
If you've never heard properly set-up electrostatic
speakers, you've missed out on something a bit different from conventional cones. Electrostats have always been surrounded by a bit of hi-fi snobbery for a number of reasons: they tend to be expensive; the associated equipment to drive them properly is pricey (read: really
high current amps); and they just look so different. MartinLogan is hoping to broaden the appeal of electrostats with their new Source speakers. They're not what we'd call cheap at just under $2000 per pair, but their price isn't stratospherically high, either. Because we expect speakers, especially those doing HT duty, to convey a sense of bass "
slam," MartinLogan combines the electrostatic panel with an 8-inch aluminum cone woofer. If your whole HT setup is going for the "
thin" look, then put these on your short list.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
EricDJ @ Sep 18th 2007 2:56AM
Hooked up a pair today to a Denon AVR-4808. Sounds pretty amazing.
SimbaDogg @ Sep 18th 2007 4:42AM
even though this is engadgethd...i'm glad to see some martin logan news, believe it or not, i'm actually watching 30 rock right now in my martin logan t-shirt, sadly...not on martin logan speakers though.
Shelly @ Sep 18th 2007 10:32AM
heard marvelous stuff on the MartinLogon center and I'm going to be a bit patient setting a
price drop alert on MartinLogon (priceAmbuish link)
still.reprise @ Sep 18th 2007 11:46AM
As a current Martin Logan (Vista) owner I've been watching these speakers since they were rumored a while back. The Martin Logan employees I've spoken to have been very happy with how the Source and Purity have turned out.
Ken @ Sep 18th 2007 12:26PM
I also need to say as a dealer - ML is a company that cares about and takes care of its customers. Buy them with confidence.
Craig @ Sep 18th 2007 12:53PM
martinlogan is based in my hometown of lawrence, ks. great speakers :)
Steven Kim @ Sep 18th 2007 1:32PM
@SimbaDogg - thanks for the comment. One of the reasons I came to EHD was to help out with the audio coverage. As you can imagine, we tend to focus on the imaging side, so thanks for hanging with me as I try to find a "voice" that works for covering some audio stuff, too.
Steven Kim @ Sep 18th 2007 1:38PM
@Ken - true, true. I didn't have space in the post to go into how long MartinLogan has been at this game, or when I first heard their cone+panel design in the Aerius. But the fact that so many ML customers are ML customers for life is a sign that they're well taken care of.
Daniel @ Sep 18th 2007 4:37PM
I just got the Source's set up with a Denon AVR-3808 at Magnolia, and after some brief listening, I came across a bit confused. Just like the Clarity's, they sounded, IMO, like absolute garbage with classical music. A SACD recording of Mozart's Requiem just sounded flat-out bad. Not sure if it was the way it was set up (an associate did it before I came in for the day), but it was considerably worse then what I've heard from similarly-priced, and less expensive setups. Though the low-end Martin's never did sound great with classical (though the Vistas and up SING).
That said, I threw in some Norah Jones, Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Master and Commander DTS disk, and I was floored. Clearer, richer then the Clarity's were, for I believe less money. I DO think that the design took a step back; the Clarity's were gorgeous. These look like they belong 20 years in the future. Not sure how I feel about that.
Other then classical, I was EXTREMELY impressed with the new Source's. By all means an upgrade over the Clarity's, and well worth the money. I'd love to hear the Purity's, which are the Source's with a built-in amp. I wonder how they compare with a high-end receiver, or even separates. After hearing the Summit's on a Krell amp/pre-pro/CD-player, I now realize the importance of good amplification. I wonder if the Purity's will give enough.
Steven Kim @ Sep 18th 2007 7:35PM
@Daniel - removed that content for you. Please be careful.
Ken @ Sep 18th 2007 6:05PM
Daniel - I am sure the various Martin Logan and Best Buy corporate people who read this forum are just THRILLED you are giving out information on their accommodation programs.
Daniel @ Sep 18th 2007 6:54PM
It didn't occur to me that this would not be allowed when typing it :/. Stupid me. Any way to edit/delete that part out?
AbbadonTD @ Sep 19th 2007 10:21AM
Okay people, ML makes a hell of a speaker, no doubt. But dont tell me you "hooked them up and they sound great" because thats a lie. I have trouble with my new ML sales because they DONT sound good out of the box. A solid problem with electrostats is they require a break in period. I have most experience with Vantages, and find they are great, once broken in. Claritys were ok, but ugly, much like these sources.
I find the fill in from the woofer to be very tinny and not even close to clean. Unfortunatley, I was only able to hear them at a Best buy, so Im sure it was hooked up to some "craplifier" from Denon or Onkyo.
If you dont have 5G's to drop on the Vantages, get the Vistas at around 3.5G. If you cant afford that, deal with it, and get another brand!
JWalton @ Oct 23rd 2007 6:55PM
Mbl loudspeakers sound better, no doubt
TomDac @ Oct 24th 2007 11:04AM
To find out more about MartinLogan speakers, visit martinloganowners.com.... a great site with lots of educated ML owners....