Amperes of Pass amps & Pass for ESL

rick57 · 4th August 2005, 05:09 AM

I plannng a system that will have dipole bass, ESL mids (89 db panels from E R Audio in Perth Australia) and G ribbon tweeters. Active bass, maybe passive mid & tweets.

ESLs seem to be hard to drive mostly in the bass and at 20 kHz.

I’m considering a number of amps for the job, including
- a 30 watt Aleph kit,
- second hand 25 w Pass A-40 that’s just on the market locally

The (in this forum) heretical:
- Rod Elliott’s MOSFET P101 or maybe P3A,
- a second hand ME (range 60-150 watts),
- a 25w Monarchy Audio SM-70 Pro (zero feedback in output stage),
- something else?

I’m soon to find out from E R Audio how many amperes he recommends.

* Who has heard a Pass amp driving ESLs ~ what did you think?

* What are the amperes current the various designs put out?

Thanks

kilowattski · 4th August 2005, 07:04 AM

I don't think the Aleph 30 is well suited to drive electrostatics nor are any of the amps you mentioned. Being totally honest, a pair of Aleph 2's @ 100 watss per channel would do a nice job but a pair of Aleph 2's will cost about a $1000 to build when you figure a pair of 750 VA toroidal transformers, heastsink material, 24 matched output devices, 2 matched diff pairs, circuit boards and their parts, chassis etc. I have a pair of Martin logan electroststics at 88 db/watt and find the the aleph 2 is just right because the impedance dips a bit in places.

PS: There is no such thing as an Aleph Kit. With an Aleph you download a schematic, either design your own boards or maybe buy some from members of the forum in a group buy, find the rest of the parts and you are on your way.

rick57 · 4th August 2005, 08:20 AM

kilowattski

(Aleph Kit - I should have said group parts & group PCB buys)

I’ve heard from an ESL supplier that a 60 watt class A does a good job, though he also thinks a NAD adequate (me sceptical).

Your Martin Logan has passive crossovers I assume? Even for *just the mids - 100 watts?

What is anything good and reasonably affordable??

Alain Dupont · 4th August 2005, 04:28 PM

rick57,

* Who has heard a Pass amp driving ESLs ~ what did you think?
I have a A75 driving my Martin Logan Aerius i and it's wonderful ...
The Aerius i go low at 1.7 Ohms > 15kHz

* What are the amperes current the various designs put out?
It's 2 channel * 2 * 12 IRF in TO3 and more than 70 amps output

http://www.passdiy.com/gallery/a75-p11.htm

Regards.

Alain

4th August 2005, 05:09 AM	#1
rick57 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: dry ol Melbourne Australia	Amperes of Pass amps & Pass for ESL I plannng a system that will have dipole bass, ESL mids (89 db panels from E R Audio in Perth Australia) and G ribbon tweeters. Active bass, maybe passive mid & tweets. ESLs seem to be hard to drive mostly in the bass and at 20 kHz. I’m considering a number of amps for the job, including - a 30 watt Aleph kit, - second hand 25 w Pass A-40 that’s just on the market locally The (in this forum) heretical: - Rod Elliott’s MOSFET P101 or maybe P3A, - a second hand ME (range 60-150 watts), - a 25w Monarchy Audio SM-70 Pro (zero feedback in output stage), - something else? I’m soon to find out from E R Audio how many amperes he recommends. * Who has heard a Pass amp driving ESLs ~ what did you think? * What are the amperes current the various designs put out? Thanks

4th August 2005, 07:04 AM	#2
kilowattski diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Long Island, New York	I don't think the Aleph 30 is well suited to drive electrostatics nor are any of the amps you mentioned. Being totally honest, a pair of Aleph 2's @ 100 watss per channel would do a nice job but a pair of Aleph 2's will cost about a $1000 to build when you figure a pair of 750 VA toroidal transformers, heastsink material, 24 matched output devices, 2 matched diff pairs, circuit boards and their parts, chassis etc. I have a pair of Martin logan electroststics at 88 db/watt and find the the aleph 2 is just right because the impedance dips a bit in places. PS: There is no such thing as an Aleph Kit. With an Aleph you download a schematic, either design your own boards or maybe buy some from members of the forum in a group buy, find the rest of the parts and you are on your way. __________________ ----------------------------------------------- Kilowattski

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4th August 2005, 08:20 AM	#3
rick57 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: dry ol Melbourne Australia	kilowattski (Aleph Kit - I should have said group parts & group PCB buys) I’ve heard from an ESL supplier that a 60 watt class A does a good job, though he also thinks a NAD adequate (me sceptical). Your Martin Logan has passive crossovers I assume? Even for *just the mids - 100 watts? What is anything good and reasonably affordable??

4th August 2005, 04:28 PM	#4
Alain Dupont diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Paris - France	rick57, * Who has heard a Pass amp driving ESLs ~ what did you think? I have a A75 driving my Martin Logan Aerius i and it's wonderful ... The Aerius i go low at 1.7 Ohms > 15kHz * What are the amperes current the various designs put out? It's 2 channel * 2 * 12 IRF in TO3 and more than 70 amps output http://www.passdiy.com/gallery/a75-p11.htm Regards. Alain

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