Recommedation to drive Electrostatics? ML, Inner?


Any recommendation to drive Martin Logan, Innersound amps? Tubes vs. Solid State? Thoughts, recommendations appreciated....
128x128bringgeld
Contact Terry/Western Reserve Audio Design:216-521-0900.He built the i-tube amps for Innersound.He is producing this amp himself,and available for auditions.6moons has his amp for review-presently.KT-88 based at 160/ch (WRAD-300).
I have used the EAD Powermaster 2000 and CAL MCA 2500 with great results when biamping. I have also used Bryston PP120's, Linar Audio 250i, and Sim Audio W10 monoblocks with good results. It depends on your liking and pocketbook.
As a former Innersound Eros owner, I would have to say that the Innersound ESL300 amp will be one of the best "bang for your buck" amps you could find. As Bignerd recommended, I would also use a tube preamp. I would stay away from tube power amps. I'm not sure of the model of ML speakers you have (hybrid, full range), but if they are like the Eros, they will be a very difficult load for the majority of tube amps since the impdence drops to very low levels in the higher frequencies.

If you are on a budget, and don't like the Innersound amp, look for some of the older Thresholds (T400?) or Krells (KSA-KST100 or 200) out there with big power supplies capable of "doubling down" into at least 2 ohms impedence.

If you are not on a budget, you may want to consider bi-amping.
The Innersound ESL amps are great with digital sources.With a good analog front end,you will know something fas been overlooked.
The older Krells will have problems with their output transistors-test fine,but can leak or malfunction.
As a note:the WRAD 300/i-tube was designed specifically to drive the unusual impedances of an ESL.