my first Martin Logan experience was hearing a pair of CLS-IIs at Gifted Listener in Centrevlle VA in 1989. They blew my mind. Within few years, I bought a pair of used original Sequels, driving them with a pair of Carver Silver 7t monoblocks, with Meridian 286 CD player/preamp, and a fully-customized Technics SL-1360 with a Sumiko Blue Point cart, custom-made pure silver wiring for all interconnects, and Nordost speaker cables. I ran that rig for over 15 years, and was perfectly happy with it. I was also single... I'm a "recovering audiophile" now, and have downsized considerably. I still run MLs, but now I'm running a pair of Scenrios for my mains, driven by a big Sony receiver, and my source is primarily digital files from my Mac or an Oppo DVD player, feeding a Benchmark DAC-1. I love the Martin Logan sound, and don't ever want to listen to any other speakers in my home...
I just heard these for the first time at a party in a mansion in Oakland and my jaw hit the floor. The way the highs of the snare came through was shockingly impactful but in no way displeasing. I instantly knew they were electrostatic from the look but didn't know anything about them except that they were remarkably gorgeous even playing 320kb MP3s. I'm headed back to that Mansion soon with wav files to determine whether or not they're going to replace my mirage bipolar mains. Thanks for this great intro
I found some vintage magnepans at a a thrift store sold as if they were wall patricians. I payed $40 for both and have been using them in my home theatre system's two front main channels for a few months now and I dont think I can ever go back to normal box loudspeakers. When paired with a nice sub they provide an incredible listening experience.
I build speakers with a point source semi open driver plus woofer. I can't explain my every acoustic feature on a comment. But my principal is (basically) a semi open med/treble source and also point source med/treble. These two features are equally as important for holographic sound like conventional 2-ways simply can't do. I WON'T go back to "normal" speakers either (and most probably a similar reason you won't).
I had Martin Logan's on my bucket list and last year I picked up the ESL X model. Never regretted nickel of the expenditure. I find the bass quite OK and I love listening to Eva Cassidy sing In the Fields of Gold. I feel like I'm in the same room as she is recording in .... amazing !!!!
I had a pair of Martin Logan Ascents from about 2002 to 2007, and upgraded to ML Summits from then until about 1.5 years ago when I had to move. I drove them with a Sunfire 7400 amp (400/wpc) and I absolutely loved them. I'd dearly love to go back to ML, but today the nearest to the Summit is probably the ESL 11A at about $10k, and the least I think I'd find acceptable is the ESL X at $4k. Problem is the cost, I've got a smallish room now, plus I'm now 73 and not sure I could hear the difference anyway. But damn, do I ever miss them.
Where I auditioned them I was blown away with sound stage and transparency…but could not afford them. Now that I can easily afford them my 74 year old ears probably could not distinguish them from a pair of Bluetooth speakers.
I bought a pair of these 3 years ago - it took very little time to hear their distinct character and musical detail. And I think the look is a huge plus. They're not about "booming bass and sizzling highs" but about the authentic timbre of instruments and voices. "Feeling the presence of the musicians" may be appropriate as a descriptive term. I have been running them with very modest power - a Cambridge Audio AM10 and in a modest sized room, (10 by 14) have plenty of volume. I have no doubt a high end, higher output amp would reveal even more greatness from them. I just added a powered sub. Especially at modest volume, it's helpful to have those lower octaves raised up. MAGIC they are, indeed.
My first Martin Logan experience was jaw-dropping -- CLS IIz powered by Mark Levinson. Not only could I hear every vocal and instrument naturally and clearly, I could tell where the artists were seated (jazz/fusion ensemble)... I could tell the size of the bongo drum and the height of the cymbal. I didn't have close my eyes to picture them there. You can say I imagined things, but my friends heard the exact same things. One of them is a professional musician, and none of us was a stranger to concert hall,s. That was in late 1980's. I bought myself a pair of Aerius I in 1994 when I bought my first house. Still enjoying those speakers to this day.
I have ML Summits for 8 years and enjoyed the sound every moment, for every type of music, tv or movie, vinyl, ipad, anything. Don’t need a sub, don’t need a center speaker, just a pair of Summits and a pair of Fresco’s as rears. The clarity, power and 3-dimensionality is absolutely amazing !!
I have owned these since 2015 and I am so pleased with them, sounds great for all kinds of music and looks great. Doesn't look big and dominate because they are transparent. I power them with a 30 year old Nad 2200 pe which I am also very pleased with.
My first time was at my first Atlanta Audio Society meeting back in 1984. We were at a store in Marietta, listening to the original Sequels. When they played "Jazz in the Pawnshop", I was smitten. I had never heard such a sense of space and realism, plus they offered reasonable dispersion, so no head in a vise requirement like other electrostats of the period. I bought the then new Sequel 2's, and still have and love them. The only speakers I've heard that outdo their "spaciality " were the big MBLs, at more than 10 times the price. Overall, very special speakers.
TY Mark Tanner for letting me know there is an Atlanta Audio Society. I own Martin Logans and it is the sense and presence of air and realism that makes them so amazing. I love them.
Andrew your review of the Martin Logan speakers was spot on. I heard these speakers play in person 6 months prior. All I can say is that these speakers left me emotional. Thank you for your reviews
I first encountered the Martin Logan ESL speakers in the Magnolia section of a Best Buy in my hometown and I fell in love immediately. A jazz piece was playing and I remember how perfect the reproduction was on even just the cymbals of the drumset that I felt like I could see them. The laser focused reproduction just blew me away. Years later, went I moved out of the parent's house I got my own pair, refurbished for $1800 a pair and drive them with nothing but a Marantz 5011 receiver. I absolutely love these speakers. I will say though that they do lack a bit of bass and I've been trying to get the courage to drop a good chunk of money on one of ML's subwoofers. I'm sure my downstairs neighbors won't be happy, but I'm all about that bass, so....
My story about ML is similar to yours. I first heard ML CSL's at a local Audio store back in the early 1990's. They had them setup in a dedicated listening room. They played the Police, live, and the sound was mesmerizing. To this day, I still remember the clear, crisp, detailed, airy, gigantic-soundstage sound. I could hear every little sound from the stage as Sting was singing. It was mind-blowing. Thus, to this day, ML are speakers that one day, I hope to get. I always look on eBay to see which vintage ML speakers are being sold. Just mesmerizing.
Shout out from a current owner of the CLX Art!!!!! Love these gigantic panels. As a condominium dweller, I cannot add subwoofers (gotta spare my neighbors), and the giant included low frequency panels can’t go lower than about 50Hz. Nevertheless, they can still give me a rumble in the walls, the floor and my gut - and the imaging and clarity are simply breathtaking. Agree that more power is needed; my current PS Audio BHK 300 monos have been exceeded once or twice here, when the CLX does its “party trick” of dropping impedance down to half an ohm at certain frequencies…and the BHK’s go into protection mode. It’ll take time to build up the $$, but some day the BHK 600’s will come take their place 😊
When I didn't know shit about speakers I had a chance to get these for $800 total from a Best Buy show room. Never regretted missing a purchase more lol
GNP Audio Video was the coolest hi-end audio shop in Pasadena, and I was fortunate to work there for many years. We were one of the very first Martin Logan dealers in California back in the 1980s. When we got the original CLS electrostats in on demo, it was truly a revelation in clarity, detail, and accuracy in sound reproduction. Maggies were the closest I'd ever heard before that. Even though there wasn't much mid-bass power or low bass at all from the CLS, the wide and deep sound stage, open mid-range without any "box" coloration, quickly had me hooked. Live recordings, vocals, and small group acoustic jazz, classic rock, and most classical music could be magical. Unfortunately, adding a subwoofer to the CLS proved to be very tricky. There just weren't many good options with the speed and quality to properly blend with the CLS. ML also produced the Monolith and Sequel hybrid models, however, their added woofers didn't always mix well with the panels. You could clearly hear the discontinuity. These current generation hybrid Martin Logans do an excellent job with panel/woofer execution and integration. Over the years, I've listened to many speakers at all price points, philosophies, and technologies. Somehow, I've always circled back to ML. I'm looking to get a pair of the Masterpiece ESL 9A or maybe the ESL 11A.
Great review. I have these exact model of speakers in my HT man cave. I run them with 2 x ML grotto subs and they truly sound amazing in my set up. Every time I go to a hi fi shop to demo speakers that cost 2 and 3 times more, I just come back underwhelmed in comparison. In my set up they sound best by running them full range with a 60 hertz cross over. At least in my room the bases is not lacking (for music) by any reasonable standard, even when I turn the subs off. Maybe it’s the audyssey eq in my Denon receiver but base blends absolutely seamlessly with the panels. I’ve demoed them with both SVS Ultra 13” subs and RSL speed woofer 10”. All performed well, and they were great for movies, but the other subs could not match the base quality, speed and integration of the ML grottos (servo technology). I wish they still made them. These electrostats aren’t as impactful for movies like a Klipsch RF-7 but for watching movies they are still really lively and not disappointing at all. For music reproduction they are to die for, especially anything acoustic. Piano sounds so real it’s like it’s literally in the room. I love so many brands of speakers for different reasons, but at the end of the day I can’t find anything that brings the magic like these ML Electromotion ESL’s. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like they reveal a 3D “texture” to sound that other speakers just gloss over. And once you get used to this textured sound, it is addicting. Despite my affinity with other brands (B&W, KEF, Def Tech, Klipsch, and more) I literally can’t find the justification to upgrade to anything else given the quality sound they produce in the 15 x 15 x 10 ft room they are in. With my seating position about 10 ft from the front of the speakers, I don’t think even a larger ML model would add anything appreciably better in this set up. My Denon receiver reports 140 watts per channel with 2 channels driven. Volume is good and sudden dynamic swings seem effortless, but I’m curious to add a quality amp to see what else I can squeeze out of these ML’s. Thanks again for the great review.
Hi Andrew, great review and I can fully understand it. I owned a pair of ESL X in May 2023. So enough time for me to listen to it intensively. I assume the ESL and ESL X sound very similar and what can I say, I made all the same the experience as you did. I would like to add some comment regarding the question "is this speaker neutral?" as this is for me the key point. For me this speaker owns a clarity which is really impressive and it is its absolute strength. I did not hear this from others speakers. But it is far away to be neutral looking at the frequency response. I found out that the frequency response is not linear by far. It has a strong peak at around 3,5kHz to 4,5kHz and after this it drops clearly. I checked this out running a sinus sweep (20Hz to 20kHz). This non-linearity leads that some kind of music sounds harsh and tinny, especially tracks with lot of sound information in the critical range of 3,5-4,5kHz like electric guitars, choirs with high voices and orchestras with a lot of horns and violins. Examples: Go your own way from Fleetwood Mac, many tracks from Tom Petty, Verdi/Nabucco Va pensiero. But there is a solution by using a parametric EQ to compensate this non-linearity. I manage this using the parametric EQ from my wiim pro. It was not hard to. The result is that I am no longer limited to hear a special kind of music which fits to my Logans. I would like to encourage you the check this out. If requested I can provide my EQ settings. Last comment from my side: Adding a subwoofer (or better more than one😀) makes the sound perfect. Enjoy! Cheers from Bavaria/Germany 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this. I don’t why Andrew is not pinning this comment as this gives so much idea to the people who are planning to get them.
@@5thlevelweb887 here we go: Filter1: type PK, freq: 3,5kHz, gain: -5dB, Q:1.7. Filter2: type HS, freq: 6.5kHz, gain:4,5dB, Q:1,5. I did not use any measuring system, but my ears only. So my result will not be perfect but for me it is a great improvement. If you run REW please let me know your result. Thanks 😄
Hearing your story was about ML speakers was deja vu for me in so many ways. I also came across them in Pasadena. I cannot remember the name of the audio store. I was going to Pasadena City College and loved my music. JBL’s were THE speaker to play loud and long. This was 1971-72. I walked in and saw them and thought “what the hell are these things?”. The salesman was gracious enough to play some music on them, as much as I wanted really, and I was gobsmacked. I had never heard anything so clear and present. They became an obsession and a benchmark of sorts for what could be. I was never able to afford them and when I finally could, did not have the right room for placement. Here I am again, 50 years later, contemplating them in my home and tilting my head at the remarkable coincidences we share over this brand. There is nothing like them. Thanks for the review and story.
You may be mistaken on the 1971-72 time frame - I don't believe Martin Logans came out until the early/mid 1980s. I auditioned the first two models (Monolith and CLS) at Brooks Berdan's shop near Pasadena in 1986. I was most pleasantly surprised to find the cheaper CLSs much more musical than the much larger, much more expensive Monoliths. I bought the CLSs soon later and they're still my main speakers [repaneled once].
Since High School when I first saw an ML in an add, I wanted on. For my 40th birthday I got a pair of the self-powered ones (Arias?). I paired them with a REL 10. I used them solely for listening, David Sylvian sounds amazing, to music. In the last 5 years I've converted my Home Theater to ML, with the Motion 8i for my center, Motion 15s for my rears, & now 4- Motion 4is for my height surrounds, I also have an old Klipsh sub for games and action movies to give me a Fatter sound. My most recent acquisition is the Denon AVR-X4500H to tie them all together. Like the ESL series you talk about, these are really the entry level, but to me there is no going back. I'm making quick converts of all my friends as well. You did a great job of explaining what a ML sounds like & what to expect. Now I'm going to put on some David Sylvian... Cheers
That was one of the most "transparent" reviews I have ever experienced. I thoroughly enjoy an honest review by an expert. thanks Andrew I will now have to go & at least give these an audition.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I wish I could do more to promote this channel. I now look forward to watching this just as much as the Audiophiliac, Steve Gutteneberg . I wish you had a daily video. The (your) video production is really quite amazing IMHO so I know you can't just pump these out. (a lot goes into your vids)
@@Audiojunkabus Please feel free to share this channel with your friends, your friends' friends, their friends ;) I appreciate it, I really do. I have contemplated doing a daily vlog, but right now it's just not in the cards as this is not my full-time gig. I really do thank you for acknowledging the effort that goes into each video. If I bust my ass, each video takes a minimum of 8 hours just to film/produce. In truth I have over 100 hours into each video if you count listening/living time. Plus, I actually want to raise the bar further with respect to my production value, but I have to remember to balance this channel with everything else I have going on. It's fun (most days) but it's a lot of work.
What a TRIP!! GNP Audio in Pasadena is where I heard MLs for the first time. It was sometime in the mid-nineties and I have never had a pair in my home until I reviewed the ESL Xs. Great speakers!
Great review. Very accurate description of Logans and their owners. Just upgraded from 23yr old Aerius to master piece 9". Glad I started where I did. Listened to a traditional box set of logans for 10 minutes then the master piece series. Took 30 sec to make that decision. It's such a unique presence...and I'm hooked. So begins the rabbit hole of searching for perfection. There are much warmer full body speakers out there but I just love this sound
I have used ML speakers for 30 years starting with SL3 and now very happy with the Impression XL. You are absolutely right, with good recording, proper placement and nice room, certain kind of music just come to life. Really hard to go away from this setup. Magnepans have similar crisp sound but they are even more directional with tiny sweet spot. The older ML are notorious to drive. I remember playing Beethoven's 9th Choral on SL3 with the Krell integrated amp (150W per channel) and when the full orchestral part comes up, you can literally witness the soundstage collapse at that point. I remember that at like 15K Hz, the impedance of the speaker was a terrifying 1.2 Ohms. Swapped out the Krell integrated with a monobloc with 300W per channel @8 ohms (600W @ 4 Ohms and 1200W @2 Ohms) it was marriage made in heaven. Newer ML are easier to drive and the latest ones with Anthem room correction makes overall room setup much much easier.
Yeah...Beethoven's 9th w/ML's and Krell 250s here--but not monoblocks--kind of where I hit the limit on my budget. (Still very ample power--150s would be too small.) It's so good it's like a new experience each time! You and I are on the same page Ding Yu. Almost went with Anthem too...very fine product. I assume you also use a subwoofer?
@@scherzomazeppa726 I have a subwoofer but that's really linked to my video playback. For 2 channel audio, the ML 11A I have goes low enough for me. What I like about the bass in ML is that it is tight and controlled which to some people may sound weak. But to me, that's what good bass should be. With Anthem I get no smearing of bass in the room.
@@melcharson Yes, I agree with the "tight and controlled" bass. However, aside from the sweet-spot issue (not a big deal for me as it's just me and my wife in the room and positioned to capture the spot), is I just don't feel the ML's are picking up on the lowest end of the bass when listening to classical (mostly what I listen to). I use a sub (originally a Sunfire, but much too punchy--now Emotiva 15"), but use it sparingly, so it crosses over very low, and set the volume equal to the music played. Once set, it really doesn't need much dialing in after that (except when playing movies). IMO, it does capture a bit of the lows the ML kind of misses. Just a matter of taste I guess. That said, I'd find it very hard to be satisfied with much else than ML's after using them. The sound is amazingly rich and finely detailed, IMO far better than box-type speakers regardless of cost.
ML is not the only manufacturer of electrostatics. I have owned three different brands and have lived with my current ones for 7 years. Would have been nice to hear a comparison with other electrostatics and a comparison with the rest of the range.
Went to listen to these speakers today. Been so curious about them. I was truly impressed. It really creates space in an effortless manner. It may not have the highs that you get from a good box speaker but it’s just great. Male voices do lack a smidge of weight, same for pianos but it’s made up with that sparkle. Andrew ... your review is so spot on. I’m so tempted now. Hmmmmm ...
A few years ago I had the Vistas and they did very well driven by a 45 wpc Jolida EL34 integrated amp. Dynamics were good, clarity was extreme, tone was smooth and the soundstage was deep and wide. They also sounded very good with a Jolida 10 wpc EL 84 amp, filling a large room with a flowering of sound. When I wanted loud I listened to Altec 19s and VOTs.
I had a similar experience when I first heard MLs in a high-end audio shop. I bought the Electromotions on the spot. A few years later I found a used pair of SL3, which are larger and move more air. They became my favorite speakers ever. Unfortunately, my cats had the same opinion! I couldn't keep them off of them, and finally had to mothball them, because short of covering them with armor, I just couldn't keep them protected.
i listened to these speakers and they produce sound stage better than any other speaker I've ever listened to. they are clear sounding but not the clearest and id argue that the sound stage they produce more than makes up for the slight lack in clarity. i listened to these speakers side by side with speakers that cost double and even triple the amount these cost, and these sounded the best.
Esl compared to dynamic driver is like comparing led tvs to oled, once you put an oled next to a led tv, it’s a whole different picture. It isn’t necessarily better but it is a different way of sound
I was Christmas time. I was in a crowded store (not in a booth), and I passed these speakers. I accidentally stepped into the sweet spot, and everything just disappeared. The noise, everything but the music, went away. I felt like someone snapped headphones on me. They are the only speakers to bring tears to my eyes.
I have heard CLX’s in a good room. It was in a dealers listening room. They had an amazingly accurate sound . My speakers at home are a pair of ESL’s which I just love. All you criticisms are valid I think.
Andrew, I agree with you, I owned Martin Logans and Magnepans before exploring and owning Vandersteen. Martin Logan’s are also great for jazz, especially with acoustic guitar. For Logan’s as long as you sit in the sweet spot they are great even magical because of that since of space and air around the instruments, but if you stand up or move around the sound stage collapses. This also happens with Magnepan as well, but to a lesser degree than the logans. The esl sound great and have been in the line for longer than I thought they would, but Martin Logan needed an inexpensive line with inexpensive being relative to get you in to that panel. Martin Logan’s and Magnepans image extremely well, almost like no other, but they are extremely hard to match up with subs. I owned a Rel sub, which set up of Rel subs are not difficult, but not easy either. When you get the blend right, especially with the Rel it is seamless, but you are going to pay well for a great sub to match either the Logan’s or the Maggie’s, but it is worth it. I went Vandersteen because the built in sub is seamless and better done and deeper than the esl and some of the upper Martin Logans. Vandersteen especially Quatro on up can when properly set up image similar or in some cases better than a Martin Logan or Magnepan, but all are great speakers. Vandersteen especially Quatro on up have the built in subs and require the crossover either in a fixed amplifier impedance or the mp5h that allows you more controls thru dip switches and connects to your amp and preamp. The Quatro on up allow you to EQ the built in subs for each room that you put them in with controls on the back, but this is a two person set up with Vandersteen test tones, but how often will this be done considering most people don’t change rooms or homes often. For me the Vandersteen gave me all the pluses except having to plug them into the walls and gave me some room space back without having separate subs in my living room and gave me controls that I just couldn’t get with Logan’s or Maggie’s. If you get the opportunity Andrew get a pair of Quatro CT in for review or even the model 5, but the model 5 require an even more extensive set up than the Quatro with a laser pointer. I would love to hear your prospective on the Quatro or model 5 both doing deep bass well, especially the 5. The model 7 kill the deep bass game, but set up is more or less like the 5 with that laser measuring device and they have those Eq room controls. For those of you that have been in Music Direct, which I love, they have a pair of model 7s that they haven’t gotten the set up right since having them, but my local dealer gets the model 7s set up right every time. Great review Andrew and I always love your prospective.
Hi Andrew - I related completely to your comment about becoming addicted to the ML sound. I have always had good speakers and found them to be satisfying. One day at my audio store, I spent time listening to a pair of ML Prodigys. I had never heard anything so full, enveloping and satisfying. That event happened years ago and yet that sound never left my mind. Sadly, my room setup is totally unsuited for such speakers, but someday.... Thank you for your insightful analysis. Roger in Wisconsin
I remember my first time hearing Martin Logans at an audio store and was totally blown away! I hunted Craigslist for years before finding a pair of Odysseys. I owned them and loved them for 15 years and the panels have gone bad. I have been trying to get them fixed for 8 frustrating months! Do you know how to get ML panels re-coated and refurbished? Nothing sends chills up and down my spine like listening to a Carpenter's LP through a pair of MLs. Karen Carpenter's voice through those speakers is so haunting and full of pain and soul. Try listening to the Carpenters on those ESLs and hold back your tears. But HELP me get a line on fixing my panels please! I miss that ML sound and I know you know the feeling.
Contact Martin Logan themselves. Nothing super different inside from a normal speaker. They have a crossover & a circuit that excites the panels. The problem is unlikely the film unless it’s damaged at the connections.
Andrew Robinson, excellent Audiophile presentation... well articulated. As an Audiophile myself, I appreciated how you struck a balance in all your descriptions and critique. I'm looking forward to not only hearing an EM ESL, but purchasing a pair this 2021. As to the price, by comparison in its rank, I find the cost to be appreciable. I like the sound of BOSE and they cost much more.
I have a pair of Martin Logan Electromotion ESLs and a pair of Focal Aria 936 Towers. Both don't go to the lowest bass octave, and both depend on port output for the next higher bass octave. This makes both of them, technically, boomy. In India, we have an instrument called the tabala, a small percussion drum instrument ( which does NOT boom ) but with which sets the rhythm or pace of the music. If you sit close to the player, you can hear a distinct snap when the finger strikes the leather. Only the Martin Logans can bring it out. Both are brilliant on vocals especially choirs. And the same on strings. You have to lower the bass and add a closed box sub., for both. Then...... Paradise.
I own a pair of used Martin Logan Ascent speakers and they sound great! I actually have played a Tabala before. Not that I knew what I was doing but the drummer in my band had one and brought it over for us to check out. Definitely in the bass frequency range. But a very unique sound. The way you drag your finger across the leather to change the pitch is really cool. I'll have to find some examples to listen to. I bet you can hear the strike of the thumb better with an ESL. ;0)
I've owned martin logans for 20+ years. I've replaced the planels once. Until I heard them i was looking at b&w or Polks or magna planars. Once i encountered the Martin Logans there was NO going back... For my home theater I've added a set on 24" organ speakers simply because they control the room effortlessly instead sounding like they are working the room.
I own the ESL 8's they are the reason I listen to Vinyl again. Im powering them with a Emotiva basX A2 ch@180w per side @ 6ohms and a 12" sub. Absolutely beautiful imaging. Miles Davis is in the house***
Bought a pair of these ESL's after Harvey washed away my older Vandersteen's. I actually heard them at a big box store and loved the sound. My first speakers were Magnapan's back in the late 70's and now have the itch to try the LRS. Just bought a Luxman 505uXll (put it off for 4 years) but frankly I liked the way the ESLs sounded with my Yamaha A 760 because of the tone tweeks you could do with the Yamaha.
I just got these from a family member, and planning to use Sonos Amp to power these! Sonos says they are Class D amp with 125w per channel, but people have reported a lot more than that. Looking forward to trying them out! Oh and I almost forgot, i will also be adding Dynamo 700 sub for deep lows.
Now living in a condo with 10 ft. Ceilings with Martin Logan Aeon I with Cardas Speaker cables, Using a Aragon 8008BB amplifier Keeping the shutters in windows adjusted up some bright sound but good bass I’m happy with the placement with them also the Bifrost 2 DAC helps
CLX I just love the sound of them. I have ESL’s with the single woofer. Such a beautiful midrange. Recently hooked up a 45 Watt Primaluna EVO valve amp. I was concerned that would not be enough power . Boy Was I wrong. They are just a fantastic speaker.
I have been enjoying your content in general and how you approach music and life in general topics. I just came across this particular video because of last comments from Gene (Audioholics) about this type of speakers, but after watching this video I got the impression that I wish you could bring the calmness, patience and level of detail to your current content. I understand maybe people nowadays have even a shorter attention span, but really enjoyed how comfortable you look, the quality of the writing and the beautifully executed description of what it means to listen to a pair of speakers and enjoy sound in general.
Well done. Much as with you, I heard a pair years ago and was intrigued. Four years ago I jumped in with both feet and purchased a pair of Classic 9's, and augmented with a pair of mid-price HSU subs. I power them with 300w and they simply shine. Delightful and much more.
Wonderful review! I loved that you heard your speakers for the first time at GNP. I worked there in the early to mid 2000's with Laurence and Donnie. Amazing guys and they were always fair and honest in their presentations. I miss those men. I was sent to a Martin Logan training in around 2000 or 2001(before I worked at GNP) up in Lawrence Kansas and had an amazing time learning about how the panels were produced, the history of the speaker and company. Gayle was a great host and took us down to his basement to listen to the Statements, which made me tear up. Simply amazing sound. The speakers disappeared and the music sounded the most live I have ever heard in a system. Fun times! I owned a pair of Aeon i's for a few years as my daily drivers (small room) and enjoyed my time with them. I also loved your review on the Klipsch Heresy III. I owned a pair of Epic CF3's for many years and to this day its one of the few speakers I let go that I miss (I miss my old Thiel PCS as well...amazing bookshelves). I never bought into the Klipsch hate because what Klipsch does, they do extremely well and sometimes you just want to FEEL the music. That being said I am gonna put you on the spot. Which speaker gave you more fun and enjoyment. The ElectroMotions, or the Heresy III :P
On a fun scale, the Heresy IIIs they're less finicky on a whole. Not that the ElectroMotions can't be fun, but they require more delicate and careful setup and whatnot.
Heard it with the cheapest Wadia,Audio Research kimber PBJ and 8TC at Hifi Art in Stockholm about 25 years ago.I was standing 3 feet in front of them and the band was playing a feet from my nose right back out on the street 9-12 feet behind them.Have never owned any of them but will never forget that experience!
I had to start with the Folded Motion tweeter, that MartinLogan makes. I love them. Maybe one day, I can move up, but that also means a big upgrade, for the receiver. I will save some pennies.
I bought Polk AudioLS-70 in 1992 and loved them for my whole life and before they sold out and put their product in Circuit City. I just bought a new house which has a perfect theatre setup so I've purchased the Sony - VPL-VW295ES 4K HDR Home Theater Projector which I'm waiting my my local dealer to setup for me. To accompany that, I have Anthem AVM 60 11.2 Dolby ATMOS preamp Marantz MM7025 Stereo Power Amp 140x2 Rotel RB-1070 130x2 Amp Rotel RMB-1075 120x5 Amp 2 Paradigm PS1000 12" 250 Watt Sub So with my wifes permission I'm getting the Martin Logan - ElectroMotion ESL X Floorstanding Front Speaker which is the step above entry. I'm pretty excited and for the price range I'm hoping they'll really make my movies and music pop. Thoughts? Is that a good matchup?
I don't know man! Neutral, bright, warm, what ever, all I know is with the little knowledge I have is what my ears heard. It was astonishing! So lively, like being in a bar and listening to a tight band set up by the right sound engineer; which is the ultimate for my taste. If you are looking to buy speakers on a budget or not, give these a chance. So I've heard hardly anything in the high end stuff except for these. That means; if ignorance is bliss, I would be happy with these and have not to look further. So, while talking to mom on the phone, a notification springs up! ML ESL, 1200euro, bye mama! First to message must have been me, don't know though. The Guy, no wrong, this fine gentleman selling them, had them covered, and took great care, that was obvious even at first glance. I mean, he even went so far as to shine a torch on the finish of the bass section to show me the fine lines, that I would not have noticed, made over time from cleaning it. He said, a good piano polish will probably get rid of it all. That or a pro job. Not my sort of worry, life is too short baby! When I got home I opened the speaker cover for the bass and you could tell from the little amount of dust collected, that indeed, they where covered. Anyway, great man, extremely honest. I really appreciate that! Get's more people into high end stuff on the used market, who would have never taken the dive. Like me. However they are 10 years old. I have no clue if that is ok or bad or stupid to buy. Since he took great care of them, I thought, yeah, take the chance, they look new. Get them before it's too late like the last ones that came up 5 years old for 1300, and I thought way too long about it. Lost them and was gutted! My goal was ultimately to only buy this set. The one I knew was good. And they sounded as good as the new ones I had heard on the same amp funny enough. A 20 year old Bryston 4B is it? Well something with a 4 anyway and Bryston. So if you haven't heard a lot of high end stuff like me, try and find a way to listen to them before you pull the trigger and buy something else, then lose half the happiness in life you wouldn't have ever known existed. You get the feeling of after making good' love happiness thing, if you know what I mean, hard to explain. Just be out on the hunt for a pair of these used and shut up about this and that. Patience is key for high end on a budget I would say. For 600euros a speaker that makes you cry and then dance and then smile like an idiot in a room alone, questioning to yourself if it's normal to do that! By the way 600 euro in bucks would be about $720. I guess for those in America there would be cheaper deals. Don't know though. As far as amp goes don't know, only that a high current amp may be better to push the lush and love lurking inside them eagerly waiting to be released and engulf your soul and mind. Rumor has it that people have been known to miraculously come and orgasm on the spot while listening to their favorite songs.
Dipole speakers utilizing open baffle dynamic drivers have a lot of advantages over speakers like the Martin Logan. One problem with the ML is the box woofer, properly designed dipole bass will sound more musical and work far better especially in small rooms... almost all typical in home listening rooms are acoustically small rooms. If you haven't heard a dynamic driver full bandwidth dipole, you need to try it.
I love electrostats. I've had many speakers. I'm a speaker nut l have 6 pair now and will be getting another set soon. The ML Prodigy is still one of my favorites. They blew me away 20 years ago.
I bought this set with Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL and the Subwoofer Martin Logan Dynamo 800X and I realy like the sound Andrew . Thank you for a great review , it was realy helpful . Best regards from a happy guy in Norway 💥😍
I used to own the Aerius and CLS IIz and loved the sound but finally moved on from them. In retrospect, it was the dynamic compression that motivated me to find another alternative.
I have owned a pair of the original CLS ML for many years and had to replace the panels twice, the second time at a very expensive cost. That is a major drawback and a real consideration when thinking about getting these type of speakers. The sound of full size panels, when set up right and powered with the right equipment, is something that can't be beaten, however you need deep pockets to invest in these type of speakers and even then, will replacement parts be available in the future? My two cents.
My first experience with Martin Logan Aerius I and I have never can enjoy the dynamic speakers until today. I lived with the Aerius I then the bigger brother LS7 for nearly 15 years. That said, without the proper setting of the Martin Logan speakers ( due to its quasi-dipole design) and proper pre-amp, amplifiers, source(s ), one simply cannot totally experience the " magic" of the Martin Logan speakers.
Some years ago I had ML Vista electrostats and they sounded superb with a 45 wpc EL 34 tube amp. They even sounded huge and very open with a 10 wpc EL 84 amp. Dynamics were adequate, clarity was superb and the soundstage was huge with great depth, sometimes even wrapping around the listening position.
Oh yeah, I remember my first experience. It was at a store in the late 90’s in Auburn, WA called Incredible Universe. They had an auditioning room setup with a 5.1 Martin Logan setup (don’t know the model) that was being fed information from a PC playing the audio from a mech warrior game of some sort. I still remember that transparency and the effortlessness. True, it wasn’t music but I remember the feeling.
I think an ML pair with a good subwoofer would be almost unbeatable. And what audiophile/home theatre fan would have a system without a subwoofer anyway?
i have a friend that when in the 80´s he had invested a lot of money on a system from QUAD(that looked in my opinion like those kids turntables in plastic, at least the colours were strange either than the look) with electrostatic speakers but he needed to have every component high-end or would sound not perfect but what i found funny was he when in my house asking me to hear this and that and saying that i had a very good sound(i love strong and defined basses) i never said nothing to him but i thought that he was a lot of times in my house and asking me if i could put on my turntable this and that record ,normally rock music like a few years after the release of the first AC/DC LP with the new vocalist(brian johnson?) back in black, a the WHO LP after the original drumer had a early end of life as it happen to other famous band elements around that time or the Police LP´s ,but he had spent a lot of money in this system with electrostatic speakers and seemed not that happy with them but it took not a long period of years for him to change everything ,the excuse ,almost everything was working bad and he had to send the components abroad because in Portugal there was no technician to repair his Quad system ,that´s what he told me, and like in a month i went to his house and he had bought the most expensive components from sony catalog ,the cd player were two components and it cost again a litle fortune but some years after he was having problems again with is new system, i guess is bad luck ,i only bought in 93 a integrated amplifier from sony and i was amazed with it´s quality but i notice that my 74 turntable was what sounded best with this sony amplifier or the cassettes i recorded in a denon deck i also bought ,the cd player sounded bad(not that dynamic) but only with the sony amplifier i ended up selling it a few years after with a pair of high-end speakers i bought for it from cerwin-vega , regards
I first heard them in a Magnolia store. I sat down between them on the strategically placed seat, and the soundstage was wonderful and airy. I stood up, and it all was gone! I sat back down, there it was again. I stood up and moved to the side - gone again. I also heard them at the 2019 Capital Fest, where they were in the front and back of the room. Better, but again when I moved around, the magic was gone.
Martin Logan had a great sound especially for a surround sound system. Logos is in the center. SL3s are in the front with Aerius for the back. A McIntosh surround sound amp has the power for the panels. Yes setup is critical but the sound is so transparent without being colored. For my basement surround I have a Martin Logan Theater center with KHT 9000 speakers all around with a Yamaha amp. It is enough for the center but I would not incorporate other Martin Logans although the 9000s have a similar sound.
I once had Ascent's Never cared for the bass. From what I've heard of current ML ESL hybrids, the bass is much improved. But when I found a pair of CLS II's I jumped on it. Such a coincidence they were from a dude named Andrew Robinson, but we've already established it wasn't you. I got a Descent i sub, originally to use with the Ascents. Using the internal high pass output from the sub, it still didn't cure the mid-bass hump--at least in my room--of the Ascent. Now I use the CLS II's full range, and use a Velodyne SMS-1 to equalize the sub to fill in the bass. Set up correctly it works great. At an audio show--I think it was the one they had in Westchester Co., New York--I heard the Neolith, and in the same room, a much smaller ESL hybrid, possibly the Electromotion. Absolutely correct, it was a scaled-down version. In fact, the bass from the Neolith seemed to overload the room, and the smaller one sounded better, IMO. But they were making the point that you don't have to spend $60,000, or whatever the Neoliths cost then, to get a substantially similar sound.
Great review Andrew, I got the ML virus back in 2009 because a friend of me owned a pair of ML Summit driven by Pass X350.5 and indeed the sound was really magical, except of the bass reproduction, that was sometimes too much.But I bought them also in 2010 till the year 2015. These Summits and also the other bigger models are quite critical for room placement, needs a lot of space, and I found that these 2 bass speaker driven Summits weren't ideal come to bass response. For some years I lived without ML till I found a pair of the last produced Vantages and actually in my room these Vantages do sound excellent. Bass and panel integration is superb, fast bass, but I placed them more than 4 ft. from the back wall and 3 feet from side wall. They need really quality amps to come to live and make a live sound reproduction. Compared to other high end speaker they are really a bargain. This is a keeper.
Owned these speakers for a few years now and absolutely love them ,currently run them with a Denon AVR100 but am picking up an Anthem STR integrated amp next week .Great review !!!!! :)
Mr. Robinson... Two Items and quick. I think--based on your many speaker/audio experiences the ML vs Magnepan comparison is very fair. I'm sure our memory of ANY Maggie can help make the comparison. Please let us know. #2. I had to laugh when watching an older video where you talked about your first listen to B&O in the Cherry Creek shopping area. Me Too! I remember that store and that time. Fun! But my meager means at that time could only look at those $$$$$! speakers. Great Reviews you make.
Dude, I found your channel today and it's already one of my favorites. You were so critical in my decision between the B&O Stage and the Naim Muso 2 and now this. I've loved Martin Logan speakers since I was first introduced to them back in 2006 when I first started selling them at Best Buy and I'm still fiending for my first pair. I agree with everything you've said here. I was looking to go further up in the range though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem to have any other reviews of their higher-end electrostatic hybrid speakers. If so,I would love to hear your thoughts.
The current 'Masterpiece' line is STILL their high end product. I have the 'Classic 9's and they are the end game for me. I heard them at my local brick and mortar store (still thriving!!) in a PRIVATE room and I was SOLD. My man at the shop paired them with a Parasound amp and preamp, and I have never looked back (O:
Great review Andrew. I've owned tradition speakers for decades until I sourced a pair of ML Ethos. They replaced my ML 60XT towers and I was a little nervous at first if I had made the right decision. Well, all I can say is that these electrostatic hybrids have re-energized my appreciation for music. I added a ML Dynamo 1600 subwoofer to accompany my Anthem MRX720 and its just amazing. Thank you for this detailed review and thank you to the staff at Martin Logan...when they say, "The Truth in Sound", they're not kidding.
I've had ML SL3s for 22 years (Apogee Centaurs before that). They sound great when you're walking around. But they come to life and magic happens when you sit in the sweet spot. I play them with a deHavilland tube preamp and McCormack 150watt solid state amp + a Muse sub (got all of my gear used one piece at a time). A sense of space that is so damn immersive on good recordings. And throw in some Billie Eilish "Bury a Friend" and you will be blown away - the low bass in that track is ridiculous, plus great detail and space for being recorded and mastered in a bedroom. Get a pair of older ML's for $800 -$1500 and see what it's all about. Magnepan's are great too, BTW.
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I have both the ML SL3's, and the Apogee centaur minors. Separate systems. I think the Apogees have slightly better mids and highs, but the ML's sound bigger if you will. Driving them (the SL3's ) with biamped Hafler 500's. The Apogees, are not biampable, so I have to give the overall nod to the ML's. I paid $800 for the ML's used. The Apogees were $450 used.
@ Gotta love that deal! People who don't know what planar speakers sound like, don't know what they are missing. My Centaurs sounded great, but had a hard edge to it - not ideal electronics + less than ideal CDs and the Apogees broadcast that load and clear. The SL3s are softer on the top, but I love the dynamics overall balance. I'm worried that if/when the panels go, it will cost a ton to replace them - be cheaper to buy entire speakers I bet.
I've only ever heard a 1985 pair of Magnepans. The open sound was astounding. The depth of these, plus the need to give them space is a lot to deal with in average sized rooms
I bought ML's a while ago but barely used them as moved, too busy etc. Now, with time, I started using them seriously. I have the large 71" reQuests in front, Arius in back, and Cinema i that I paired with Krell 250 a/3 and 150a amps. It sounds brand new. Wonderful, but true to this video, even with the big reQuests, had to add a subwoofer, so recently added (after a Sunfire went bad) the Emotiva Air Motiv 15 (for $699 a steal). Great for classical music as a stereo and great for home theater. But, again, as the video correctly notes, the sweet spot is really small...for me, got it to mid-room by the seating. Once outside the sweet spot, the acoustics drop off fast, when in the sweet spot, it's really, really sweet. But, had to part ways with a $5,000 Krell processor because it fell way behind the video technology today. That's the LAST time I spend so much on a processor, given the constant upgrades of technology--went with Emotiva again XMC-1 gen 2--sounds just as good. For downstairs, looking at a different speaker type...pretty convinced Tekton, while not cheap, not crazy expensive, is the way to go. Would love to see a review on those! Suscribed today!
Hi. I think this is the best review I’ve heard of the ML love story. You’ve hit all the relevant points about them and specifically explained why, once you’ve owned or listened to ML you can’t do without them. The first time I heard ML I was searching for a pair as I was captivated by the delicacy and beauty of the sound and having found them have never looked back. Thank you
I own the same pair you just reviewed. You hit the nail on the head in your video. You have to live with these for awhile. I have the the high end Denon with a 2 channel marantz 140 watt amp to drive the Martin Logan’s. wow what a difference opened up and magical! And yes I have 3 subs. I can’t see myself switching anything out going forward.
in the 80´s the fashion was electrostatic speakers for audiophiles ,Quad was the brand to have this for audiophiles , that are a specie that changes every notion about hi-fi from 10 to 10 years or a bit more ,i remenber them having a very clean sound but at bass level was the minimum, this new ones might be more evolved
Hi, I love your videos.. very nice content. Can you please tell me out of the below 3 ml speakers which one you will pick 1 ml esl 9 2 ml esl x 3 ml motion f200 Ml f200 and esl x are almost the same price .. Please give your opinion.
I bought used Aerius I esl. Sadly one of the esl panels is dead so it's just a bass woofer. The working speaker is an awkward center channel. Be aware these are amazing but only last 10-15 years until it's panel may die and too expensive to fix.
I am not a fan of hybrid speakers. I love the sound of a full range electrostatic. For many years I owned the Acoustat 1+1, power by the Sumo Andromeda amplifier and the sound was amazing. I wish Martin Logan would make a full range affordable electrostatic.
Oh they're addictive for sure. While my tastes have likely changed a little with age, it's the one speaker I'm always most curious about owning again, and again. Thanks for watching!
I use them with Benchmark DAC2 and AHB2 and am very satisfied. Best with Qobuz hi res new jazz and classical recordings, especially chamber sessions. Oh, and ML Dynamo 700 subs. The binding posts are the ELS weakest point. Use star quad cables.
I bought a set of ML Aerius back in the day. I used 2 McIntosh 240s to push them. I thought they sounded great other than the bass was weak. My ears got worse and I sold them after 10 years or so. I’m sure the new ones are even better but even the old ones had detail that I have not been able to get from regular cone speakers. I could listen to old Santana or Bob Marley and the percussion and separation of instruments was excellent. When I sold them I could tell the guy that bought them had not heard anything like it, he was stunned.
Good vid, thanks. I am going to put ML Stealth Vanquish in-ceiling due to room layout. I’m debating on adding Electromotion ESL C for the center channel. This will be my entry into ML.We’ll see how it comes out.
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my first Martin Logan experience was hearing a pair of CLS-IIs at Gifted Listener in Centrevlle VA in 1989. They blew my mind. Within few years, I bought a pair of used original Sequels, driving them with a pair of Carver Silver 7t monoblocks, with Meridian 286 CD player/preamp, and a fully-customized Technics SL-1360 with a Sumiko Blue Point cart, custom-made pure silver wiring for all interconnects, and Nordost speaker cables.
I ran that rig for over 15 years, and was perfectly happy with it. I was also single...
I'm a "recovering audiophile" now, and have downsized considerably. I still run MLs, but now I'm running a pair of Scenrios for my mains, driven by a big Sony receiver, and my source is primarily digital files from my Mac or an Oppo DVD player, feeding a Benchmark DAC-1.
I love the Martin Logan sound, and don't ever want to listen to any other speakers in my home...
I just heard these for the first time at a party in a mansion in Oakland and my jaw hit the floor. The way the highs of the snare came through was shockingly impactful but in no way displeasing. I instantly knew they were electrostatic from the look but didn't know anything about them except that they were remarkably gorgeous even playing 320kb MP3s. I'm headed back to that Mansion soon with wav files to determine whether or not they're going to replace my mirage bipolar mains. Thanks for this great intro
Hello there,
Any update? Did you end up going back to audition them?
@@EnpuerKT I haven't been back there yet. Thanks for the reminder though!
I found some vintage magnepans at a a thrift store sold as if they were wall patricians. I payed $40 for both and have been using them in my home theatre system's two front main channels for a few months now and I dont think I can ever go back to normal box loudspeakers. When paired with a nice sub they provide an incredible listening experience.
You can find some killer vintage speakers at thrift stores. People don't know what they are so they price them super low
You lucky SOB! 😆 i may start going to some local thrift stores soon. Thanks for sharing your story.
No model name?
I build speakers with a point source semi open driver plus woofer. I can't explain my every acoustic feature on a comment. But my principal is (basically) a semi open med/treble source and also point source med/treble. These two features are equally as important for holographic sound like conventional 2-ways simply can't do. I WON'T go back to "normal" speakers either (and most probably a similar reason you won't).
I’m hoping to get a pair from a guy who wants to get rid of em. Thanks for post. Incredibly helpful.
I had Martin Logan's on my bucket list and last year I picked up the ESL X model. Never regretted nickel of the expenditure. I find the bass quite OK and I love listening to Eva Cassidy sing In the Fields of Gold. I feel like I'm in the same room as she is recording in .... amazing !!!!
I had a pair of Martin Logan Ascents from about 2002 to 2007, and upgraded to ML Summits from then until about 1.5 years ago when I had to move. I drove them with a Sunfire 7400 amp (400/wpc) and I absolutely loved them. I'd dearly love to go back to ML, but today the nearest to the Summit is probably the ESL 11A at about $10k, and the least I think I'd find acceptable is the ESL X at $4k. Problem is the cost, I've got a smallish room now, plus I'm now 73 and not sure I could hear the difference anyway. But damn, do I ever miss them.
Where I auditioned them I was blown away with sound stage and transparency…but could not afford them. Now that I can easily afford them my 74 year old ears probably could not distinguish them from a pair of Bluetooth speakers.
I bought a pair of these 3 years ago - it took very little time to hear their distinct character and musical detail. And I think the look is a huge plus. They're not about "booming bass and sizzling highs" but about the authentic timbre of instruments and voices. "Feeling the presence of the musicians" may be appropriate as a descriptive term. I have been running them with very modest power - a Cambridge Audio AM10 and in a modest sized room, (10 by 14) have plenty of volume. I have no doubt a high end, higher output amp would reveal even more greatness from them. I just added a powered sub. Especially at modest volume, it's helpful to have those lower octaves raised up. MAGIC they are, indeed.
Yeah, I was blown away the first time I heard some. Just so unique and crystal clear.
What sub did you add?
Ahh yes Martin Logan and Apogee will always have a special place in my heart. Sure miss the good old days when I had them.
My first Martin Logan experience was jaw-dropping -- CLS IIz powered by Mark Levinson. Not only could I hear every vocal and instrument naturally and clearly, I could tell where the artists were seated (jazz/fusion ensemble)... I could tell the size of the bongo drum and the height of the cymbal. I didn't have close my eyes to picture them there.
You can say I imagined things, but my friends heard the exact same things. One of them is a professional musician, and none of us was a stranger to concert hall,s.
That was in late 1980's. I bought myself a pair of Aerius I in 1994 when I bought my first house. Still enjoying those speakers to this day.
I have ML Summits for 8 years and enjoyed the sound every moment, for every type of music, tv or movie, vinyl, ipad, anything. Don’t need a sub, don’t need a center speaker, just a pair of Summits and a pair of Fresco’s as rears. The clarity, power and 3-dimensionality is absolutely amazing !!
I have owned these since 2015 and I am so pleased with them, sounds great for all kinds of music and looks great. Doesn't look big and dominate because they are transparent. I power them with a 30 year old Nad 2200 pe which I am also very pleased with.
My first time was at my first Atlanta Audio Society meeting back in 1984. We were at a store in Marietta, listening to the original Sequels. When they played "Jazz in the Pawnshop", I was smitten. I had never heard such a sense of space and realism, plus they offered reasonable dispersion, so no head in a vise requirement like other electrostats of the period. I bought the then new Sequel 2's, and still have and love them. The only speakers I've heard that outdo their "spaciality " were the big MBLs, at more than 10 times the price. Overall, very special speakers.
TY Mark Tanner for letting me know there is an Atlanta Audio Society. I own Martin Logans and it is the sense and presence of air and realism that makes them so amazing. I love them.
Andrew your review of the Martin Logan speakers was spot on. I heard these speakers play in person 6 months prior. All I can say is that these speakers left me emotional. Thank you for your reviews
I first encountered the Martin Logan ESL speakers in the Magnolia section of a Best Buy in my hometown and I fell in love immediately. A jazz piece was playing and I remember how perfect the reproduction was on even just the cymbals of the drumset that I felt like I could see them. The laser focused reproduction just blew me away. Years later, went I moved out of the parent's house I got my own pair, refurbished for $1800 a pair and drive them with nothing but a Marantz 5011 receiver. I absolutely love these speakers.
I will say though that they do lack a bit of bass and I've been trying to get the courage to drop a good chunk of money on one of ML's subwoofers. I'm sure my downstairs neighbors won't be happy, but I'm all about that bass, so....
I have just started with Martin Logan Motion 60 xti after having klipsch RP 8000f. The difference is big. ML much more detialed and smooth.
My story about ML is similar to yours. I first heard ML CSL's at a local Audio store back in the early 1990's. They had them setup in a dedicated listening room. They played the Police, live, and the sound was mesmerizing. To this day, I still remember the clear, crisp, detailed, airy, gigantic-soundstage sound. I could hear every little sound from the stage as Sting was singing. It was mind-blowing. Thus, to this day, ML are speakers that one day, I hope to get. I always look on eBay to see which vintage ML speakers are being sold. Just mesmerizing.
Shout out from a current owner of the CLX Art!!!!! Love these gigantic panels. As a condominium dweller, I cannot add subwoofers (gotta spare my neighbors), and the giant included low frequency panels can’t go lower than about 50Hz. Nevertheless, they can still give me a rumble in the walls, the floor and my gut - and the imaging and clarity are simply breathtaking. Agree that more power is needed; my current PS Audio BHK 300 monos have been exceeded once or twice here, when the CLX does its “party trick” of dropping impedance down to half an ohm at certain frequencies…and the BHK’s go into protection mode. It’ll take time to build up the $$, but some day the BHK 600’s will come take their place 😊
When I didn't know shit about speakers I had a chance to get these for $800 total from a Best Buy show room. Never regretted missing a purchase more lol
GNP Audio Video was the coolest hi-end audio shop in Pasadena, and I was fortunate to work there for many years. We were one of the very first Martin Logan dealers in California back in the 1980s. When we got the original CLS electrostats in on demo, it was truly a revelation in clarity, detail, and accuracy in sound reproduction. Maggies were the closest I'd ever heard before that.
Even though there wasn't much mid-bass power or low bass at all from the CLS, the wide and deep sound stage, open mid-range without any "box" coloration, quickly had me hooked. Live recordings, vocals, and small group acoustic jazz, classic rock, and most classical music could be magical. Unfortunately, adding a subwoofer to the CLS proved to be very tricky. There just weren't many good options with the speed and quality to properly blend with the CLS. ML also produced the Monolith and Sequel hybrid models, however, their added woofers didn't always mix well with the panels. You could clearly hear the discontinuity.
These current generation hybrid Martin Logans do an excellent job with panel/woofer execution and integration. Over the years, I've listened to many speakers at all price points, philosophies, and technologies. Somehow, I've always circled back to ML. I'm looking to get a pair of the Masterpiece ESL 9A or maybe the ESL 11A.
Great review.
I have these exact model of speakers in my HT man cave. I run them with 2 x ML grotto subs and they truly sound amazing in my set up. Every time I go to a hi fi shop to demo speakers that cost 2 and 3 times more, I just come back underwhelmed in comparison. In my set up they sound best by running them full range with a 60 hertz cross over. At least in my room the bases is not lacking (for music) by any reasonable standard, even when I turn the subs off. Maybe it’s the audyssey eq in my Denon receiver but base blends absolutely seamlessly with the panels. I’ve demoed them with both SVS Ultra 13” subs and RSL speed woofer 10”. All performed well, and they were great for movies, but the other subs could not match the base quality, speed and integration of the ML grottos (servo technology). I wish they still made them. These electrostats aren’t as impactful for movies like a Klipsch RF-7 but for watching movies they are still really lively and not disappointing at all. For music reproduction they are to die for, especially anything acoustic. Piano sounds so real it’s like it’s literally in the room. I love so many brands of speakers for different reasons, but at the end of the day I can’t find anything that brings the magic like these ML Electromotion ESL’s. It’s hard to explain, but it’s like they reveal a 3D “texture” to sound that other speakers just gloss over. And once you get used to this textured sound, it is addicting. Despite my affinity with other brands (B&W, KEF, Def Tech, Klipsch, and more) I literally can’t find the justification to upgrade to anything else given the quality sound they produce in the 15 x 15 x 10 ft room they are in. With my seating position about 10 ft from the front of the speakers, I don’t think even a larger ML model would add anything appreciably better in this set up. My Denon receiver reports 140 watts per channel with 2 channels driven. Volume is good and sudden dynamic swings seem effortless, but I’m curious to add a quality amp to see what else I can squeeze out of these ML’s. Thanks again for the great review.
Hi Andrew, great review and I can fully understand it. I owned a pair of ESL X in May 2023. So enough time for me to listen to it intensively. I assume the ESL and ESL X sound very similar and what can I say, I made all the same the experience as you did. I would like to add some comment regarding the question "is this speaker neutral?" as this is for me the key point. For me this speaker owns a clarity which is really impressive and it is its absolute strength. I did not hear this from others speakers. But it is far away to be neutral looking at the frequency response. I found out that the frequency response is not linear by far. It has a strong peak at around 3,5kHz to 4,5kHz and after this it drops clearly. I checked this out running a sinus sweep (20Hz to 20kHz). This non-linearity leads that some kind of music sounds harsh and tinny, especially tracks with lot of sound information in the critical range of 3,5-4,5kHz like electric guitars, choirs with high voices and orchestras with a lot of horns and violins. Examples: Go your own way from Fleetwood Mac, many tracks from Tom Petty, Verdi/Nabucco Va pensiero. But there is a solution by using a parametric EQ to compensate this non-linearity. I manage this using the parametric EQ from my wiim pro. It was not hard to. The result is that I am no longer limited to hear a special kind of music which fits to my Logans. I would like to encourage you the check this out. If requested I can provide my EQ settings. Last comment from my side: Adding a subwoofer (or better more than one😀) makes the sound perfect. Enjoy! Cheers from Bavaria/Germany 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this. I don’t why Andrew is not pinning this comment as this gives so much idea to the people who are planning to get them.
Cool, I just acquired the same speakers. I've not run them through REW yet but suspected such a FR anomaly. Can you share those EQ settings?
@@5thlevelweb887 here we go: Filter1: type PK, freq: 3,5kHz, gain: -5dB, Q:1.7. Filter2: type HS, freq: 6.5kHz, gain:4,5dB, Q:1,5. I did not use any measuring system, but my ears only. So my result will not be perfect but for me it is a great improvement. If you run REW please let me know your result. Thanks 😄
Hearing your story was about ML speakers was deja vu for me in so many ways. I also came across them in Pasadena. I cannot remember the name of the audio store. I was going to Pasadena City College and loved my music. JBL’s were THE speaker to play loud and long. This was 1971-72. I walked in and saw them and thought “what the hell are these things?”. The salesman was gracious enough to play some music on them, as much as I wanted really, and I was gobsmacked. I had never heard anything so clear and present. They became an obsession and a benchmark of sorts for what could be. I was never able to afford them and when I finally could, did not have the right room for placement. Here I am again, 50 years later, contemplating them in my home and tilting my head at the remarkable coincidences we share over this brand. There is nothing like them. Thanks for the review and story.
You may be mistaken on the 1971-72 time frame - I don't believe Martin Logans came out until the early/mid 1980s. I auditioned the first two models (Monolith and CLS) at Brooks Berdan's shop near Pasadena in 1986. I was most pleasantly surprised to find the cheaper CLSs much more musical than the much larger, much more expensive Monoliths. I bought the CLSs soon later and they're still my main speakers [repaneled once].
Since High School when I first saw an ML in an add, I wanted on. For my 40th birthday I got a pair of the self-powered ones (Arias?). I paired them with a REL 10. I used them solely for listening, David Sylvian sounds amazing, to music. In the last 5 years I've converted my Home Theater to ML, with the Motion 8i for my center, Motion 15s for my rears, & now 4- Motion 4is for my height surrounds, I also have an old Klipsh sub for games and action movies to give me a Fatter sound. My most recent acquisition is the Denon AVR-X4500H to tie them all together. Like the ESL series you talk about, these are really the entry level, but to me there is no going back. I'm making quick converts of all my friends as well. You did a great job of explaining what a ML sounds like & what to expect. Now I'm going to put on some David Sylvian...
Cheers
That was one of the most "transparent" reviews I have ever experienced. I thoroughly enjoy an honest review by an expert. thanks Andrew I will now have to go & at least give these an audition.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I wish I could do more to promote this channel. I now look forward to watching this just as much as the Audiophiliac, Steve Gutteneberg . I wish you had a daily video. The (your) video production is really quite amazing IMHO so I know you can't just pump these out. (a lot goes into your vids)
@@Audiojunkabus Please feel free to share this channel with your friends, your friends' friends, their friends ;) I appreciate it, I really do. I have contemplated doing a daily vlog, but right now it's just not in the cards as this is not my full-time gig. I really do thank you for acknowledging the effort that goes into each video. If I bust my ass, each video takes a minimum of 8 hours just to film/produce. In truth I have over 100 hours into each video if you count listening/living time. Plus, I actually want to raise the bar further with respect to my production value, but I have to remember to balance this channel with everything else I have going on. It's fun (most days) but it's a lot of work.
What a TRIP!! GNP Audio in Pasadena is where I heard MLs for the first time. It was sometime in the mid-nineties and I have never had a pair in my home until I reviewed the ESL Xs. Great speakers!
I lived at GNP during my college years. Couldn't afford anything, so I basically just loitered until they asked me to leave.
Great review. Very accurate description of Logans and their owners. Just upgraded from 23yr old Aerius to master piece 9". Glad I started where I did. Listened to a traditional box set of logans for 10 minutes then the master piece series. Took 30 sec to make that decision. It's such a unique presence...and I'm hooked. So begins the rabbit hole of searching for perfection. There are much warmer full body speakers out there but I just love this sound
I have used ML speakers for 30 years starting with SL3 and now very happy with the Impression XL. You are absolutely right, with good recording, proper placement and nice room, certain kind of music just come to life. Really hard to go away from this setup. Magnepans have similar crisp sound but they are even more directional with tiny sweet spot. The older ML are notorious to drive. I remember playing Beethoven's 9th Choral on SL3 with the Krell integrated amp (150W per channel) and when the full orchestral part comes up, you can literally witness the soundstage collapse at that point. I remember that at like 15K Hz, the impedance of the speaker was a terrifying 1.2 Ohms. Swapped out the Krell integrated with a monobloc with 300W per channel @8 ohms (600W @ 4 Ohms and 1200W @2 Ohms) it was marriage made in heaven. Newer ML are easier to drive and the latest ones with Anthem room correction makes overall room setup much much easier.
Yeah...Beethoven's 9th w/ML's and Krell 250s here--but not monoblocks--kind of where I hit the limit on my budget. (Still very ample power--150s would be too small.) It's so good it's like a new experience each time! You and I are on the same page Ding Yu. Almost went with Anthem too...very fine product. I assume you also use a subwoofer?
@@scherzomazeppa726 I have a subwoofer but that's really linked to my video playback. For 2 channel audio, the ML 11A I have goes low enough for me. What I like about the bass in ML is that it is tight and controlled which to some people may sound weak. But to me, that's what good bass should be. With Anthem I get no smearing of bass in the room.
@@melcharson Yes, I agree with the "tight and controlled" bass. However, aside from the sweet-spot issue (not a big deal for me as it's just me and my wife in the room and positioned to capture the spot), is I just don't feel the ML's are picking up on the lowest end of the bass when listening to classical (mostly what I listen to). I use a sub (originally a Sunfire, but much too punchy--now Emotiva 15"), but use it sparingly, so it crosses over very low, and set the volume equal to the music played. Once set, it really doesn't need much dialing in after that (except when playing movies). IMO, it does capture a bit of the lows the ML kind of misses. Just a matter of taste I guess. That said, I'd find it very hard to be satisfied with much else than ML's after using them. The sound is amazingly rich and finely detailed, IMO far better than box-type speakers regardless of cost.
Thanks from a classical music lover. Very helpful comments.
ML is not the only manufacturer of electrostatics. I have owned three different brands and have lived with my current ones for 7 years. Would have been nice to hear a comparison with other electrostatics and a comparison with the rest of the range.
Went to listen to these speakers today. Been so curious about them. I was truly impressed. It really creates space in an effortless manner.
It may not have the highs that you get from a good box speaker but it’s just great. Male voices do lack a smidge of weight, same for pianos but it’s made up with that sparkle.
Andrew ... your review is so spot on. I’m so tempted now. Hmmmmm ...
A few years ago I had the Vistas and they did very well driven by a 45 wpc Jolida EL34 integrated amp. Dynamics were good, clarity was extreme, tone was smooth and the soundstage was deep and wide. They also sounded very good with a Jolida 10 wpc EL 84 amp, filling a large room with a flowering of sound. When I wanted loud I listened to Altec 19s and VOTs.
I had a similar experience when I first heard MLs in a high-end audio shop. I bought the Electromotions on the spot. A few years later I found a used pair of SL3, which are larger and move more air. They became my favorite speakers ever. Unfortunately, my cats had the same opinion! I couldn't keep them off of them, and finally had to mothball them, because short of covering them with armor, I just couldn't keep them protected.
i listened to these speakers and they produce sound stage better than any other speaker I've ever listened to. they are clear sounding but not the clearest and id argue that the sound stage they produce more than makes up for the slight lack in clarity. i listened to these speakers side by side with speakers that cost double and even triple the amount these cost, and these sounded the best.
Esl compared to dynamic driver is like comparing led tvs to oled, once you put an oled next to a led tv, it’s a whole different picture. It isn’t necessarily better but it is a different way of sound
I was Christmas time. I was in a crowded store (not in a booth), and I passed these speakers. I accidentally stepped into the sweet spot, and everything just disappeared. The noise, everything but the music, went away. I felt like someone snapped headphones on me. They are the only speakers to bring tears to my eyes.
Erik McKenney do you now own a pair?
That's a beautiful story I love speakers that make me cry
I have heard CLX’s in a good room. It was in a dealers listening room. They had an amazingly accurate sound .
My speakers at home are a pair of ESL’s which I just love. All you criticisms are valid I think.
Andrew, I agree with you, I owned Martin Logans and Magnepans before exploring and owning Vandersteen. Martin Logan’s are also great for jazz, especially with acoustic guitar. For Logan’s as long as you sit in the sweet spot they are great even magical because of that since of space and air around the instruments, but if you stand up or move around the sound stage collapses. This also happens with Magnepan as well, but to a lesser degree than the logans. The esl sound great and have been in the line for longer than I thought they would, but Martin Logan needed an inexpensive line with inexpensive being relative to get you in to that panel.
Martin Logan’s and Magnepans image extremely well, almost like no other, but they are extremely hard to match up with subs. I owned a Rel sub, which set up of Rel subs are not difficult, but not easy either. When you get the blend right, especially with the Rel it is seamless, but you are going to pay well for a great sub to match either the Logan’s or the Maggie’s, but it is worth it.
I went Vandersteen because the built in sub is seamless and better done and deeper than the esl and some of the upper Martin Logans. Vandersteen especially Quatro on up can when properly set up image similar or in some cases better than a Martin Logan or Magnepan, but all are great speakers. Vandersteen especially Quatro on up have the built in subs and require the crossover either in a fixed amplifier impedance or the mp5h that allows you more controls thru dip switches and connects to your amp and preamp.
The Quatro on up allow you to EQ the built in subs for each room that you put them in with controls on the back, but this is a two person set up with Vandersteen test tones, but how often will this be done considering most people don’t change rooms or homes often. For me the Vandersteen gave me all the pluses except having to plug them into the walls and gave me some room space back without having separate subs in my living room and gave me controls that I just couldn’t get with Logan’s or Maggie’s.
If you get the opportunity Andrew get a pair of Quatro CT in for review or even the model 5, but the model 5 require an even more extensive set up than the Quatro with a laser pointer. I would love to hear your prospective on the Quatro or model 5 both doing deep bass well, especially the 5. The model 7 kill the deep bass game, but set up is more or less like the 5 with that laser measuring device and they have those Eq room controls. For those of you that have been in Music Direct, which I love, they have a pair of model 7s that they haven’t gotten the set up right since having them, but my local dealer gets the model 7s set up right every time. Great review Andrew and I always love your prospective.
Hi Andrew - I related completely to your comment about becoming addicted to the ML sound. I have always had good speakers and found them to be satisfying. One day at my audio store, I spent time listening to a pair of ML Prodigys. I had never heard anything so full, enveloping and satisfying. That event happened years ago and yet that sound never left my mind. Sadly, my room setup is totally unsuited for such speakers, but someday.... Thank you for your insightful analysis. Roger in Wisconsin
I remember my first time hearing Martin Logans at an audio store and was totally blown away! I hunted Craigslist for years before finding a pair of Odysseys. I owned them and loved them for 15 years and the panels have gone bad. I have been trying to get them fixed for 8 frustrating months! Do you know how to get ML panels re-coated and refurbished? Nothing sends chills up and down my spine like listening to a Carpenter's LP through a pair of MLs. Karen Carpenter's voice through those speakers is so haunting and full of pain and soul. Try listening to the Carpenters on those ESLs and hold back your tears. But HELP me get a line on fixing my panels please! I miss that ML sound and I know you know the feeling.
Contact Martin Logan themselves. Nothing super different inside from a normal speaker. They have a crossover & a circuit that excites the panels. The problem is unlikely the film unless it’s damaged at the connections.
@@beagle7622 The panels go bad after about 15-20 years. It's 99% the panels.
I like your balanced approach.
Andrew Robinson, excellent Audiophile presentation... well articulated. As an Audiophile myself, I appreciated how you struck a balance in all your descriptions and critique. I'm looking forward to not only hearing an EM ESL, but purchasing a pair this 2021.
As to the price, by comparison in its rank, I find the cost to be appreciable. I like the sound of BOSE and they cost much more.
I have a pair of Martin Logan Electromotion ESLs and a pair of Focal Aria 936 Towers.
Both don't go to the lowest bass octave, and both depend on port output for the next higher bass octave.
This makes both of them, technically, boomy.
In India, we have an instrument called the tabala, a small percussion drum instrument ( which does NOT boom ) but with which sets the rhythm or pace of the music. If you sit close to the player, you can hear a distinct snap when the finger strikes the leather. Only the Martin Logans can bring it out.
Both are brilliant on vocals especially choirs.
And the same on strings.
You have to lower the bass and add a closed box sub., for both. Then......
Paradise.
I own a pair of used Martin Logan Ascent speakers and they sound great! I actually have played a Tabala before. Not that I knew what I was doing but the drummer in my band had one and brought it over for us to check out. Definitely in the bass frequency range. But a very unique sound. The way you drag your finger across the leather to change the pitch is really cool. I'll have to find some examples to listen to. I bet you can hear the strike of the thumb better with an ESL. ;0)
I've owned martin logans for 20+ years. I've replaced the planels once. Until I heard them i was looking at b&w or Polks or magna planars. Once i encountered the Martin Logans there was NO going back... For my home theater I've added a set on 24" organ speakers simply because they control the room effortlessly instead sounding like they are working the room.
I have the same experience with these you define power wise. I power these with two emotiva HC1 monoblocks and 2 PSA 1512 subs and love the sound.
I own the ESL 8's they are the reason I listen to Vinyl again. Im powering them with a Emotiva basX A2 ch@180w per side @ 6ohms and a 12" sub. Absolutely beautiful imaging. Miles Davis is in the house***
The sound stage and detail presented is unbelieveable.
I got Martin Logan 35XTs in my office on my desk right now. :)
Bought a pair of these ESL's after Harvey washed away my older Vandersteen's. I actually heard them at a big box store and loved the sound. My first speakers were Magnapan's back in the late 70's and now have the itch to try the LRS. Just bought a Luxman 505uXll (put it off for 4 years) but frankly I liked the way the ESLs sounded with my Yamaha A 760 because of the tone tweeks you could do with the Yamaha.
Harvey did a lot to do with respect to upgrading my downstair stereo, lol!
Scherzo Mazeppa
Yeah, the only good thing about the flood is that we got all new stuff.. I don’t think I could go through it again though
I just got these from a family member, and planning to use Sonos Amp to power these! Sonos says they are Class D amp with 125w per channel, but people have reported a lot more than that. Looking forward to trying them out! Oh and I almost forgot, i will also be adding Dynamo 700 sub for deep lows.
Now living in a condo with 10 ft. Ceilings with Martin Logan Aeon I
with Cardas Speaker cables,
Using a Aragon 8008BB amplifier
Keeping the shutters in windows adjusted up some bright sound but good bass I’m happy with the placement with them also the Bifrost 2 DAC helps
CLX I just love the sound of them. I have ESL’s with the single woofer. Such a beautiful midrange. Recently hooked up a 45 Watt Primaluna EVO valve amp. I was concerned that would not be enough power . Boy Was I wrong. They are just a fantastic speaker.
I have been enjoying your content in general and how you approach music and life in general topics. I just came across this particular video because of last comments from Gene (Audioholics) about this type of speakers, but after watching this video I got the impression that I wish you could bring the calmness, patience and level of detail to your current content. I understand maybe people nowadays have even a shorter attention span, but really enjoyed how comfortable you look, the quality of the writing and the beautifully executed description of what it means to listen to a pair of speakers and enjoy sound in general.
Well done. Much as with you, I heard a pair years ago and was intrigued. Four years ago I jumped in with both feet and purchased a pair of Classic 9's, and augmented with a pair of mid-price HSU subs. I power them with 300w and they simply shine. Delightful and much more.
Wonderful review! I loved that you heard your speakers for the first time at GNP. I worked there in the early to mid 2000's with Laurence and Donnie. Amazing guys and they were always fair and honest in their presentations. I miss those men.
I was sent to a Martin Logan training in around 2000 or 2001(before I worked at GNP) up in Lawrence Kansas and had an amazing time learning about how the panels were produced, the history of the speaker and company. Gayle was a great host and took us down to his basement to listen to the Statements, which made me tear up. Simply amazing sound. The speakers disappeared and the music sounded the most live I have ever heard in a system. Fun times! I owned a pair of Aeon i's for a few years as my daily drivers (small room) and enjoyed my time with them.
I also loved your review on the Klipsch Heresy III. I owned a pair of Epic CF3's for many years and to this day its one of the few speakers I let go that I miss (I miss my old Thiel PCS as well...amazing bookshelves). I never bought into the Klipsch hate because what Klipsch does, they do extremely well and sometimes you just want to FEEL the music.
That being said I am gonna put you on the spot. Which speaker gave you more fun and enjoyment. The ElectroMotions, or the Heresy III :P
On a fun scale, the Heresy IIIs they're less finicky on a whole. Not that the ElectroMotions can't be fun, but they require more delicate and careful setup and whatnot.
I don’t know what’s more beautiful, the speakers or your husky
Heard it with the cheapest Wadia,Audio Research kimber PBJ and 8TC at Hifi Art in Stockholm about 25 years ago.I was standing 3 feet in front of them and the band was playing a feet from my nose right back out on the street 9-12 feet behind them.Have never owned any of them but will never forget that experience!
Sounds about right! Thanks for sharing!
I had to start with the Folded Motion tweeter, that MartinLogan makes. I love them. Maybe one day, I can move up, but that also means a big upgrade, for the receiver. I will save some pennies.
I bought Polk AudioLS-70 in 1992 and loved them for my whole life and before they sold out and put their product in Circuit City. I just bought a new house which has a perfect theatre setup so I've purchased the Sony - VPL-VW295ES 4K HDR Home Theater Projector
which I'm waiting my my local dealer to setup for me. To accompany that, I have
Anthem AVM 60 11.2 Dolby ATMOS preamp
Marantz MM7025 Stereo Power Amp 140x2
Rotel RB-1070 130x2 Amp
Rotel RMB-1075 120x5 Amp
2 Paradigm PS1000 12" 250 Watt Sub
So with my wifes permission I'm getting the Martin Logan - ElectroMotion ESL X Floorstanding Front Speaker
which is the step above entry. I'm pretty excited and for the price range I'm hoping they'll really make my movies and music pop.
Thoughts? Is that a good matchup?
You're going to like what you hear very much I think. Especially with those Paradigm subs in the mix. Enjoy and thanks for watching!!!
I don't know man! Neutral, bright, warm, what ever, all I know is with the little knowledge I have is what my ears heard. It was astonishing! So lively, like being in a bar and listening to a tight band set up by the right sound engineer; which is the ultimate for my taste. If you are looking to buy speakers on a budget or not, give these a chance. So I've heard hardly anything in the high end stuff except for these. That means; if ignorance is bliss, I would be happy with these and have not to look further. So, while talking to mom on the phone, a notification springs up! ML ESL, 1200euro, bye mama! First to message must have been me, don't know though. The Guy, no wrong, this fine gentleman selling them, had them covered, and took great care, that was obvious even at first glance. I mean, he even went so far as to shine a torch on the finish of the bass section to show me the fine lines, that I would not have noticed, made over time from cleaning it. He said, a good piano polish will probably get rid of it all. That or a pro job. Not my sort of worry, life is too short baby! When I got home I opened the speaker cover for the bass and you could tell from the little amount of dust collected, that indeed, they where covered. Anyway, great man, extremely honest. I really appreciate that! Get's more people into high end stuff on the used market, who would have never taken the dive. Like me. However they are 10 years old. I have no clue if that is ok or bad or stupid to buy. Since he took great care of them, I thought, yeah, take the chance, they look new. Get them before it's too late like the last ones that came up 5 years old for 1300, and I thought way too long about it. Lost them and was gutted! My goal was ultimately to only buy this set. The one I knew was good. And they sounded as good as the new ones I had heard on the same amp funny enough. A 20 year old Bryston 4B is it? Well something with a 4 anyway and Bryston. So if you haven't heard a lot of high end stuff like me, try and find a way to listen to them before you pull the trigger and buy something else, then lose half the happiness in life you wouldn't have ever known existed. You get the feeling of after making good' love happiness thing, if you know what I mean, hard to explain. Just be out on the hunt for a pair of these used and shut up about this and that. Patience is key for high end on a budget I would say. For 600euros a speaker that makes you cry and then dance and then smile like an idiot in a room alone, questioning to yourself if it's normal to do that! By the way 600 euro in bucks would be about $720. I guess for those in America there would be cheaper deals. Don't know though. As far as amp goes don't know, only that a high current amp may be better to push the lush and love lurking inside them eagerly waiting to be released and engulf your soul and mind. Rumor has it that people have been known to miraculously come and orgasm on the spot while listening to their favorite songs.
Dipole speakers utilizing open baffle dynamic drivers have a lot of advantages over speakers like the Martin Logan. One problem with the ML is the box woofer, properly designed dipole bass will sound more musical and work far better especially in small rooms... almost all typical in home listening rooms are acoustically small rooms. If you haven't heard a dynamic driver full bandwidth dipole, you need to try it.
Such as....?
violently agree , that box woofer will never integrate well with a dipole panel speaker. If you go dipole , go all the way , including subs
I love electrostats. I've had many speakers. I'm a speaker nut l have 6 pair now and will be getting another set soon. The ML Prodigy is still one of my favorites. They blew me away 20 years ago.
Congratulation! 👍
I felt in love with Martin Logan maybe 30 Years ago by hearing a Sequel. 😍
I’ve got SL3’s (had em since 1994) and frankly, would never sell them….unless I get something fancier from Martin Logan!
I bought this set with Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL and the Subwoofer Martin Logan Dynamo 800X and I realy like the sound Andrew . Thank you for a great review , it was realy helpful . Best regards from a happy guy in Norway 💥😍
I used to own the Aerius and CLS IIz and loved the sound but finally moved on from them. In retrospect, it was the dynamic compression that motivated me to find another alternative.
I have owned a pair of the original CLS ML for many years and had to replace the panels twice, the second time at a very expensive cost. That is a major drawback and a real consideration when thinking about getting these type of speakers. The sound of full size panels, when set up right and powered with the right equipment, is something that can't be beaten, however you need deep pockets to invest in these type of speakers and even then, will replacement parts be available in the future? My two cents.
My first experience with Martin Logan Aerius I and I have never can enjoy the dynamic speakers until today. I lived with the Aerius I then the bigger brother LS7 for nearly 15 years. That said, without the proper setting of the Martin Logan speakers ( due to its quasi-dipole design) and proper pre-amp, amplifiers, source(s ), one simply cannot totally experience the " magic" of the Martin Logan speakers.
Some years ago I had ML Vista electrostats and they sounded superb with a 45 wpc EL 34 tube amp. They even sounded huge and very open with a 10 wpc EL 84 amp. Dynamics were adequate, clarity was superb and the soundstage was huge with great depth, sometimes even wrapping around the listening position.
Oh yeah, I remember my first experience. It was at a store in the late 90’s in Auburn, WA called Incredible Universe. They had an auditioning room setup with a 5.1 Martin Logan setup (don’t know the model) that was being fed information from a PC playing the audio from a mech warrior game of some sort. I still remember that transparency and the effortlessness. True, it wasn’t music but I remember the feeling.
They definitely make an impression don't they. Thanks for tuning in!
I remember incredible universe in Auburn wa that was a awesome store they used to have everything tech wise, wish they’d come back
I think an ML pair with a good subwoofer would be almost unbeatable. And what audiophile/home theatre fan would have a system without a subwoofer anyway?
i have a friend that when in the 80´s he had invested a lot of money on a system from QUAD(that looked in my opinion like those kids turntables in plastic, at least the colours were strange either than the look) with electrostatic speakers but he needed to have every component high-end or would sound not perfect but what i found funny was he when in my house asking me to hear this and that and saying that i had a very good sound(i love strong and defined basses) i never said nothing to him but i thought that he was a lot of times in my house and asking me if i could put on my turntable this and that record ,normally rock music like a few years after the release of the first AC/DC LP with the new vocalist(brian johnson?) back in black, a the WHO LP after the original drumer had a early end of life as it happen to other famous band elements around that time or the Police LP´s ,but he had spent a lot of money in this system with electrostatic speakers and seemed not that happy with them but it took not a long period of years for him to change everything ,the excuse ,almost everything was working bad and he had to send the components abroad because in Portugal there was no technician to repair his Quad system ,that´s what he told me, and like in a month i went to his house and he had bought the most expensive components from sony catalog ,the cd player were two components and it cost again a litle fortune but some years after he was having problems again with is new system, i guess is bad luck ,i only bought in 93 a integrated amplifier from sony and i was amazed with it´s quality but i notice that my 74 turntable was what sounded best with this sony amplifier or the cassettes i recorded in a denon deck i also bought ,the cd player sounded bad(not that dynamic) but only with the sony amplifier i ended up selling it a few years after with a pair of high-end speakers i bought for it from cerwin-vega , regards
What would be a good integrated amp or receiver to pair up with these speakers around $1500 or less?
I first heard them in a Magnolia store. I sat down between them on the strategically placed seat, and the soundstage was wonderful and airy. I stood up, and it all was gone! I sat back down, there it was again. I stood up and moved to the side - gone again. I also heard them at the 2019 Capital Fest, where they were in the front and back of the room. Better, but again when I moved around, the magic was gone.
They are definitely “sweet spot” loudspeakers.
You just described my dream speaker. Hoping to one day be able to afford them...
Martin Logan had a great sound especially for a surround sound system. Logos is in the center. SL3s are in the front with Aerius for the back. A McIntosh surround sound amp has the power for the panels. Yes setup is critical but the sound is so transparent without being colored. For my basement surround I have a Martin Logan Theater center with KHT 9000 speakers all around with a Yamaha amp. It is enough for the center but I would not incorporate other Martin Logans although the 9000s have a similar sound.
I absolutely agree with everything that has been said. Very good review of this wonder.
I once had Ascent's Never cared for the bass. From what I've heard of current ML ESL hybrids, the bass is much improved. But when I found a pair of CLS II's I jumped on it. Such a coincidence they were from a dude named Andrew Robinson, but we've already established it wasn't you.
I got a Descent i sub, originally to use with the Ascents. Using the internal high pass output from the sub, it still didn't cure the mid-bass hump--at least in my room--of the Ascent. Now I use the CLS II's full range, and use a Velodyne SMS-1 to equalize the sub to fill in the bass. Set up correctly it works great.
At an audio show--I think it was the one they had in Westchester Co., New York--I heard the Neolith, and in the same room, a much smaller ESL hybrid, possibly the Electromotion. Absolutely correct, it was a scaled-down version. In fact, the bass from the Neolith seemed to overload the room, and the smaller one sounded better, IMO. But they were making the point that you don't have to spend $60,000, or whatever the Neoliths cost then, to get a substantially similar sound.
I too use a Velodyne SMS-1 to equalize out the room's resonance modes. Speakers are original CLSs and subwoofer is the original Velodyne ULD-15.
A very huge fan of MartinLogan lineups ❤❤❤❤
Great review Andrew, I got the ML virus back in 2009 because a friend of me owned a pair of ML Summit driven by Pass X350.5 and indeed the sound was really magical, except of the bass reproduction, that was sometimes too much.But I bought them also in 2010 till the year 2015. These Summits and also the other bigger models are quite critical for room placement, needs a lot of space, and I found that these 2 bass speaker driven Summits weren't ideal come to bass response. For some years I lived without ML till I found a pair of the last produced Vantages and actually in my room these Vantages do sound excellent. Bass and panel integration is superb, fast bass, but I placed them more than 4 ft. from the back wall and 3 feet from side wall. They need really quality amps to come to live and make a live sound reproduction. Compared to other high end speaker they are really a bargain. This is a keeper.
Owned these speakers for a few years now and absolutely love them ,currently run them with a Denon AVR100 but am picking up an Anthem STR integrated amp next week .Great review !!!!! :)
Mr. Robinson...
Two Items and quick.
I think--based on your many speaker/audio experiences the ML vs Magnepan comparison is very fair. I'm sure our memory of ANY Maggie can help make the comparison. Please let us know.
#2. I had to laugh when watching an older video where you talked about your first listen to B&O in the Cherry Creek shopping area. Me Too! I remember that store and that time. Fun! But my meager means at that time could only look at those $$$$$! speakers.
Great Reviews you make.
Dude, I found your channel today and it's already one of my favorites. You were so critical in my decision between the B&O Stage and the Naim Muso 2 and now this. I've loved Martin Logan speakers since I was first introduced to them back in 2006 when I first started selling them at Best Buy and I'm still fiending for my first pair. I agree with everything you've said here. I was looking to go further up in the range though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem to have any other reviews of their higher-end electrostatic hybrid speakers. If so,I would love to hear your thoughts.
The current 'Masterpiece' line is STILL their high end product. I have the 'Classic 9's and they are the end game for me. I heard them at my local brick and mortar store (still thriving!!) in a PRIVATE room and I was SOLD. My man at the shop paired them with a Parasound amp and preamp, and I have never looked back (O:
Great review Andrew. I've owned tradition speakers for decades until I sourced a pair of ML Ethos. They replaced my ML 60XT towers and I was a little nervous at first if I had made the right decision. Well, all I can say is that these electrostatic hybrids have re-energized my appreciation for music. I added a ML Dynamo 1600 subwoofer to accompany my Anthem MRX720 and its just amazing. Thank you for this detailed review and thank you to the staff at Martin Logan...when they say, "The Truth in Sound", they're not kidding.
I've had ML SL3s for 22 years (Apogee Centaurs before that). They sound great when you're walking around. But they come to life and magic happens when you sit in the sweet spot. I play them with a deHavilland tube preamp and McCormack 150watt solid state amp + a Muse sub (got all of my gear used one piece at a time). A sense of space that is so damn immersive on good recordings. And throw in some Billie Eilish "Bury a Friend" and you will be blown away - the low bass in that track is ridiculous, plus great detail and space for being recorded and mastered in a bedroom. Get a pair of older ML's for $800 -$1500 and see what it's all about. Magnepan's are great too, BTW.
I have both the ML SL3's, and the Apogee centaur minors. Separate systems. I think the Apogees have slightly better mids and highs, but the ML's sound bigger if you will. Driving them (the SL3's ) with biamped Hafler 500's. The Apogees, are not biampable, so I have to give the overall nod to the ML's. I paid $800 for the ML's used. The Apogees were $450 used.
@ Gotta love that deal! People who don't know what planar speakers sound like, don't know what they are missing. My Centaurs sounded great, but had a hard edge to it - not ideal electronics + less than ideal CDs and the Apogees broadcast that load and clear. The SL3s are softer on the top, but I love the dynamics overall balance. I'm worried that if/when the panels go, it will cost a ton to replace them - be cheaper to buy entire speakers I bet.
I've only ever heard a 1985 pair of Magnepans. The open sound was astounding.
The depth of these, plus the need to give them space is a lot to deal with in average sized rooms
Brother! Your description of imaging & range is on spot! The Abyss you have accompanying the ESL'S is essential!
I bought ML's a while ago but barely used them as moved, too busy etc. Now, with time, I started using them seriously. I have the large 71" reQuests in front, Arius in back, and Cinema i that I paired with Krell 250 a/3 and 150a amps. It sounds brand new. Wonderful, but true to this video, even with the big reQuests, had to add a subwoofer, so recently added (after a Sunfire went bad) the Emotiva Air Motiv 15 (for $699 a steal). Great for classical music as a stereo and great for home theater. But, again, as the video correctly notes, the sweet spot is really small...for me, got it to mid-room by the seating. Once outside the sweet spot, the acoustics drop off fast, when in the sweet spot, it's really, really sweet. But, had to part ways with a $5,000 Krell processor because it fell way behind the video technology today. That's the LAST time I spend so much on a processor, given the constant upgrades of technology--went with Emotiva again XMC-1 gen 2--sounds just as good. For downstairs, looking at a different speaker type...pretty convinced Tekton, while not cheap, not crazy expensive, is the way to go. Would love to see a review on those! Suscribed today!
I played a band called American Football on some Martian Logan’s many years ago. I still try to find that sound.
Hi. I think this is the best review I’ve heard of the ML love story. You’ve hit all the relevant points about them and specifically explained why, once you’ve owned or listened to ML you can’t do without them. The first time I heard ML I was searching for a pair as I was captivated by the delicacy and beauty of the sound and having found them have never looked back. Thank you
I own the same pair you just reviewed. You hit the nail on the head in your video. You have to live with these for awhile. I have the the high end Denon with a 2 channel marantz 140 watt amp to drive the Martin Logan’s. wow what a difference opened up and magical! And yes I have 3 subs. I can’t see myself switching anything out going forward.
in the 80´s the fashion was electrostatic speakers for audiophiles ,Quad was the brand to have this for audiophiles , that are a specie that changes every notion about hi-fi from 10 to 10 years or a bit more ,i remenber them having a very clean sound but at bass level was the minimum, this new ones might be more evolved
Hi, I love your videos.. very nice content.
Can you please tell me out of the below 3 ml speakers which one you will pick
1 ml esl 9
2 ml esl x
3 ml motion f200
Ml f200 and esl x are almost the same price ..
Please give your opinion.
I bought used Aerius I esl. Sadly one of the esl panels is dead so it's just a bass woofer. The working speaker is an awkward center channel. Be aware these are amazing but only last 10-15 years until it's panel may die and too expensive to fix.
I am not a fan of hybrid speakers. I love the sound of a full range electrostatic. For many years I owned the Acoustat 1+1, power by the Sumo Andromeda amplifier and the sound was amazing. I wish Martin Logan would make a full range affordable electrostatic.
I sell and own Martin Logan Speakers. I agree with everything you have said. Especially the part about once you get a taste.....
Oh they're addictive for sure. While my tastes have likely changed a little with age, it's the one speaker I'm always most curious about owning again, and again. Thanks for watching!
I wonder how these compare to the motion series. Just got the Motion 40s. I hear details I have never heard before in music.
They are a phenomenal theater experience.
I don't like ml sound but enjoyed hearing your perspective on them.
That's fair, and I thank you for watching!
I use them with Benchmark DAC2 and AHB2 and am very satisfied. Best with Qobuz hi res new jazz and classical recordings, especially chamber sessions. Oh, and ML Dynamo 700 subs. The binding posts are the ELS weakest point. Use star quad cables.
If only I still had good hearing at 64. These things are for the young bucks that have full range hearing and no hearing damage.
I know the feeling unfortunately. As an ex rock drummer from the 60's and the 70's, I have tinnitus and hearing damage/loss. A total drag.
I bought a set of ML Aerius back in the day. I used 2 McIntosh 240s to push them. I thought they sounded great other than the bass was weak. My ears got worse and I sold them after 10 years or so. I’m sure the new ones are even better but even the old ones had detail that I have not been able to get from regular cone speakers. I could listen to old Santana or Bob Marley and the percussion and separation of instruments was excellent. When I sold them I could tell the guy that bought them had not heard anything like it, he was stunned.
Good vid, thanks. I am going to put ML Stealth Vanquish in-ceiling due to room layout. I’m debating on adding Electromotion ESL C for the center channel. This will be my entry into ML.We’ll see how it comes out.