Sound Lab Full-Range Electrostatic Speakers,
Audiophile Series A-2X
Electrostatic speakers have a certain allure. They are quick and nimble. The midrange, voicing and soundstaging are superlative. While the bass is often constrained or limited, it is typically livable. They are exotic and unconventional unlike the familiar dynamic speakers. These are images that I have accumulated through the years after listening to a variety of well known electrostatics like the Quad ESL63, Acoustat, and Martin-Logan Aerius. With such a collage of images and notions of musical grandeur, I ventured to purchase the Sound-Lab A-2X.
Provenance
I purchased the A-2X speakers from the classified ad pages of the Audio Shopper. The seller was straightforward and honest in describing to me their condition, aesthetics, strengths and weaknesses. On my part, prior to calling the seller, I had looked through the audio directories to find out the A-2X's original price, specs, and reviews. These speakers were made from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Unfortunately, there had been no reviews on the specific model so I had no reference point that I could count on. There were several accolades lavished on its bigger and more expensive sibling, the Model A-1, from whence I deduced in non-sequitur logic that the A-2X should be a worthy possession. In other words, I took the risk.
Product Description
The A-2X is described as a full-range electrostatic design with a 48 x 20-in woofer and a 48 x 4-in tweeter. Electrostatic speakers are usually large, and almost always dominate a room with their commanding size and presence. The A-2X is no excpetion. Imagine two 57¼H x 29½W x 6½D panels within your room. Use a measuring tape if you will to plot the space that will be occupied by these speakers. They come in either oak or walnut with either black or off white grille cloth. Frankly, I was concerned that my wife would abhor the look of these speakers. She did at first. When some of our friends visited, they commented that the A-2X actually coordinated with our hardwood floors and plantation windows. This must have assuaged her as I have not heard a peep since then.The recommended power range for these speakers is minimum 100 watts to a maximum of 200 watts. The A-2X is described to have a frequency response of 34 - 22,000 Hz +/-2dB. Sensitivity is stated to be 86db SPL/W/m. Each speaker weighs 88 lb. The seller shipped the pair of speakers via COD commercial air from San Francisco, CA to Dallas, TX for about $125. The speakers arrived at the airport ready for pickup within the day they were shipped. Way to go.
The speakers have a provision for brilliance adjustment, biamplification/biwiring, and bias control. The brilliance control permits the adjustment of the high frequency response. Its purpose is to compensate for differences in acoustical surroundings. A very reflective room causes the sound to be overly crisp whereas a room that is too absorptive causes the sound to be dull. The bias control is provided to adjust the voltage that will provide the highest efficiency for the speakers.
Reference
I tried a broad range of components on the Sound-Lab A-2X. The following separates were used: Audible Illusions Modulus 3 tube preamp, Audio Research SP-3 tube preamp primarily for listening to LPs, Audio Research SP-6 tube preamp, Classe' DR-9 amp, VTL 120/50 stereo tube amp, Quicksilver KT88 mono amps, Audio Research D-76 amp, Quicksilver GLA, JVC XL-Z1050 Compact Disk player, the original Pink Triangle turntable with Sumiko MMT arm and Promethean Green cartridge, Inouye power conditioner, XLO Type 5 and Kimber 8TC speaker cables, Promethean and MIT interconnects.
The speakers that I used for comparison were the: Spendor SP1, Sound Dynamics 300Ti, Linn Index, and Acoustic Energy Aegis 2.
Please take note that the A-2X speakers require lots of power. Heed the manufacturer's recommended minimum power requirement. Of the above amps, only the VTL 120/50 and the Classe' DR-9 could drive the speakers to adequate listening levels.
Listening
The manufacturer supplied a manual that describes the optimal placement and the procedures to set the proper brilliance and bias settings of the speakers. Let me state at the outset that these speakers require breathing space. If you live in an apartment, don't even think about these speakers. Given the dimensions of my family room, I could not achieve the optimal placement so described in the manual. Please note that every few inches of movement changes the presentation of these speakers.
The A-2X will take you on a roller coaster ride. On one hand you'll praise it and on the other curse its shortcomings. First the bad news so we can get past these. The speakers lack dynamism and verve. These cause musical information to mesh within a narrow dynamic corridor and become uninvolving in the process. There is a narrow sweet spot. If you are outside of this intersection, you will experience a deterioration in separation and soundstaging. The highs can also become steely and irritating. Even worse is the speakers lack of bass definition! This is the killer and one that will limit the type of music that you can enjoy. As you know I am not a bass fanatic. I prefer bass that blends with the overall music. So if I say these panels lack bass, believe me they lack audible bass. With its size one wonders how in the world it can sound teeny like a transistor radio but it can and it sometimes does on certain material. I attribute this to the lack of bass definition. These speakers claim to reach down to 34Hz. I don't doubt the accuracy of the specs. But boy, my ears can't pick up the bass. The Sound Dynamics 300Ti, Linn Index, and Spendor SP1 have even better bass definition and resolution than the A-2X.
Forget the specs. Long ago, when I was starting out in audio, a friend advised me not to rely on specs. Specs don't describe the way a component will sound. In order to find out the sound you will have to go and listen. They are old and wise words.
What it does well, it does excellent. On the right musical material, the music is life-sized and life like. The midrange is exquisite. That's the redeeming beauty and promise of the A-2X. They beckon you with a touch of greatness. Listen to Amanda McBroom in West of OZ (Sheffield CD-15) and you'll see how these speakers can be enchanting and why some individuals opt to live with the idiosyncracies of electrostatics. They possess the liveness that is untouched by dynamic speakers.
What's the bottom line?
The A-2X speakers in their present form are disappointing. They do not live up to my expectation of speakers that were originally selling for $3000-$4000. Given their limited musical application, their value proposition is tenuous. Nevertheless, there may be hope. I understand that tweeter and bass panel upgrades are available. A tweeter upgrade costs $200 per unit while a woofer panel upgrade costs $175 per unit. The grille cloth replacement is $150. You will be required to ship the panels to their facility in Utah. Call Sound Lab (801)266-6999 for information. I'm tempted though not thrilled.
by Rome Castellanes
Further Thoughts
Since the above report, we have listened to the A-2X in combination with
a subwoofer. For additional information, please refer to the review of the
Hsu HRSW10V Subwoofer.
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