Pro/Pre/Amp recommendations for ML Impressions

[MikeMakesRight]

Moving to a place with the right space for a 7.2 setup. My plan is to feature a pair of Martin Logan Impressions.

Question for everybody: what processors/pre-amps/amplifiers would be good for getting the best sound of the electrostats?

Thanks in advance.


Current setup- (certainly not a world beater but its plenty for the tiny apartment I've been occupying)
LG B6 65"
Oppo 203
Yamaha AVR 760
L/R speakers: Pioneer Elite bookshelves (with Atmos)
Center channel: Pioneer Elite
Rear L/R speakers: Martin Logan motion 4
Sub: DefTech ProSub 800
Conditioner: Panamax 5300

 

[lovinthehd]

Lots of them, you're going to have to narrow that down with a budget and preferences....you could get an avr with pre-outs and add a power amp if needed easily enough except your current avr doesn't have pre-outs except for the sub. Depends on the speakers' impedance load, the volume you listen at and the distance from the speakers as to determining how much amp you need. You might even just try using your current avr before making any decisions. I'd worry more about the subs first

Congrats on getting out of the apartment, best way to be able to turn it up!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

http://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/speaker/floor-standing/martinlogan-impression-esl-11a-electrostatic-speakers-review/

MartinLogan doesn’t publish impedance, phase-angle or frequency response curves for this speaker. However, they do state that their impedance dips significantly at higher frequencies. This low impedance, (0.6 ohms at 20KHz) with a corresponding increase in phase-angle suggests that amplifiers that aren’t stable into low impedances shouldn’t be used. But in practice, I found that the speakers seemed perfectly happy with a wide variety of amps (with only one exception). Now if you want auditorium levels from the speakers, then more attention should be paid to amplifier power capacity and low-impedance stability.

MartinLogan’s online FAQs recommend an amplifier that doubles in wattage between eight and four ohms and again increases its wattage at two ohms. This would seem to eliminate most amplifiers from consideration – but unless you push the volume limits, this advice can have some flexibility. Most high-quality amplifiers of tube or solid-state design should work fine provided that they are stable at low impedance.

Pro amplifiers that are designed to be stable into two-ohm loads also can also drive the speakers loudly without any problems. But I wouldn’t want to hook these speakers to an inexpensive AV receiver or to most bridged amplifiers due to the speakers’ impedance and reactance challenges.

I'd recommend excellent Emotiva XPA3 amp. Don't go overboard ordering 7 channels.
Only get amount of channels necessary to power your future electrostats