Amir's Impressions of Martin Logan Neolith at CES 2016

[Folsom]

Is there 3ft from the back wall?

Amirm's description makes it sound like the speakers are basically rocking side to side. I say this because it's increasing as it goes up, despite the fact that the top is braced. Clearly some control over this is needed, and not unlike a sway-bar on a car. You can use the speakers own energy to cancel it by bracing to the other side. That and perhaps the feet aren't stiff enough, and the sub box is under dampened & braced.

I wonder how much resonation would be in the speaker if it were in a more open area. Also I can't imagine how useful a mirror on the wall right by the speaker. Maybe everything in the world went wrong for them, I don't know.

 

[amirm]

Amir, do you know what that turntable is? I've never seen it before.

Just found the answer to this: Continuum Audio Obsidian turntable, Continuum Audio Viper and SAT tonearms and Transfiguration and Air Tight PC-1 cartridges.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ces-2016-speakers-20k-and-up/

 

[bonzo75]

There are several members on WBF who have heard the Ushers vs the Summits and all say the same - no comparison, the Ushers are levels better. Even when I demo'd and sold the Summits, the buyer asked to hear the Ushers. His expression was priceless. There is simply no comparison. You must have a strong affinity for the things MLs do well which IME is a small piece of the overall speaker puzzle...

If public poll is the case you should swap your digital for the lampi, because there out of three who ABed it preferred the lampi hands down over the K01. I know one guy who compared the summits and the ushers (me), and didn't like the ushers, though I am mature enough to realize there is nothing better or not better in the two, just a difference in presentation

 

[Gregadd]

Number one, two and three things about a loudspeaker is how it sounds, not how it is made. How to produce a good sound is loudspeaker designer's problem. Telling us how he has done it is his marketing. For us the test is only the sound. Otherwise you go nuts listening to thousand stories of thousands of loudspeakers are designed.

I am so proud of you. How decidedly subjective. Smile

 

[Folsom]

Number one, two and three things about a loudspeaker is how it sounds, not how it is made. How to produce a good sound is loudspeaker designer's problem. Telling us how he has done it is his marketing. For us the test is only the sound. Otherwise you go nuts listening to thousand stories of thousands of loudspeakers are designed.

This is true for electronics, too. But at least with all of these we can differentiate some with classes of things we like. For example maybe person A does not like solid state amps, and person B does not like dome tweeters.

 

[bonzo75]

Number one, two and three things about a loudspeaker is how it sounds, not how it is made. How to produce a good sound is loudspeaker designer's problem. Telling us how he has done it is his marketing. For us the test is only the sound. Otherwise you go nuts listening to thousand stories of thousands of loudspeakers are designed.

Ron, fyi

 

[Gregadd]

Robert Harley the absolute sound
Best in Show cost no object Martin Logan Neolith

 

[amirm]

Robert Hartley the absolute sound
Best in Show cost no object Martin Logan Neolith

I think you mean JV, not RH. That aside, they should be allowed to make mistakes. It is only human. You heard the real deal right here.

 

[Gregadd]

I think you mean JV, not RH. That aside, they should be allowed to make mistakes. It is only human. You heard the real deal right here.

Yes. We all make mistakes. It is just that bias and prejudice, and blind adherence to scientific principal makes one more susceptible.
All that being said in jest, it is your turn to be mistaken. Your opinion of ML Neolith speaks for itself. However while JV was assigned to cover the speaker, RH named his Best in show.
If my limited eyesight is correct,consistent with his review, he named the Neolith best. You may verify this by scrolling to the end of his report on analog. No apology needed

 

[amirm]

Yes. We all make mistakes. It is just that bias and prejudice, and blind adherence to scientific principal makes one more susceptible.

Then it must come as a relief to you that I was not subject to any of that. Walked in, listened to music by the master reviewer, in LP and passed judgement. Or gas. Maybe both.

All that being said in jest, it is your turn to be mistaken. Your opinion of ML Neolith speaks for itself. However while JV was assigned to cover the speaker, RH named his Best in show.
If my limited eyesight is correct,consistent with his review, he named the Neolith best. You may verify this by scrolling to the end of his report on analog. No apology needed

Doesn't matter which person chasing a buck said that. Here is yours truly with the best motives telling you the truth...

 

[Gregadd]

Read my signature line. Despite your protestations we are all the product of experiences
By your own admission you<learned> to dislike Martin Logan
That is fair enough. I just think that overall your experience was so unpleasant in matters that had nothing to do with the sound of the speaker. Your opinion may not be singular but is in a distinct minority.

 

[Gregadd]

...chasing a buck...
That is beneath you. Can you sustain that argument with substantive proof?

 

[Argonaut]

Doesn't matter which person chasing a buck said that.

Mayhaps you have just shot every forum member with a financial interest quite spectacularly in the foot, Amir

 

[amirm]

Read my signature line. Despite your protestations we are all the product of experiences

Not me. I am the purest form of reporters. I walk in like an angel, and report everything I see. Smell and all.

By your own admission you<learned> to dislike Martin Logan

I also believe in alien abduction having been subjected to it myself. Are you going to use that against me too???

That is fair enough. I just think that overall your experience was so unpleasant in matters that had nothing to do with the sound of the speaker. Your opinion may not be singular but is in a distinct minority.

Yeh and out of professional courtesy, I omitted the part where they gave me an enema before leaving the room because I told them I was not going to give them best of show award. Felt terrible at the time but was nice afterward.

 

[amirm]

Mayhaps you have just shot every forum member with a financial interest quite spectacularly in the foot, Amir

They are lucky I only shot them in the foot and not behind! They can still sit with an injured foot....

 

[TBone]

Anyway, after about 20 to 30 minutes, Michael left and so I hoped I would get to talk to the crew and play something I knew. I reached out to the person that was doing the demo and asked him if we could play some other selections. He asked sheepishly if it was "OK" to play from their digital server. I said of course. Instead of doing that, he mumbled something I could not understand and proceeds to put on the LP's of Patricia Barber and played the classic/overplayed Black Magic Moment track. And walks away!!!

Man, was that a tragedy. The LP sounded like the needle was struggling to play through a bucket of sand. Background grittiness was so high it was unbearable. The highs distorted. If it were me, I would break that LP into pieces and put it in the trash bin.

amirm, out of curiosity, would you know which version of Companion LP they played? As I understand, only 3 LP versions exist: the original Premonition 90747, the MFSL 245003 and Blue Note/Prem 90762-1. Can't speak for the latter releases, however I've the original (180 or 200g) version, and "struggling/gritty" sounding would indeed be an accurate descriptor. The original CD is miles better.

 

[amirm]

amirm, out of curiosity, would you know which version of Companion LP they played? As I understand, only 3 LP versions exist: the original Premonition 90747, the MFSL 245003 and Blue Note/Prem 90762-1. Can't speak for the latter releases, however I've the original (180 or 200g) version, and "struggling/gritty" sounding would indeed be an accurate descriptor. The original CD is miles better.

I am sorry I don't know. I had the CD and that was my reference so good to hear that my recollection of good sound from that is correct.

 

[sbo6]

If public poll is the case you should swap your digital for the lampi, because there out of three who ABed it preferred the lampi hands down over the K01. I know one guy who compared the summits and the ushers (me), and didn't like the ushers, though I am mature enough to realize there is nothing better or not better in the two, just a difference in presentation

No disrespect Bonzo, but I very much trust those that compared my MLs vs Ushers. That said, I am considering demoing a Lampi along with the TotalDac solution which is the best digital I've heard.

 

[rbbert]

...Doesn't matter which person chasing a buck said that. Here is yours truly with the best motives telling you the truth...

This from the man with blind faith in the goodness of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry

 

[bonzo75]

No disrespect Bonzo, but I very much trust those that compared my MLs vs Ushers. That said, I am considering demoing a Lampi along with the TotalDac solution which is the best digital I've heard.

Which lampi, and which valves, and which total dac. Anyway I know of someone who replaced his total dac twelve with lampi GG.

No disrespect taken, you trust the ears of those who listen like you do.