Quote Originally Posted by Arkless Electronics View Post
As you will no doubt be aware, probably the best hi fi possible would be to do away with the transformers and directly drive electrostatic speakers from amplifiers capable 2-5KV output! Ideal for a valve or hybrid amp as it removes both the output transformer in the valve amp and the input transformer in the esl speakers.. Audio Nirvana! It was done commercially in the late 70's in the form of the Acoustat X (claimed by some to be the best speaker ever made). I recently had a look at the circuit diagrams for the amps and they were really crude....
Big enough ESL's with the right driving amps can do all the max SPL and slam anyone could possibly need as well.
Cost of course is the problem.... Although there are of course speakers selling for £50,000+ so maybe not that much of a problem other than the cost of parts in the £50K speakers is probably only £2K whilst it would be more like £5-10K for the ultimate electrostatic..

Yes, I know of the Acoustats. There were several teething problems if I recall. Never actually heard any, but they were on my radar.

These days were I to replace my Quads it would be with something from Martin Logan, or possibly Ed Saunders. Many years ago I heard some Dutch manufactured ESLs at an audio fair in London. They were superb (I can't remember the name, think it had "-stat" in t), but I have heard there were reliability problems. Not sure if they are still made.

I'm not aware of anyone currently making direct drive ESLs, so there must be a reason. Reliability, EU Health and Safety rulings, .... ?

If you were to design a valve anode coupled amplifier for ESLs, what would you choose for the valve?