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tube amp dilemma with electrostats

I am just getting into tubes as i have a dedicated home theatre system but want to get away from that solidstate sound for 2 channel.I currently use the anthem p5 for the 5.1 sound. I want to use my modified shanling cdt100 cd player directly into the tube amp of choice to power my martin logan ascents.This is where the dilemma begins:a friend borrowed me his dynaco 70 to try out and i fell in love with tube sound but the dynaco is a little under powered [35wpc]i think for the logans .He thought that if he brought over his original mcintosh 275 and we tried it out that we would be in awe.Well we both couldn't believe that the dynaco sounder richer and warmer than the mac.We tried changing the tubes from kt88's to the 6550's and that made it a bit better but still not like the dynaco.the sound from the mac paired up with the logans was bright sounding, too close to solidstate.So i am looking for anyone that has had the experiance of a recommendation of a tube amp with the logans. I do not want to buy a number of tube amps before i find one that is a good match.For starting out i would like to spend up to 1500.00 for a used amp.Please give me some recommendations.
Thanks Les
les

Showing 1 response by tbg

tbg
5,263 posts
 
I had much experience with several electrostatic speakers and tube amplifiers. When I had Infinity SS1s, I had modified Dyna Stereo 70s for a while. The ARC 75As and 76s proved superior. With Martin Logans, I used ss amps. With Quad ESLs I originally used old Quad IIs and then Luxman 304s with my double Quads.

All that I can really say is that I doubt if there is straight truth about which tube amp would work with any electrostatic. I love SETs but many cannot handle the low impedance at various points of electrostatics. I think that $1500 will not buy you the amp you seek, but good luck.
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