Innersound ESL amplifier - good choice?

Hello Philojet,
I'm using the Innersound esl amp with my Magnepan 1.6's. It just so happens that the Rogue 99 is in my system as well. I compared a Odyssey Stratos amp to the Innersound and found that the Innersound is more revealing, dynamic, airy with voice and space, and overall a "effortless" quality to the sound compared to the Odyssey. My new Rogue 99 arrived last week and I was more impressed of the sound compared to my Rogue 66. My new 99 hasn't been fully broken in yet and came with stock Chinese tubes which seemed bright and lacked the "warm" sound I hoped for (probably due to the Chinese tube compliment). Today I sent my Rogue 99 in for the Magnum upgrade, which includes the nos Russian 6n7's and hope that the nos tubes(along with the Magnum upgrade) will warm the sound a bit more. The first thing I noticed when using the 66 and 99 was total control of the maggies and more "information" from the source which was not as revealing with the Odyssey Stratos amp. Don't get me wrong, the Odyssey Stratos amp is good, but it just doesn't have the control and revealing qualities like the Innersound esl amp. I'm sure it is because of its power, and high voltage of its design. I'll keep you updated as soon as I have more of a refined listening session with the Innersound esl, Rogue 99 Magnum, and Magnepan 1.6's !

Hello, I have owned the Innersound amps.They do a great number of things right-especially with a digital source.There is a better presentation with a class A biased amp IMO. Had you considered a Plinius SA-100/102 and possibly monoblocking when the cash is available.I believe the top-end detail and musical qualities of the class a design out-weigh the sheer power approach.Happy hunting! Tom

Bradz

Cool, we almost have the same system. I am glad you are happy and look forward to more correspondence with you.
You will be happy with the 99 Magnum, I had it done and there is more detail and better extension, but also the dynamics improve considerably (something most people do not mention).
For a power amp I had considered the Plinius as well (like Tpsonic mentioned) but they are supposed to have a forward presentation of the sound which would not work as well for me. Also I someday hope to own Quads or maybe Innersound speakers.

thanks again and best wishes
Phil

Innersound on Quad 989's: dynamic with sterile spatial presentation and hard upper mids. Not hard/glaring like a GE 6650 tube, but more subtlely threadbare, the kind of trait that is only noticed when you realize that you are not listening as much, i.e like with the Nordost SPM line of cables. Harmonically denuded. Moves great on rock recordings, but boring and homogenous, even on rock recordings, over time. Sounds like an evolutionary step from a digital switching amp, which is not good.

Get a Plinius with enough current to drive the panels. No tubes, more spatial and musical, and you can sell it easier down the road (and when all of this Innersound hoop-la by the young and exhuberiant necessarily dies down...).

By the way, never "trust" a magazine. A resource, yes, but one with a financial agenda that is best recognized.

Asa, how can a magazine be a resource if you can't trust it???