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Electrostatic Speakers

Hello Audiogon! Been around the forum scene for quite a while, and just joined this forum and thought I offer my thoughts on some equipment I just bought: speakers and the cables that came with it.

I couldn’t afford brand new speakers, and thought I’d try a different type speaker as opposed to my B&W 805 Diamond speakers. My dealer has loaned me Marten Logan Quest Z electrostatic speakers, as well as TARA Labs “The One” cables for this purpose. Right away I could hear a difference in sounds between the B&W and The ML. My B&W definitely have more punch to them, and the bass is quite remarkable. (this works great when I’m listening to my classic rock collection) What I found interesting was the way the ML speakers had a sound that seemed to encompass the whole room. Like a wall of sound (courtesy of Phil Spector) If you’ve never heard a good pair of electrostatic speakers, then I’d urge you to try and listen to some if you can. Really a whole new world out there. The cables that my dealer loaned me where TARA Labs. Though I’ve heard of them before, I haven’t really seen any advertising in any magazines showing off new models etc. I saw them in Stereophile Recommended components issues. I’ve always used Wireworld cables in my system before and do love them. I will say that I immediately heard a difference when I put the TARA Labs cables in my system. The high frequencies were insane to say the least. As a matter of fact, the Marten Logans with those cables really expanded when I put Dark side of the moon on (180gm vinyl) Anyone out there have any experience with electrostatic speakers?

-Brian J.
abcaudio
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,934 posts
 
Your Cary Rocket 88 amp is really way too little power to drive those Quest Z speakers properly.

I would recommended a higher powered amp for sure. As long as you aren't listening very loud or trying to fill a large room with music, you'll be okay, but if you are thinking about keeping those speakers, you'll need to invest in a bigger amp.

Thanks Al for the info and as usual you are correct.
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Ralph has said it all. I own both the Sound Labs and his amps and what he describes I feel privileged to hear every day.
Horns can be magnificent. I love the aCapella offerings, but after many hours of listening, they did not make me part with the SLs. They -to my ears - came sometimes closer to what I hear at live concerts.

The Walsh drivers with their excellent dynamics have been perfected by German Physiks. Their bigger offerings, like the Emperor, with four of their DDD drivers per side, could perhaps one day lure me away from ESLs, for the first time in my 50 years career as an audiophile.
mrbanana
1 posts
 
@jasongreene Manufacturers spend fortunes on placing ads in magazines and smother us in the virtues of how their product is better than everyone else. You want to know how good products really are? Read the comments in audio-blogs. If you read good things about a particular product, and lots of bloggers are writing this…. you would be well to follow that advice. They base the reviews only on their own experience, and not on dollars spent with ads
omsed
145 posts
 
Learsfool, most guys who have not heard great horns, but love stats, will think you are crazy. They just have not heard the right horns.

I agree totally. A great horn can do the electrostatic softness, subtelty, transparency, but can also do the snap, the instant wide range transients that no stat can do.

Like you, I also like most stats.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
I agree, Omsed. Horns, driven by tube electronics, sound more life-like, if we are talking non-amplified live acoustic music, than anything else. But stats do a fine job as well, I have heard some great ones.
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