Busting Martin Logan Myths

[Ron Resnick]

When I tried out a pair of hybrid MLs I was using a pair of EAR 509 moniblocks (100 push pull pentode) though I guess may have been a bit anaemic for the task compared to some monster valve amps around.

In my experience I would say that that amplifier is a little bit light for the job. I used 750 watts push-pull pentode.

 

[montesquieu]

In my experience I would say that that amplifier is a little bit light for the job. I used 750 watts push-pull pentode.

Potentially explains a few things

 

[Ron Resnick]

I know Martin-Logan says otherwise, but I wouldn't be at all comfortable unless you could throw at least a couple of hundred watts at them.

 

[microstrip]

(...) Without exception I personally have never liked the sound coming from any Martin-Logan speaker I have ever heard when it was driven by a solid-state amplifier. For whatever reason, to my ears, Martin-Logan electrostatic panels require high power for dynamics, and tubes for tone and naturalness and to put a little meat on those electrostatic bones.

I had your opinion until I listened to the Monolith III's driven by top Mark Levinson with Transparent Audio top cables sometime in the 90s. I had to swallow my convictions - a meaty sound, but not fat, with plenty of transparency and presence, great slam. Later I listened to ML's sounding great with NEMO Electrocompaniet power driven by a tube preamplfier and the Krell's KAS200.

IMHO the most critical point of ML panels is the room - in some rooms we never manage to make them sound good, in others almost everything sounds great on them.

 

[bonzo75]

I had your opinion until I listened to the Monolith III's driven by top Mark Levinson with Transparent Audio top cables sometime in the 90s. I had to swallow my convictions - a meaty sound, but not fat, with plenty of transparency and presence, great slam. Later I listened to ML's sounding great with NEMO Electrocompaniet power driven by a tube preamplfier and the Krell's KAS200.

IMHO the most critical point of ML panels is the room - in some rooms we never manage to make them sound good, in others almost everything sounds great on them.

I to prefer ML sounding transparent and steady with a good SS amp. I prefer the valves upstream.

The Gamut I tried was much better than the AR Ref 110 i owned on my Summits, or the ref 610T or 150 that I tried on the summit X.

And yes, for ML room is much more important as is the sweet spot which is the thing I have against them.