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Best tube amp for electrostatic speakers

For over 35 years I've almost exclusively used either ribbons or electrostats with solid state amplification and have been generally happy with the sound. Over the last several years, though, my hearing has become somewhat degraded and more sensitive to certain frequencies. The frequencies which seem to cause the most discomfort occur in the 1400 to 1900Hz range and come across as "bright" to my hearing. After researching this matter and having been given some expert advice, I've decided to pursue the idea of replacing my present amplification equipment with tube based gear.

The purpose of this post, then, is to solicit advice regarding the best approach to making this decision based on the following information: the current basic equipment is Shanling Solid state CD player, Peachtree Audio Nova used as preamp, two DBX 1531 EQ's to help compensate for age related hearing loss, Peachtree 220 amp, Silversonic T114 cable and Martin Logan Ethos speakers.

The listening area is our living room measuring 15 by 22 feet with my listening position 16 feet from the plane of the 2 speakers which are positioned 11 feet apart measured center to center. Located between the 2 speakers is an entertainment center which is about 9 feet wide. My listening interests are varied from solo guitar and light jazz to occasional orchestral music. I don't generally listen at high volumes and am not particularly interested in strong bass except for the rare action movie background.

Unless not advisable for some reason, I would like to keep the Peachtree Nova as a preamp because of the significant latitude for source connection and what seems to have a decent internal DAC. If this option would substantially defeat the purpose of the intended modification I would work around it. I can no longer deal with sounds that are "bright" which I now find uncomfortable but detailed sound is very important.

So, the questions are: is the move to tubes the best option and, if so, what might be some reasonably priced amps that could accomplish the goal. This, of course, would take into consideration room size, etc. for determining power requirements. If there are other more practical and less expensive options to consider, I would appreciate that advice as well.
128x128broadstone
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
277 posts
 
I've used electrostatics for over 35 years, all of which except for one pair of Acoustats have been ML (Prodigy, SL3, CLS, Odyssey, now the Ethos) and have been aware of their impedance characteristics for most of that time. However, during much of the early part of that interval I thought that simply adding sufficient power would accommodate potential problems associated with that issue. I also thought, as do many of us undereducated hobbyists, that tube amps are, out of hand, naturally "warmer" than solid state. I was wrong, of course, and have come some distance from that time, discovering, for one thing, that the brightest amp I've ever owned was an integrated tube unit that I almost immediately removed from my system.

In reading these posts and doing the research they've inspired, I think now that my original post should have read "Best amp for ESL's" period. I shouldn't have started out assuming that tubes were the only or even my best solution. In the past I've used multiple DAC's to deal with my stated issues and for at least one source, achieved a significant improvement. Now, as if my challenges were not already enough, we're discussing significant issues related to the tube/ESL route that challenge my thinking even more.

I think my approach, then, has been somewhat backward; I bought amplification equipment based on good reviews and upgraded my speakers based on my familiarity with a certain technology and expected them to meld into a superior system. Fortunately, for most of my music this turned out to be pretty much the case and resulted in what might be the best setup I've ever put together except for these issues of occasional harshness associated with certain frequencies. Because these problems seem to be primarily a result of my age related hearing deterioration I feel now like I'm chasing my tail looking for some magic in more equipment changes.

Anyway, I'm going to reintroduce tube DAC's back into the setup and see if that helps but, whether or not it does, I will still be following this thread and continuing research until I get comfortable with a final decision about equipment choices
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 

Please don't accuse me of trolling on these forums Ralph, it's fact and that's that. I'm just keeping things honest here, in that Autoformers are not the magic bullet that you portray they are.
And that your better off saving the $700 odd dollars that they cost and getting the right amp or speakers so things do match up.

Autoformers are at their the most advantageous when used with OTL amps on speakers they can't drive, should ring bells on who's doing what, on these forums.

Quote:
"The most important thing to remember about the Autoformers is: if there is no significant impedance mismatch, then there will be no real benefit to using the Autoformers."

I'll add to that not that the reviewer would say it, there will actually be a detriment to the sound if used in the above situation.

Cheers George
bifwynne
2,069 posts
 
@Broadstone ... you may have caught some of my posts on another thread about the DEQX product. I mention it here because it may be a worthwhile tool for one to throw into their audio toolkit.

On the one hand, I am *NOT* thrilled that my DEQX PreMATE is inserted between my linestage and amp. It *IS* an artifact that must have some effect on the signal integrity. But having said that, the sonic benefits of the DEQX far out-weight its sonic detriments.

I mention the DEQX here because it might help smooth out some of the harshness that some say they hear with their ESLs ... heck any speaker. No ... the DEQX will not fix a serious amp/speaker impedance mismatch problem. But it will definitely help make a pair of very good speakers sound much better.

Plus, of course, there's the added benefit that the DEQX will correct, or at least mitigate, time incoherence issues with one's speakers. I surmise that ML ESLs are probably time coherent with respect to the acoustic spectrum handled by the STAT panels. But there might be some time incoherence between the woofers and STAT panels.

ZERO comments (pun intended) on the benefits (or not) of using ZERO autofomers. Gotta tell ya though ... .5 ohms in the high treble region .... not for my ARC Ref 150. Wouldn't even try it. No sir. Hard to understand how any amp (tube or SS) can even drive a near short.
sqlsavior
46 posts
 
Broadstone, you may want to try replacing the DBX graphic EQs with a parametric equalizer - one that acts only on a specific range of frequencies (one sets a mid-point and width, as well as height) and try using it to attenuate the frequency range of your sensitivity/tinnitus. Less stimulus to excite the ringing. I do not know if that is an accepted therapeutic principal, but suspect it might work out better than boosting lost frequencies.
broadstone's avatar
broadstone OP
277 posts
 
Bifwynne, yes, I have read your posts and have reviewed the PreMATE as a potential fix worth consideration. I had the same concerns re putting additional components in the stream when I added EQ's to address my hearing issues. It may be an affront to the sensibilities of many audiophiles but the overall improvement to my personal listening enjoyment was significant, sort of like having room sized hearing aids. The PreMATE's price is a bit of a stretch for me, though, so for now I'll just keep it on my list for future consideration.
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