis. I never forgot that experience. After building my big horn speakers that I talk about elsewhere, I was no longer satisfied with the sound of my Sound Labs. It was then I discovered that the ML-2 was designed specifically for electrostatics, specifically the Quad ESL 57. They are large, heavy, draw 400 watts at idle, and with 400 watts to make 25 watts, you can rest assured they are 100% class A. All of my amps are Class A. They are about 1/2 heat sink by volume, so they don't really get all that warm. I also have a British Fidelity A-1 integrated, another Class A amp that people say is not, and that little darlin' gets HOT. It pulls about 180 watts to make 20, but it does not have the current capability of the ML-2.  I found a pair, and yes a lot of caps had to be replaced, but they are every bit as magical as I remember. They returned the Sound Labs to the top of my favorite speaker list again. Actually, I think that is a testament to how well my horn system turned out. It is essentially an Altec Voice of the Theater system with a ribbon tweeter added. And, yes, it is time aligned.