Martin Logan Factory Tour

PolkThug
PolkThug Posts: 7,532
edited March 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
Visited the Martin Logan factory in Lawrence, Kansas. This is a must do if you pass through the area.

Off to a good start, greeted with candy and nuts! The magazines in the background are all audiophile mags from the 80's all the way up to this month.
Never Forget
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Demo room for their on-walls. Speaking of walls, knocking on the walls was like knocking on concrete.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Denon DVD player and Denon AVR lurked there.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    How much $$ in speakers is this? These were ready to ship out.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    The elusive white ML. They sold a very small quantity of these. The only reason they keep them here is for when an owner breaks one, they can be replaced.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Some kind of a paint chamber.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    These subs were getting the standard break-in of about 12 hours. Each one has three drivers that all point away from each other. The box does not vibrate at all.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gatemplin
    gatemplin Posts: 1,595
    edited December 2004
    Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing PT.
    Graham
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Frequency sweep testing. This is where they make sure the frequency reproduction falls within the tolerances. The computer in there has a standard looking FR chart with two red lines showing the upper and lower tolerances. The sweep runs, and hopefully a white line is drawn between the two, or it fails to pass QC.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Here are some of the new products. The sub is really cool, it can be either downward or side firing, the grill and base are interchangeable. That's our main tour guide Dennis.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Zero
    Awesome "insider" pics bud. Im jealous. :) Thanks for sharing.

    So, did you swipe a Statement or two!? :)

    No, but I do know which door to bust to get to them quickly. ;)
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2004
    Neato Torpedo.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    We did get to watch an electrostatic panel being built in most of its entirety. It is VERY labor intensive. They wouldn't let me take any pics though:(

    Simple version:
    Basically, the 'speaker' is a stretched piece of lexan plastic with a conductive coating. Some of the conductive coating is removed to create basically about 8 'speakers' along the length of the lexan. A wire is run up the side to charge it, and two other wires provide the push pull. The metal screens basically serve as grills to the lexan.

    Cool experience for sure.

    Regards,
    PolkThug
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited December 2004
    I will have to take the road trip to KS to check it out some time, since Baltimore is too far. :)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2004
    So, when you touch one of the 8 conductive 'speakers', do you get shocked? Or did I just touch the metal grill and get shocked with static electricty last time I touched one......
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by audiobliss
    So, when you touch one of the 8 conductive 'speakers', do you get shocked? Or did I just touch the metal grill and get shocked with static electricty last time I touched one......

    You can't physically touch the 'speakers' because of the metal grills.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2004
    You sure? From when I saw one, the metal grill bows out and the speaker panel is flat, and there is nothing on top to close it up. So, you can just reach right down in there and touch whatever you want to....
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited December 2004
    Why would you stick your hands down on a 10,000 or so dollar a pair speaker?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2004
    rofl...you make it sound so bad.....

    These were at Tweeters, so I don't think they cost quite that much. Anyhoo, I was just lookin' at 'em and since I wasn't really familiar with 'electrostatic' speakers (isn't that what they are?), I was lookin' around for what produced the sound. So, I was messin' around behind the grill....really tryin' to see if it came off....don't think it does.....anyhoo, I got a little shock. Might have been static electricity, though, when I touched the grill. I don't know.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    All of the speaker panels were curved right along with the grills. The have a patent on the curve, so no other esl's can be curved.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited December 2004
    Yes,
    The top ML Tweeter carries cost like 10,000 a pair...

    The last thing I do in an audio store is touch something that costs over 2 grand. At that point, I have a salesman mess with things...

    When we went to see the Wilson X1 in NY...

    He removed the grills and *threw* them on the floor. Bout laughed...

    Polk Thug, looks like an awesome Tour! This is the factory, not their HQ, right?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited December 2004
    Doesnt Focal have a $100,000 set of home speakers?

    I think I remember reading somewhere something like that. Im not sure if it was a gag or not but knowing how expensive Focal is I wouldnt really be suprised.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited December 2004
    Focal Grande Utopia - 90,000 new
    Wilson Audio X1 - 90,000 new
    Avalon Sentinel (sp) - 90,000 new
    Wilson Audio X2 - 125,000 new

    Plenty of high dollar loud speakers out there...

    Resale value sucks though on all of em
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3

    Polk Thug, looks like an awesome Tour! This is the factory, not their HQ, right?

    It is their HQ and factory, all based in little ole Lawrence, Kansas. Their sales, marketing and support area is just 4-5 cubicles! Their cubicle walls partially look like their speakers.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited December 2004
    Interesting...

    I wonder if is anything like the Polk HQ. In some ways it does...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    The chassis.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,776
    edited December 2004
    So, are all ML speakers hand made/built, tested and then shipped out???
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    This area is a final inspection area. They do inspect every speaker. You can't see it in the picture, but there are various kinds of lights hanging from the ceiling to represent the different lighting in people's homes.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
    So, are all ML speakers hand made/built, tested and then shipped out???

    Yes. The speakers are a combination of domestic and foreign parts. The metal screens come from Pittsburg, the subs come from China, all the adhesives come from 3M, etc.
    Never Forget
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited December 2004
    What an awesome job that would be. Designing and making high end speakers!

    Man I shoulda went to college!
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter