Martin Logan electrostatics

[gcmarshall]

Continuing my search in helping my Dad plan out and research his dedicated home theater, does anyone have any experience and/or opinions of Martin Logan electrostatics (specifically the Clarity model or ML in general if you've not heard the Clarity model) for 50/50 mixed home theater/music listening. I demoed them and my short conclusion was that they were superb sounding, exceptionally accurate and good bass (built in powered sub), with the tradeoff being that if you move out of their direct line of fire by even a foot or more, the clarity dropped off noticeably. In other words, if i wasn't sitting in the ideal position where the speakers were firing (toed in), i did not get the full impact of what these things can do when i was in the ideal position. Beyond that gripe, these sounded superb. I just wonder if they may not be the best candidate for movies given that if you are not in the "best" seat, you may not get the best of these speakers, whereas a traditional speaker may not be as crisp, but might offer a better/wider soundfield for movies????

thoughts, comments.....

 

[jaxvon]

ML speakers are great, but as you found out, they don't have the widest dispersion. If you're looking to satisfy an audience of more than one, you might try to find a speaker with better off-axis sound.

 

[AndrewLyles]

ML speakers are great, but as you found out, they don't have the widest dispersion. If you're looking to satisfy an audience of more than one, you might try to find a speaker with better off-axis sound.

Any recomendations on a speaker with a better off-axis response?

 

[jaxvon]

Most dynamic speakers have better off axis response because of the driver design. Martin Logan, Magnepans, etc. operate as line source speakers without much off axis response. They sound excellent for music and when you're in the sweet spot, it's AMAZING. The problem is, it doesn't take much to move out of the sweet spot and make the soundstage collapse. The other issue with many electrostatic, mangeplanar, and similar speakers is that they often can't quite handle the dynamic slam of movies. Some people might disagree, but that's my opinion. Martin Logan curves their speakers so the dispersion is wider than a conventional flat radiating panel.

 

[AndrewLyles]

The other issue with many electrostatic, mangeplanar, and similar speakers is that they often can't quite handle the dynamic slam of movies.

I'm not sure I completely understand this. By dynamics, I'm understanding you to mean the difference in aparent volume, like the difference between a conversation and an explosion in a movie. So do these type of speakers have difficulty creating sudden changes in volume then, hence why they sometimes are called more "musical?"

 

[jaxvon]

I'm talking about the huge explosions that often drive a speaker to its limits. They're very musical speakers and do great with orchestra dynamics. You can use Maggies for movies, but I don't think they'll sound the best (just what I hear) and they won't have a fighting chance without a subwoofer. They simply can't do loud, thunderous bass without distorting and maxing out. MLs use dynamic woofers for this reason (dynamic in the sense of driver design).

 

[The13thGryphon]

I'm talking about the huge explosions that often drive a speaker to its limits. They're very musical speakers and do great with orchestra dynamics. You can use Maggies for movies, but I don't think they'll sound the best (just what I hear) and they won't have a fighting chance without a subwoofer. They simply can't do loud, thunderous bass without distorting and maxing out. MLs use dynamic woofers for this reason (dynamic in the sense of driver design).

jaxvon, I'm going to have to disagree with you to some degree. Personally, there is no other system for me but Maggies. I listen to approximately a 50/50 mix of music and movies, and I think the Magnepan system is superb for both.

I do agree that you need a good sub for the low bass and big blasts. The MG-1.6QRs that I'm using for my front main speakers drops off below 35 to 40 Hz (depending on room placement). I would also agree that Maggies are not the best for people who listen to heavy metal or acid rock, or who play movies at insane levels. There is indeed a point beyond which the Maggies simply will play no louder. Do to the mechanical design of the planar magnetic system there is a limit to the overall excursion of the Mylar panel. However, this volume limit is far beyond where I would normally play either movies or music... so it isn't an issue for me.

I would also state that the Maggies do micro-dynamics better than any other speaker I am aware of; at least at anywhere their price range. The dialogue is also crystal clear without being over loud or hyped. The action and surround sounds are so lifelike they are startling.

I would suggest that any interested party seek out a Magnepan dealer for a listen. Also, check out the reviews that have been done by John Potis of Home Theater and Sound, or Wes Phillips of OnHomeTheater.com, or Marc Mickelson of SoundStage.com, or a very recent one by Sound and Vision Magazine. If memory serves me, one might also consider that the venerable Harry Pearson of The Absolute Sound uses an all Maggie system for his personal home theater, and I think he could pretty much have his choice of any speakers in the world.

 

[WmAx]

I just wonder if they may not be the best candidate for movies given that if you are not in the "best" seat, you may not get the best of these speakers, whereas a traditional speaker may not be as crisp, but might offer a better/wider soundfield for movies????

thoughts, comments.....

Be forewarned: a speaker with very poor off axis response such as electrostats will benefit greatly from very heavy room treatments(except for the wall behind the speakers, which should not be treated for this type of rear-radiating speaker, but a minimum distance of 3'-4' from this wall is required). In general, the greater assymetry of the off axis response vs. the on axis response, the more negative impact it will have on the sound quality in a room. This is corrected by eliminating/reducing the off axis contribution with acoustic treatment panels or by using the speakers in a near-field circumstance and placed far away from walls.

-Chris