A300 disapointed

[golferadam12]

I purchased an A300 to use with my Martin Logan speakers and I am at a loss. I wanted to upgrade the the output from my Denon 3500, however, the A300 comes up very short when it comes to clean accurate highs...very disappointing. The kicker is I now have to pay to send the amp back.

[repeetavx]

I'm sorry to hear about your disappointment. Martin Logan's are very nice and highly resolving speakers. They obviously deserve better than Emotiva's "lower end".

The Denon 3500 is a nice device too and you're going to have to buy better than "entry level" to better it.

If you had come to the forum before you bought and asked our suggestion, we would have probably told you to step up. The minimum I would suggest would be a pair of PA-1s. An XPA-2 (much lower on my list). A pair of XPA HP-1s (a much better match for the Martin Logan's). Or an XPA DR-2 (what your Martin Logans deserve to pull the best out of them).

Yes, paying for the shipping back is disappointing, but keeps the business model economically feasible.

[405x5]

Mar 2, 2020 10:50:38 GMT -5 golferadam12 said:

I purchased an A300 to use with my Martin Logan speakers and I am at a loss. I wanted to upgrade the the output from my Denon 3500, however, the A300 comes up very short when it comes to clean accurate highs...very disappointing. The kicker is I now have to pay to send the amp back.

Are you sure your speakers are not out of phase.....? that COULD have changed when switching to external amplification.

Bill

[PoloOle]

Would be nice to know what model ML speakers you have.
My Montis sounds awesome using the XPA-1 gen1 amps.
If you have the ML’s with electrostatic panels then you need an amplifier that can supply a lot of current as these panels are harder to control.

[frenchyfranky]

Mar 2, 2020 10:50:38 GMT -5 golferadam12 said:

I purchased an A300 to use with my Martin Logan speakers and I am at a loss. I wanted to upgrade the the output from my Denon 3500, however, the A300 comes up very short when it comes to clean accurate highs...very disappointing. The kicker is I now have to pay to send the amp back.

You had upgraded the amplification with the A-300 over your Denon 3500 receiver, in wattage, in dynamic, in damping, in control, in clarity and precision. I own multiple Emotiva power amp and had listen a few more different ones and believe me, they're all in every aspect better than a receiver amp and everytime I had listen a combo of Emo power amp replacing a receiver amp via pre-out it was an improvement.

Sorry but If you don't like the highs after adding an Emotiva power amp to you receiver, you must looking for some other reasons in your chain because adding a clean amp is not the cause. This new amp has probably highlighted something wrong in the chain.

[novisnick]

Mar 3, 2020 0:17:52 GMT -5 frenchyfranky said:

Mar 2, 2020 10:50:38 GMT -5 golferadam12 said:

I purchased an A300 to use with my Martin Logan speakers and I am at a loss. I wanted to upgrade the the output from my Denon 3500, however, the A300 comes up very short when it comes to clean accurate highs...very disappointing. The kicker is I now have to pay to send the amp back.

You had upgraded the amplification with the A-300 over your Denon 3500 receiver, in wattage, in dynamic, in damping, in control, in clarity and precision. I own multiple Emotiva power amp and had listen a few more different ones and believe me, they're all in every aspect better than a receiver amp and everytime I had listen a combo of Emo power amp replacing a receiver amp via pre-out it was an improvement.

Sorry but If you don't like the highs after adding an Emotiva power amp to you receiver, you must looking for some other reasons in your chain because adding a clean amp is not the cause. This new amp has probably highlighted something wrong in the chain.

I do concur. 

[tropicallutefisk]

Mar 3, 2020 0:17:52 GMT -5 frenchyfranky said:

Mar 2, 2020 10:50:38 GMT -5 golferadam12 said:

I purchased an A300 to use with my Martin Logan speakers and I am at a loss. I wanted to upgrade the the output from my Denon 3500, however, the A300 comes up very short when it comes to clean accurate highs...very disappointing. The kicker is I now have to pay to send the amp back.

You had upgraded the amplification with the A-300 over your Denon 3500 receiver, in wattage, in dynamic, in damping, in control, in clarity and precision. I own multiple Emotiva power amp and had listen a few more different ones and believe me, they're all in every aspect better than a receiver amp and everytime I had listen a combo of Emo power amp replacing a receiver amp via pre-out it was an improvement.

Sorry but If you don't like the highs after adding an Emotiva power amp to you receiver, you must looking for some other reasons in your chain because adding a clean amp is not the cause. This new amp has probably highlighted something wrong in the chain.

I am not familiar with the A300 but Frenchyfranky may be on to something. When I swapped my stereo amp for a pair of Dr1s the highs seemed harsh. However, my speakers have the ability to limit the tweeters. Once I added a 0.5 ohm resistor the highs were sweet and absolutely amazing. Have you tried changing your speaker placement? 

[rbk123]

Try elevating the back feet of the ML's a half inch or so and see if that improves things. Play around with a little higher/lower as well. Also, I think the Emo amps are phase reversed so try swapping the pos/neg leads on each speaker to see if that changes anything.

Any audiophile friends around you can borrow their amps to try out as well? I'm surprised the A-300 sounds worse but I'm curious if other good amps sound worse, as well.

[Boomzilla]

Let's cut to the chase. The hybrid Martin Logan speakers with electrostatic panels have an impedance that drops like a stone at 20KHz and above. Now there isn't any signal to amplify at those frequencies, but a LOT of amplifiers can become partially or even totally unstable due to that impedance dip. I've had at least one amplifier failure using ML hybrids. Amp failure is most likely to occur at amp turn-on where the amp can become unstable, go into oscillation, and damage itself before the protection circuitry can activate. Most amps DO NOT LIKE dead shorts at their speaker outputs - at any frequency.

Even below 20KHz, the MLs have a declining impedance in the treble range. I wouldn't hesitate to consider a "pro" amp that is rated to be stable into 2-ohm loads for the ML hybrid speakers. But using the Emotiva A-300 (an otherwise most excellent-sounding and very robust amp) to drive ML hybrid speakers is just inviting trouble. I'm not surprised that it sounded less than clean and accurate IF your ML speakers are the electrostatic models. IMHO the best amplifier match for the ML hybrid speakers is one of two options: Any "pro" amp rated for 2 ohm loads or any output-transformer coupled amplifier including tube amps and McIntosh solid state ones. Some direct coupled solid state amps work fine, but you'll not be able to predict which except by trial & error.

Best of luck with amplifier selection - but be careful to pick the right tool for the job. Despite their claim that the ML electrostatic speakers will work with any amplifier, I think that ML has engaged in a bit of hyperbole with that specific claim.

[405x5]

Lots of helpful advice given without ever a response from the OP? Gone fishing 🎣 I guess!

Bill

[rickavmaniac]

Mar 2, 2020 10:50:38 GMT -5 golferadam12 said:

I purchased an A300 to use with my Martin Logan speakers and I am at a loss. I wanted to upgrade the the output from my Denon 3500, however, the A300 comes up very short when it comes to clean accurate highs...very disappointing. The kicker is I now have to pay to send the amp back.

For my part, I like the fact that the customer have to pay the shipping back.

It help reduce some abuse and keep the price down for other customer.

[leonski]

You should have bought an amp More Capable into the ML speakers.

TANSTAAFL

Electrostats OR 'conventional speakers?