Hi Brian
Here's a link to Planar Speaker Asylum
The Martin Logans are slightly dissed there when referring to a curved panel.
ML being in business as long as they have, trust me, I am not dissing them
and am looking to get ML non ESL, for my surrounds next year possibly.
I'm afraid the cable length and ohm rating of my current AVR would be a problem
to run the ML EM-ESLs I was going to get for my rear channel.
It could be possible that the difference you heard with your cables was
possibly the gauge of the cables and length. It is possible that as long as the
amount of the conductor is ample, the sound will be sound as the same.
If the length were longer and the gauge smaller beyond what's required,
you may be hearing characteristic changes in the amp or preamp if it's working harder
but that is all speculation, just something to consider on cables.
I currently run nothing but a full electrostatic (not hybrid) but will be ordering a nice
Rythmik F-15 sub to compliment them soon for HT. I've had mine for 25 years
and they came with a Lifetime Warranty, then, though Rockford is now gone,
so I really need that sub to help preserve the life of my speakers.
It is such a sweet treat, to listen to. They coerce you when properly set up
to close your eyes, and hear in detail different heights/levels/distances
of a transparent but pronounced detailed sound stage.
Eric Claptons voice floats just a couple feet centered in front of you
though the speakers are ~13' away and apart.
You can "see" the moisture on Barbara Streisands lips as she speaks/sings
though her voice is rather dry, but her lips and tongue are not.
That's my take on it anyway. Markw's running Magnepans, and are the brand
of planars I heard when I was a kid, that cemented the "I gotta have those" someday
in my audible memory banks. Thanks for sharing your experience and love of the planars