Demoed some Martin Logans today . . .

Hawkeye

Quads, Sanders, ML and perhaps just a few others making ESL's. All good choices for a niche. I'm not concerned with putting my ML up against anything. It is too much of a personal choice and there is no right or wrong answer.

What is notable is the sound any ESL will produce. Those of us who own them would probably not go back to a box speaker for a main system. The rear wave and the "ambience" it creates brings a natural recreation of music to me. I think any speaker is compromise of some sort. Could it go louder, more dynamics, deeper, wider, etc. etc. The Vantage with the 8 inch woofer goes to a published 34 hz. It seems to me to be adequate for the room. Yet, I still like the sub. I know I'm not going to need nor probably want the sub with the Summit X.

The appearance can be of concern to some, but it obviously is not to us! ML has a custom shop where you can pick the wood, airframe, feet, yadda, yadda. It can help in designing a speaker that would fit with your room decor.

Most of my posts are ignored but I thought I'd throw my thoughts out to you and say that ESL's, no matter who makes them, are a cut above box speakers.

Gordon

SolidSqual

Hawkeye wrote: »

Quads, Sanders, ML and perhaps just a few others making ESL's. All good choices for a niche. I'm not concerned with putting my ML up against anything. It is too much of a personal choice and there is no right or wrong answer.

What is notable is the sound any ESL will produce. Those of us who own them would probably not go back to a box speaker for a main system. The rear wave and the "ambience" it creates brings a natural recreation of music to me. I think any speaker is compromise of some sort. Could it go louder, more dynamics, deeper, wider, etc. etc. The Vantage with the 8 inch woofer goes to a published 34 hz. It seems to me to be adequate for the room. Yet, I still like the sub. I know I'm not going to need nor probably want the sub with the Summit X.

The appearance can be of concern to some, but it obviously is not to us! ML has a custom shop where you can pick the wood, airframe, feet, yadda, yadda. It can help in designing a speaker that would fit with your room decor.

Most of my posts are ignored but I thought I'd throw my thoughts out to you and say that ESL's, no matter who makes them, are a cut above box speakers.

Gordon

As you may know, I own Emmy CS2s which are boxless. Love them to death. Best sound ever in my home. That being said, I want to try some even bigger boxless speakers. What made you choose ESL over something like Magnepan?

Anybody else care to weigh in?

SlowcarIX

how do these compare to the soundlabs U1?

SCompRacer

Hawkeye wrote: »

Most of my posts are ignored....

This is what happens when you own freaky speakers or out of the norm gear.:D

Hawkeye

I choose ML for a couple reasons.

My hearing is very sensitive due to work related damage. I listened to the 3.6 Maggies and the ribbon tweeter was unbearable to my ears. Sanders was an option but the trial period while a great option, was not something I wanted to deal with. So, I came to the conclusion that tweeters are out for me. That's why I got rid of the Paradigm S8's.

My wife listens to music as often as I do, so it becomes a joint decision. She did not like the look of the Maggies. Which I don't understand since there are now traps on the wall that are nearly as large as the Maggies?! The Quads were too short for her. Said something about they looked like something was missing.

The ML's were a good fit for our compromises. No tweeters for me and she and I both liked the way they fit in our room. I think the big thing was they were/are semi transparent both visually and sonically. The CLX is a little large for our room, but we plan on moving. If we were going to stay here, I'd probably do the Spire/Summit and be done.