Martin Logan Tweaks / Upgrades


Hi!

I read an article before with tweaks or ways to improve the sound of Magnepans, but I can't find any advice or ways to upgrade Martin Logan speakers. 
I have the Martin Logan Vista's. They sound amazing and they definitely dont need tweaking, but I love messing around with hardware haha. If ever I decide to try and tweak my speakers, are there any recommended tweaks I can do? 

Also, do replacing the original ML power cords for the speakers do any good? Does that make the sound quality out of the speakers better or should I just stick with the original power cords? 


Thanks,
Shawn
128x128shawnpmathew
For those who value time alignment, don't bother with this nearly no-cost mod. Lower the front spikes and extend the rear spikes so you can make the panel vertical. Read about that on the Martin Logan Owners website many years ago; did it and loved it and that is where they have been for many years. I did change the power cords and found a minimal change. However, I did it at the same time I changed all power cords in the system so I can't really isolate the affect it had on the speakers. 

George, that's an interesting tweek. Not exactly the most aesthetic thing to do to a beautiful speaker though.

BTW, I have Vantage's.
Thank you!

@johnsonwu - What audio grade substitutes do you recommend? 
And is there a manual or a diagram that I can follow? 

"....to make the ESL panel rigid, as it does flap around in the breeze a bit back and forward..."

Seriously? That might be true if you have them set up in the back yard and during a windstorm....!!!

Shawn,

Rebuilding crossovers can be done, at cost. Getting a schematic from ML is unlikely so you'd have to figure it out from your existing networks, and replicate that, but you would need to rebuild the whole thing. My ML Spire project is on the MLO Page linked above, and plenty more can be done, but you may as well just put that money into a better ML model such as a used pair of Spire or even Montis / Summit.
Regarding the rake angles referred to above, tipping the speaker up to vertical does impact on the sound but it can very quickly become unbalanced and fatiguing, myself and several other have settled on a panel angle of 87-88*. Placing the speaker on an aftermarket isolation base can bring improvements also, such as Max Townsend's stands.

My Spire rebuild:
http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?9600-Spire-with-External-Crossovers-amp-Electr...

Ack's Odysseys rebuild:

http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?12761-Modifying-the-Odyssey-crossover-my-adven...

I have CLX and the have a vertical brace from the base along the entire outside edge of the panel, so the 'dowel' tweak makes sense to me.  

I also suggest/agree adjusting vertical angle makes a significant difference in the sound.  You need to experiment with the angle based on your taste, listening height and distance from the panels.

The MLO site has several schematics for the X-over (I doubt you will get anything from ML directly, I have tried)
http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?77-ML-Schematics

Here is a link to some upgrades for CLXs that I have participated in (not the model that you have, but the concepts still apply)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/planars-exotics/179196-martin-logan-clx-mods.html