New $2K Electrostats from Martin Logan

[Ajani]

Sexy looking, new $2K Stats from Martin Logan:

Starting under $2,000 per pair (US), the EM-ESL represents a bold new direction for electrostatic loudspeaker design. Featuring a full-sized 34-inch tall curvilinear XStat electrostatic transducer, the new EM-ESL performs more like a mini-flagship than an entry level audiophile speaker. A superbly integrated and authoritative bass performance, along with sensitivity rated at 91dB into 6 Ohms, assure the EM-ESL is capable of effortless integration with both receivers and high-end amplifiers.

http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messag...81/653016.html

[blackraven]

It looks like a winner. I would love to have a pair of ML's for a second system. They have a nice airy sound. And I really like them for HT use.

[Poultrygeist]

I used to listen to ML's at Tweeters when they were in business. They always drove them with AV receivers and I always wondered if they did them justice. I have a close family member that is a ML distributor but 90% of his ML business is in HT.

[TheHills44060]

Nice looking but I miss the models with the replaceable wood trim on the panel. Being able to switch from rosewood, to cherry, to maple on the fly was so cool.

[Feanor]

Sexy looking, new $2K Stats from Martin Logan:



http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messag...81/653016.html

Looks like a response to the MG 1.7 Magneplanar and might give it a good run for its money. It could depend on the dynamic woofer integration; I wonder what the crossover point is.



I'd line up to hear this new ML speaker but I won't be buying one.

[Geoffcin]

Yeah, it meakes sense since the 1.7 has been locking up the $2k planar market.

[Mr Peabody]

But the 1.6 has always been there. The ML is at a good price to step up from the Motion line. I would like to hear one as well.

Feanor if you are going to listen keep an open mind, you never know

[Feanor]

...

Feanor if you are going to listen keep an open mind, you never know

Oh I've got an open mind but I've also got a funds problem now that I'm retired. A swap for my MG 1.6 would cost me Cdn$1500. That's a lot of money for me going forward.

[Ajani]

Looks like a response to the MG 1.7 Magneplanar and might give it a good run for its money. It could depend on the dynamic woofer integration; I wonder what the crossover point is.

That would be my guess as well. Their previous $2K model (the Source) received a lot of good reviews, but I'd guess with a MG1.7 out they really need to up their game...

The $1k - $2K speaker market is really heating up, with some serious competitors in just about every category of speaker...

[blackraven]

When I bought my 1.6's a few years ago at Audio Perfection, I auditioned a more expensive pair of ML's next to the 1.6's and the 1.6's sounded better to me and every one else in the store. They have totally different sounds. The ML's are light, airy, transparent and sound less natural but very pleasing. The 1.6's have a very natural live sound with a lot of depth to the music.

[Luvin Da Blues]

I'll take a listen to these when there avaliable but I think I'll still wait and save for the Vantage series.

[Ajani]

I'll take a listen to these when there avaliable but I think I'll still wait and save for the Vantage series.

I believe the Vantage is being replaced by the Ethos:

http://www.martinlogan.com/ethos/index.php

So you may want to save for that one instead...

[Luvin Da Blues]

I believe the Vantage is being replaced by the Ethos:

http://www.martinlogan.com/ethos/index.php

So you may want to save for that one instead...

Thanks A, I didn't know that. I stand corrected. Might be a saving on clearence Vantage units tho.

[audio amateur]

Tasty... Would love to hear Electrostats one day

[Poultrygeist]

Linkwitz's obsession with electrostatics led him to becoming the father of open baffles. Electrostatics, planners and flat baffle OB's are dipoles and offer the addictive quality of front and rear radiation.

[audio amateur]

Linkwitz's obsession with electrostatics led him to becoming the father of open baffles. Electrostatics, planners and flat baffle OB's are dipoles and offer the addictive quality of front and rear radiation.

I bought a pair of used Infinity 6 by 9 car speakers to play with in an OB configuration. I havent done anything with them yet but when I do and if I like the results Id like to look more seriously into OB

[Geoffcin]

With planar speakers it's not just the open baffle that makes them sound the way they do, but also the way the sound wave launches from the planar radiator. Basically the wave launch is coherent in a planar across the entire radiating surface, while with a cone the sound wave travels up the sides of the cones so you'll always get a small percentage of temporal smearing.

[E-Stat]

Tasty... Would love to hear Electrostats one day

Chances are that you already have on many occasions. Condenser microphones are widely used and employ same operating principle. I agree with BR in that the magic of planars is with full range designs where the same type of transducer is used top to bottom. Similarly, I tend to prefer two way dynamic speakers for improved coherency.

rw

[JoeE SP9]

Passive crossovers have a large effect on the sound. IMO two way systems sound better in part because they have only one crossover point. It may be that having a single crossover point at a low (sic) frequency is one of the reasons ML and other ESL's sound "better", at least to me. Ideally no crossover is the way to go. However, only large full range ESL's and some very rare cone types do this.

Electronic crossovers seem to have less of a sonic "thumbprint" than most passives. When used with bi-amp capable speakers there is almost always an improvement in the sound. For the best results the internal crossovers must be bypassed.

[Ajani]

Thanks A, I didn't know that. I stand corrected. Might be a saving on clearence Vantage units tho.

Yep... might be a good time to look for a used Vantage...

One correction:

there are 2 new "reserve" series models from Martin Logan:

Theos $5K
&
Ethos $6.5K

I have no idea why the names need to be so similiar... I actually thought they were the same speaker...