Help Joey choose the trim for ML Vantage!

Joey_V

I posted on another thread if it was OK to post about other speakers and I got the "go-ahead"... so here it is.



Ok guys, all the audio stuff has been sold, the money is here, the Vantage deal with the dealer has been worked out, and things are pretty much a GO! Now, which trim would look best in my room?

There is no Martin Logan Vantage trim browser, so I'm just going to use the ML Summit trim pictures (they look similar anyway) to try and illustrate the trims for the Vantage.

Here they are:

Black/Black $4995

Dark Cherry/Black $4995

Natural Cherry/Black $5295

Maple/Black $5295


Please take into account the pricing... I mean, would you spend the additional $300 on the maple if you liked the dark cherry almost as much? Vote accordingly please...

I figure that these speakers will remain with me for quite a while and I can grow into these as time passes... I want something that looks nice and can complement future decor as I move along to another place during residency and maybe a house when I'm done.

So... if you guys could please help out by voting and commenting on which one you prefer, that would be real cool! Thanks!

BTW, here's what the ML Vantage actually looks like:



And here is my room (looks cleaner now and all the speakers and SVS are gone!), so if you could sort of take into account my room and see which trim is good for it:


Vote vote!

Thanks my Polkie friends!

Joey_V

BTW, just my opinion...

I like the look of black/black... it looks simple yet very stealthy and svelte. I like the dark cherry/black because, on its own, it looks more exotic than just the black/black. I'm having a hard time justifying the other two wood choices since I have to pay an additional $300.

Also, I contacted ML today via phone and they told me that they would do a special PIANO BLACK cabinet for me, but it would cost me $1000 additional due to it being so labor intensive. YIKES!

I am going to put my order in by early next week, so all your opinions will help me out a lot.

Thanks again,
Joey

ninerbj

Maple here

shack

You need to decide cause we're not spending any money. That said...if it were me and I'm spending $4,995... I would not go cheap and not get a wood trim I really wanted...I would pony up the $300. I voted Maple BTW.

Schris22

these are for your computer?!

wow..

sure you can place those ML's ok?

take a lot of tweaking

Good luck..but the point was for that room...black on black. i do like the wood finishes also...hmmm...i'm gonna go with maple


Chris

also you used the word stealthy to describe the black on black...nothing can hide these speakers Ha !

McLoki

Personally I like the dark red colors so Dark Cherry would be my first choice. If you like lighter woods, I would go with the Maple.

On a speaker that expensive, get the one you like most - cost is strictly secondary. If it is completely even to you one way or the other, I would get the less expensive one.

Emlyn

I'd go with black just because you're in a transitional period in terms of living arrangement and black goes with everything. Interesting that most choices so far are for Maple, considering that Polk won't make a Maple finish speaker because of past experiences with the finish not selling well in the U.S. market.

2+2

Maple here too...the contrast is cool..

Mark, these color preferences are probably cyclical...just like fashion..

AsSiMiLaTeD

I have to assume you're not using these for a near field application?

jmierzur

Pick a color that matches your preferences in how you would decorate any future residence you may live in. Only you will be able to tell us what this color will be.

Several years ago, I toyed with the idea of purchasing ML speakers for my listening room. The local dealer had these speakers in several rooms throughout the store. Over a period of time with various room placements, these speakers performed better when moved far away from room boundaries. The best sonic reproduction was when the MLs where placed 1/3 the room length from the rear wall and 1/3 the room width from the side walls with the listening position 1/5 the room length from the rear wall with Arcam equipment. These speakers require space to breath in order to properly perform.

By looking at your signature, I am wondering why you are placing such an emphasis on the speaker component of your system. Unless I am missing something, it appears you will be using the PC as a source to the GS-1 to the 1070 to the speakers. Will inserting the ML speakers into this system environment justify their cost or would the total purchase sum be better allocated by purchasing a dedicated source, better amp and appropriate speakers? I am not trying to dissuade you from purchasing these speakers. My intent is to provide some alternative ideas that may provide an overall better system solution.

Shizelbs

Natural cherry.

Get back to studying.

Joey_V

Polkmaniac wrote:

I have to assume you're not using these for a near field application?

Definitely not purely for nearfield. What you guys dont see is that along the opposite side of the computer setup is a chair (a comfy ikea chair) on top of a comfy rug where I can sit down and do serious listening. It's about 9-10 feet away.

I cant really get the best out of the Vantage in my room, but it's a progress in the right direction I think. I'll be moving to a better place in a year or two and after that, I get a pimp place for residency... and then a house with my own listening room (hoping, keeping fingers crossed).

I like speakers because they retain their value a LOT better than most other things I can spend my money on (cars, computer stuff, clothes, etc... which have NO resale value whatsoever). If I get an audio component for cheap (like used), I can usually sell for pretty close to what I bought it for especially since I keep REAL GOOD care of them. I think of audio as my "savings account". If it werent for audio, I'd be broke right now with probably TWO 24" monitors, an even faster computer, clothes from Kenneth Cole, some 7 jeans, probably a much nicer room with regards to furniture...

I like the idea that if I need the money, I can sell my equipment - and fast, too!

Anyway, I just went on a tangent there... sorry.

Umm.... the thing that I remind myself about the black/black is that it's not like most speakers that are black. Most speakers are large and bulky - and having it all black is kind of an eye-sore I think. However, the Vantage are very sleek (especially in person) and it's not as "black" as most think since the panels are see-through and the cabinet is small.

Thanks for the comments and votes so far, guys! From the poll, it seems like the trend is 'lighter' is better...

I knew I could count on the polk forum for input.

Joey_V

jmierzur wrote:

By looking at your signature, I am wondering why you are placing such an emphasis on the speaker component of your system. Unless I am missing something, it appears you will be using the PC as a source to the GS-1 to the 1070 to the speakers. Will inserting the ML speakers into this system environment justify their cost or would the total purchase sum be better allocated by purchasing a dedicated source, better amp and appropriate speakers? I am not trying to dissuade you from purchasing these speakers. My intent is to provide some alternative ideas that may provide an overall better system solution.

I need to update that...

I have sold off the headphone rig and amp (GS-1) and am running a Rotel RC1070 preamp. Also, I upgraded the soundcard from the audigy 2zs to an X-Fi which has pure 24bit Wolfsson and Cirrus Logic DACs... should be close to the capabilities of the EMU1212 (although they still use better DACs).

The amp is upgradeable and I have been looking at perhaps the RB1080 or 1090 as a solution, but that will come in time - few months perhaps as I dont want to murder my bank account just yet (after boards this June, hopefully I do good and I'll feel like celebrating with some indulgences).

As for the source, it will be improved with time. A pure outboard DAC will be after the amp upgrade and a dedicated CD-player will be acquired once I finish med school.

SKsolutions

You can look back from the house on the hill, and reflect on the time that you had ML's hooked up to a soundcard. Hey, I overclocked a laptop. Had some fun doing it too. It was part of the fun learning what the limitations of the hardware were, and I can better appreciate what the engineers designed as working model.
Just don't try modding the MRI or EKG equipment...k....cause that migh have adverse effects on the whole paying for the house on the hill that is needed primarily to house ML's. If you can't tell, I dig it. Sort of like putting nitro in a moped....very Howard Huges

unbridled_id

I am partial to the natural cherry. Did you have any doubts, seem as if it was the Logans all along ?

audiobliss

I vote for dark cherry.

beardog03

I have been lookingat these speaksalso..
I like the Dark Cherry , and the Maple..

I voted for Dark Cherry because if I were to get them now, that`s what I would pick..

a year from now, maybe maple...it`s more versitile with room conditions...

IMO of course...