Martin Logan CLS 11Z speakers + which power amp?


just listened to MARTIN LOGAN ASCENT($4300) and the AEON($3000). no doubt the best allround sound nothing even comes close. however i have heard that the CLS11Z are even better except in the bass. i listen to classical so i do not need big bass. problem is that one needs lots of power to drive them. i plan to buy the PATHOS CLASSIC ONE($2000+), it is reported to be the best of both worlds tube + solid state. do i need the PATHOS TWIN TOWERS($5000+)to drive the CLS11Z($4500). if so maybe i should go with the ASCENT+CLASSIC ONE (and with the savings pick up a CARY 303/200 or CARY 306/200. if not the PATHOS can someone make a suggestion on a amp.(not all tube and under $3000, used ok)? thanks , paul
tweekerman
The Innersound is great for that speaker - you can add the ML sub later if you miss the deep bass - A friend of mine has this setup - without sub - tried it but didn't feel it created anything he needed. Phenomenal sound if you place them properly and can put up with their size - better looking than my Quad 989's were.
I am a martin logan dealer in ontario, I would recommend audio research, sonic frontiers because they sing together, especially for the price, conrad johnson, and if solid state, than definately krell or classe, i've heard all these combos even blue circle, and my favourite have been classe, than krell for solid state, and sonic frontiers and than audio research for tubes. If your looking for some sonic frontiers, krell, and one of my all time favourites, classe, than e-mail me and i'll tell you the details, but I would recommend listening to the used, mint condition classe amp, and matching preamp if you might be thinking of that too, because their sweet with the logans, and I would know because i've been selling them together for 15 years, and previous to that, quad.
dirtytrixxx@hotmail.com
I have the aerius i and have tried many amps(except ELS) but I've tried them with meridan, classe, krell kav, plinus, audiomat, b&k. I owned the bryston which was good but the bat vk200 really kicked for me. Great surenergy with the vk3i. The only thing I'd dump the bat for would be for the bigger bat vk500. Never auditioned the sim or krell fpb, but the claims from others were great. The bat let the ML's play rock & roll. As far as the martins go you diffinetly need subs in stereo. The subs I have now r the vandy's and I do love them. Haven't listened to the new descent. But the setup on the vandy's I think r the real key to the whole sub setup, accurate timing and superb blend. Good luck.
thanks everone for very helpful insight into the problems with the MARTINLOGAN CLS11Z speaker. as i lose sleep over this dilemma, i have concluded from all these responces the following. i definitely want hybrid, best of both worlds in the power source ,so that leaves out the KRELL. BLUE CIRCLE HYBRID line seems of interest,however if you go to PATHOS webpage and call one of the 3 dealers for PATHOS you may conclude that this italian engineer at pathos really knows his stuff. i know BAT & CLASSE are of excellent design.but i am looking for something really special, probably this is my last amp i will buy. through the grapevive i have heard that PATHOS is revealing their new CLASSIC ONE more power for the same price($2000),as well a new model TT$4500(not known as TWINTOWERS anymore)which can now handle the rigors of rock&roll. the $5500 TT will remain as well. so i will forgo the celestial sounding CLS11Z and settle for (the upgraded MARTINLOGAN AERIUS) the october release of the ASSENT($4300) a nice step up from the AEON$3000).later on i will take TRAVIS and LIGI's advice and work in a REL STORM 111. GASMAN ,i will research this ESL amp you mention. AUDIBLEGUY , thanks for your comments, even BRYSTON 7B MONOS!!! struck out!. so if i went in big debt.. the combo would be PATHOS TT (OR MONOS)+ CLS11Z +REL SUB. but the desire to keep a happy home overrides this path. i'll settle for the new CLASSIC ONE + ASSENT + GRANITE CDP, hard to order this upgraded 650 model, now has tube, can be bypassed with flip of switch to solid state!! i've been told, AWESOME SOUND! thanks paul
LIGI , GASMAN thanks for the lead on the INNERSOUND line. no doubt this is THE AMP for electrostat speakers. which do you recommend , the mono $3000 or the less powerful amp$3000. should i settle for the assent or go with the ESL11Z? have you heard the innersound line of electrostates? if so how do they compare to martin logans? but really i want the soon to be released PATHOS CLASSIC ONE so i guess i have to forget electrostates alltogether. is that correct? (not enough power).