@atmasphere , While technically true, high powered Solid state amps Like the JC1 do just fine to 105 dB (as high as I have gone) for several reasons. The JC1s due to a programming error I made absolutely fried the high frequency brilliance control and I mean barbequed BLACK and I had no idea this was happening until I smelled smoke. The JC1s merrily baked along without so much as a whimper. Tough amps.
Next, while the Soundlabs are capable of making plenty of bass the long excursions required below 100 Hz doppler distort everything else the speaker does. I am of the firm belief, know it for an absolute fact, that full range ESLs sound even better, much better, if you use them with subwoofers. This cures the high impedance problem at low frequencies also. The 105 dB is without subwoofers. With subwoofers lord knows how loud you can go, certainly right past the threshold of pain. I would bet the subwoofers would be the limiting factor.
Having said all this there are quite a few Sound Labs owners who are convinced the MA 2 is the best amp to drive them. Hopefully, after I recover from dumping $50K into my system this year and the house renovation required by my wife (her part of the deal) I will be able to afford your amps and maybe a Dohmann Helix and a new Master Bath :-)
pinotnoir, The Antileon should be more than adequate for the time being. I would bet even better than most tube amplifiers with the exception of Ralph's amps. It is class A and 150 watt/ch. I bet it goes even higher in AB. However, next time around regardless of which amps you buy, get mono amps and place them right behind the speakers. This gives you the shortest speaker wires possible, a huge advantage with speakers that have low impedances. You should also run balanced cables to the amps.
Next, while the Soundlabs are capable of making plenty of bass the long excursions required below 100 Hz doppler distort everything else the speaker does. I am of the firm belief, know it for an absolute fact, that full range ESLs sound even better, much better, if you use them with subwoofers. This cures the high impedance problem at low frequencies also. The 105 dB is without subwoofers. With subwoofers lord knows how loud you can go, certainly right past the threshold of pain. I would bet the subwoofers would be the limiting factor.
Having said all this there are quite a few Sound Labs owners who are convinced the MA 2 is the best amp to drive them. Hopefully, after I recover from dumping $50K into my system this year and the house renovation required by my wife (her part of the deal) I will be able to afford your amps and maybe a Dohmann Helix and a new Master Bath :-)
pinotnoir, The Antileon should be more than adequate for the time being. I would bet even better than most tube amplifiers with the exception of Ralph's amps. It is class A and 150 watt/ch. I bet it goes even higher in AB. However, next time around regardless of which amps you buy, get mono amps and place them right behind the speakers. This gives you the shortest speaker wires possible, a huge advantage with speakers that have low impedances. You should also run balanced cables to the amps.