Finally...been waiting forever for this review...I am running the Ethos, Focus, and motion 20s, FXs and motion 4s and AFX ...powered by the Yamaha 5200, Parasound A31 and Emotiva XPA9
Huge fan of your Martin Logan content! I own a pair of ESL 11 A, just love them. Keep this stuff coming, I also enjoyed your talk with the ML product manager 2 years ago, very interesting insights into the tech. Regards from Germany
Nice review! I have the ESL X and was deciding between these and the ESL X and with the X. They sound great and use them for two channel application however when I watch movies and play games the sound on the speakers are so crisp and detailed. Loved your review on the X also and it did help me on the purchase.
Love this review! After switching from KEF T 301 and 101 system. Im running an ESL C18 for my center and a SLM XL for my front left/ right. Im running the SLM for the remaining 6 bed layer and 6 SLM for atoms. Also 2 SVS PB 16 ultra and 2 SVS PB 13 ultras with 4 buttkickers with an Anthem AVM 70, and 2 Outlaw 7000 amp plus peachtree amp. I LOVE IT!!! It sounds AWESOME!!! Videos coming soon. Also Panasonic UB9000 and OPPO UDP203
I walked into an audio store in Atlanta 20 years ago and they had Martin Logan Electostats powered by Krell amps in the room with a single chair in the center or the room. I popped in Steely Dan and still remember the joyful feeling of sitting in that chair. It was life changing for me. I had some Motion 40's for about 5 years (wish I still had them). The folded motion tweeter was another component that my ears really liked...smooth as silk. I will have some electrostats again if I can ever get home from working overseas...BIG fan! Look forward to hearing how my Outlaw Audio 7220 will make them sing.
Speaker manufacturer should have one ir two models in their model lineup that is electrostatic. They would sell well due to the awesome sound they produce.
@@therealshanelee sounds good. one thing I am still do not know why all martin logan center channel using ribbon tweeter while all the front electrostatic speaker none of them using any ribbon tweeter.
@@therealshanelee yes, this thing always get me thinking. I have a question for you, it is a little off from this topic. If you rate your trinnov 10 (10 best and 1 worst) how you rate xmc2, considering everything else the same such as speakers, amp,etc. I am very curious.
I just picked up a pair of the ESL 9’s and C18 and I am debating between the FX2’s or EFX’s for surrounds. The price point of the EFX’s is obviously much higher but how would you rate the FX2’s in that setup?
Nice video. Especially like the center channel speaker. The 30° curve and being so wide it's got to be nice. I looked through all your videos and maybe I missed it but have you done DSP related videos. Seems that with all the speakers in this video it would be of interest to know what applying DSP would do. Aside from smoothing the curves I think the biggest benefit is aligning or synching the time for each of the speakers - to me this would seem to really enhance clarity.
I’ve adjusted levels and delays. I don’t like to alter the sound of the speakers I review with dsp. I’d rather them stand on their own without me tinkering.
@SpareChange great review! I have been considering upgrading from the Aerius i's to the Classic ESL 9. If you have heard the Aerius i, I'm interested in your perspective on how the Classic 9's are superior.
You need to listen to them first. Gayle is no longer with the company so I wouldn't count on them having a similar sonic signature. If you come across a good used pair of SL3's, Request, Prodigy, etc..., get them if the price is right. (I'm assuming you like the Aerius.)
Are the rear surrounds using the “surround” or “back” speakers output from the receiver/processor? Which one, in your opinion, is best when you can only use one set for the rears? Or do they play identical audio tracks? Thanks in advance
Which Series Emotiva amp were you using? 2 or 3? I have had shops tell me you cant get great sound from ML ESL's with Monolith or Emotiva Said the amp needs to do 1 ohm loads. Claimed Anthem would work but suggested others. He did not sell Anthem. Looking at SLR 9 or 11's
You absolutely can not tell what an electrostat sounds like over a RU-vid video. I know this because I have them in front of me as well as the uncompressed recording. There is No comparison.
It’s certainly not ideal, but you can hear their range and color. Here is a youtube that compares several and each is distinct m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_A5F992xy3Q.html
Thanks for review! I have always liked ML electrostat speaker design and for tha reason I have always wanted a pair but unfortunately I have never been really impressed by their sound. I think they play fast as hell and are very detailed but their tonality don't fit my ears at all. They sound way too bright for my ears it was like looking directly at the sun but for my ears. But this was a couple of years ago so thing might have changed, idk. Also the space needed for them to really shine hasn't been available for me. But cool difference between Focal and ML center speaker.
Apple: As a ML owner, I can speak to using electrostats in HT. If one has a room that allows for placing electrostats 2-3’ from the walls, it would be a phenomenal experience. Therein lies the problem with the center channel as the on-wall timbre is different than off-wall. Placing three ESL behind an AT screen could work, but care must be taken to ensure proper placement. Orange: IMO, the Perlisten are more conducive to HT placement based upon their design and performance. While I have no direct experience hearing the Perlisten brand, I have heard enough reviews to know they are special and measure well. So which is better: the apple or the orange? The answer is and will always be what works best for one’s room. If you love ML ESL and always wanted that, you will find a way to make it work a la Shane’s LR example. It would be quite difficult to navigate Shane’s HT room with ML 2-3’ off-wall, thereby making the Perlisten the logical choice (presuming one has the @SpareChange 😉).
Did u hook up ur kaleidascape with one hdmi or with the 2 separate hdmi outs I can’t get my kscape to display video thru my xmc2 so had to hook it up directly to my projector on the hdmi 2 input
