Tube Amp for Martin Logan SL3 3

ML's *love* tubes. In fact, this is the only way to open them up. There are lots of tube amps in the $2K range (used) that are up to the job. Anyone who tells you otherwise has either not owned ML's or hasn't compared tube amps and ss in their system. Case closed.

To clarify my previous post (I figured I would get some disagreement--but that's okay--I don't feel there really are any absolutes in audio (except don't run your Class A amplifier in a full bathtub). Anyway, I do own Martin Logan's, they are monoliths. I have friends that own Requests and SL3s. We all love the Martin Logan. My current set-up is ML monoliths with Levinson 20.0 on top and Krell KMA 160 on bottom. I have run mine on tube amps. It didn't work--not at all. Now in fairness--the panels of the monoliths are very difficult to drive--more so than the SL-3, and I wasn't using a megabuck high powered tube amp either. I have listened to Requests driven with very expensive tube amps--they sounded great!! I do love the sound of tubes with the panels if the tube amp is powerful enough to handle it. When we did this the bottom end did lose a bit of dynamics in the bass, but it was worth it to hear the panels with the tubes. As to the SL3--I have not heard tubes on the SL3--but I have heard it with Levinson 27, which also sounds fantastic--it is not bright at all (Krell probably would be, but series 20 Levinson is not bright at all). While I disagree with Bigcigarman's point about Levinson and Krell, I am intrigued by the Sonic Frontiers with SL3. Have you listened to this combination? If so this might be a very good recommendation.

I have Martin Logan Sequel II speakers, which are similiar to your SL3s. I went from a class A solid-state Threshold amp to a Sonic Frontiers tube amp without difficulty. I was concerned that tubes would not perform as well, but my fears dissapeared after a few hours of listening. Tubes work great. I may never go back to solid-state with electrostatics.

I use the EAR 534 tube amp to drive my Martin Logan Odysseys.It is 50wpc and drives any load - balanced inputs - variable level controls for each channel - no settings to worry about - retails for 3500 but is usually avaiable used in the 2-2.5k range.

there are plenty of amps that will work fine. I have CLS I's (the hardest to drive of any logan?) and also Aerius Is. Have driven both with no probs off a CA200 Classe (2x200), Conrad Johnson Premier 5 monoblocks (2x200 el34 tubes) and off my 47 lab gaincard(!) - 2x25watts. In some ways the gaincard was best, even though the lowest nominally rated power. Dont' beleive all the stories about how hard these are to drive... they aren't quite as bad as legend would have it.

enjoy,
-Ed