Martin Logan Dynamo

rdb2001

As some of you know I have been upgrading my entire system the last couple months. Well I received the last of my speakers (kef dipole surrounds and the martin logan dynamo) yesterday. I was very skeptical about the dynamo because of its small footprint, sealed enclosure, and the fact that it weighs the same amount as my avr, about 28 pounds. Thanks to mmadden for posting the amazon gold box sale on the hot deals thread, I pulled the trigger sunday. All I can say is wow. This sub really kicks butt. My initial impressions were this sound can not be coming from this tiny subwoofer. Nice, accurate, tight, deep bass. Very fast musically, and has kept up with just about everything I have thrown its way. Home theater wise, this sub really puts out. I watched Transformers on Blu and the Hulk. I was amazed to say the least. I can't believe what I am hearing from this sub. Martin Logan says in its manual that it needs about 50 hours of break in. I can not wait to see what this sub can do once its broken in. I think a second one is definitely in the mix. Big sound with out the big enclosure. My wife loves martin logan LOL. I was originally going with AV123 MFW15 and it ships at a whopping 125 lbs. But I think now a second dynamo will complete my subwoofer needs for now. Being that my setup is 50/50 music/ht, this sub fits my bill.

camel_89si

my dad has a dynamo. it is absolutely phenomenal. shakes their entire house from the basement all the way to the 3rd floor. and sounds awesome doing so!

cnh

That sounds pretty incredible for a 28 pound sub. What does it have? A 1000-2000 watt amp or something...because the physics of such a small light box would necessitate super high wattages to compensate for the lack of volume?

cnh

camel_89si

i'm pretty sure it's actually just a 200watt amp. i know it sounds crazy and i couldn't believe it myself, but it's 100% true. i guess it's just how it's built.

gtu2004

i was interested in the dynamo, too. But I too am holding out on a MFW-15. How does the dynamo compared to SVS PB10?

mmadden28

rdb2001 wrote: »

Thanks to mmadden for posting the amazon gold box sale on the hot deals thread, I pulled the trigger sunday.

Glad I could assist :cool:

I usually miss the deals--for some reason I always seem to check the Goldbox deals when they have an automatic Kitter Litter box or something.

I had bought a Dynamo some time ago and I was impressed with what it put out for its size.
I was considering getting one again at the sale, but I had pulled up an incedible amount of will power.

Even if you saw it before, watch Beowulf. The Sub Bass scenes--esp the Dragon battles are awesome to test out your subwoofer. Oh an Golden Compass too.

slowpolky

I missed the deal by an hour and was very depressed for 24 to 48 hours .I was waiting for a review to appear on the forum just like this , thanks for the effort and time in the review rdb

dkmuch

Best Buy has ML subs on demo in it's Magnolia centers. The Abyss was so powerful it could drown out the entire store, obliterating the soundtracks of other movies demoing at the time. I don't know how they managed that feat of physics.

dave shepard

ML subs are steller performers. They do a great job. I had the same reaction as to how can such a little thing put out all that when I first heard them go. They really do run with the big dogs and do so with a footprint that can be hidden easily behind something.
Their inwalls are steller also I have yet to listen to a better HT inwall at their price. When ML came onto the market with both their subs and inwalls they hit it out of the park with products that really performed great when introduced that did not need to be replaced with an improved model like some Co.'s do. They did it right the first time.

Congrats on the purchase and enjoy.

Dave

concealer404

camel_89si wrote: »

i'm pretty sure it's actually just a 200watt amp. i know it sounds crazy and i couldn't believe it myself, but it's 100% true. i guess it's just how it's built.

You're correct. The Mirage Omni S10 will give the same HOLY CRAP factor with a little 200w amp. That's RMS though, and talking to the Mirage rep i got my S8s off of, the peak power on these things is ridiculous.

Do you know what kind of amp is on the Dynamo? I couldn't find that out while i was looking around.

cnh

The Dynamo seems to have an aluminum woofer and a somewhat unusually HIGH level of IMPEDANCE! Would the impedance make a difference?

It's frequency range is in line with other subs in the 500-650 dollar range...including the Klipsch, Boston Acoustics, Polk 600, the Velo 4000...and the wattage is comparable. All of those other subs weigh in closer to the mid-40 pound range or more in the Velodynes case.

I really need to hear it...but don't doubt that it's a good sub.

cnh

rdb2001

CNH - I think you should go demo one. If you have a magolia bestbuy near you please go check it out. I have the boston acoustics 12 and it totally whoops that sub in every category. What Martin Logan did with their subs and its footprint is amazing. I am thinking about a 2nd dynamo or the abyss which is the 12 inch version. It has a 200 watt amp and an aluminum cone 10 inch woofer. The thing about it all, ITS SEALED!!!! So for music it definitely shows you who it is. The speed is amazing. Tight clean bass. Check them out.

slowpolky

I think martin logans gona be on my future shopping list for subs . If the little ones are that good then the 12's must be even better

Bernal

Hi,
Listen Dynamo.
I decided go Velodyne. Best Sound and balance.
Congratulations and hear music.

---

01) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
02) SUNFIRE Grand Signature - Bob Carver's
03) OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
04) DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport (change for a OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player will be available soon)
05) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
06) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
07) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
08) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
09) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround speaker)
10) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround speaker)
11) VELODYNE OPTIMUN SERIES (High Output Digital EQ SubWoofer 2400W/1200WRMS)

cnh

rdb2001 wrote: »

CNH - I think you should go demo one. If you have a magolia bestbuy near you please go check it out. I have the boston acoustics 12 and it totally whoops that sub in every category. What Martin Logan did with their subs and its footprint is amazing. I am thinking about a 2nd dynamo or the abyss which is the 12 inch version. It has a 200 watt amp and an aluminum cone 10 inch woofer. The thing about it all, ITS SEALED!!!! So for music it definitely shows you who it is. The speed is amazing. Tight clean bass. Check them out.

I'll take a listen on my next visit...but if its a 'sealed' sub I don't see how it could take some of the other subs in the HT category--how can it generate SPLs in such a small box with 200 watts..even if it peaked at 600 watts it might be equal to them--if you're saying it's 'tighter'--I can believe that. But you're right...without a listening session. I can't really say much.

There is no doubt a sealed design with an alum. 10" driver should be great with music.

cnh

mmadden28

concealer404 wrote: »

Do you know what kind of amp is on the Dynamo? I couldn't find that out while i was looking around.

http://www.us.martinlogan.com/specs/dynamo.html
http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_details/dynamo.html

I love how you can use it front firing or downward firing.

dave shepard

I think that for those looking to audition these subs will be in for a treat. Don't look at the small cabnet and drivers and don't worry about the amps output as being just 200 or so watts big suprizes will come in those small packages. ML has done a really great job with them and while your there see if you can audition the inwalls ML offers. I heard them (3 Voyages in-front and Tickets on the sides & rear) running off of a Rotel reciever and they just made my mouth water.

Dave

DrueB

3 months ago I replaced a dsw3000 micro pro, (purchased 6 years ago) because it kept blowing fuses every time I replaced the very first blown one! The replacement fuses were the correct ones, but they would blow as soon as I powered up the sub. I looked on the web for possible causes, and found this forum. After perusing the posts, I concluded that it was probably an amp issue. I was frustrated, so I went to Best Buy, on a whim, and found the Dynamo 500...there was a stack of 6 in the middle of the floor. Being Martin Logan, and for $499, I thought I would give it a try...since I could always return it. Well, I was then, and still am, very impressed with the sound and clarity of the bass. Set up was extremely simple, and it was easy to adjust to my tastes...even in a room that is 15 X 35 X 9 (with a vaulted ceiling in the Home Theater half, all tile floors, floor to ceiling windows/doors and a huge concrete fireplace in one corner). I use it for both movies and music (including vinyl). For grins, I played Rush...Snakes and Arrows Live Blu ray...Neil Peart's drum solo...der zellweger...very loud (Denon AVR 3808ci; Lsi 15's Front/Lsi Center/265 RT surrounds)...just to see how accurate it would be...well...I was very impressed. This sub, IMO, is a best in class unit...trumping my dsw3000 micro pro on it's best day.

classic carl

I have an original Dynamo (launched in 2004) that is now discontinued. I bought it used earlier this year for a secondary system and was so amazed by this small sub that I decided to move it to my main system (see signature) as a second sub. It has taken my system to another level. It has a 10" driver that can be configured as front or down firing. It has a 200 watt RMS amp. I'm using it down firing for music only.

I've heard that the original Dynamo is better than the ones ML makes now, but I have not heard the newer models. If I ever stumbled upon another original Dynamo, I'd snatch it up in a second.

http://www.martinlogan.com/products/dynamo

The brochure and manual can be downloaded from the ML website under the support tab, product museum.