Martin Logan Monolith 3 am I asking for trouble and a headache?

I listen to a 30 year old pair of Requests .  They still sound great. Replacedthe panels in 2011.  The cost was about 1 k.  I’m fully aware that some day they won’t work.  I have three speakers I’m interested in .  ML 15 or 13 a. Focal sapora 3. And Aspen FR 20.  Until they break I’m going to keep enjoying them !

Even at 30 years old, the Monoliths are a nice electrostatic speaker, if you like that sound, which I do. (I have two sets today.)

To answer your questions:

• Replacement panels, if still available from Martin Logan, are probably going to run you about $2000, if not more.  
• Also, there is a well known procedure to "wash" the existing panels that will help extend their life.  Google it for the instructions.

I had a friend in the Chicago area years ago that had a set of the Monolith II’s that I helped him setup.  It was my first exposure to electrostatics.  A couple of things I learned.  Placement is key.  The Monoliths have a big foot print (about 2 1/2 feet wide) and need to be kept well away from both the back and side walls. More so than the current generation of Martin Logan’s.  Also with that wide width, you can’t get them to close to each other either, or you loose the separation in the sound stage. I would say at least 8 feet apart. (Unlike the narrower models which can work well down to 5 or 6 feet.  So if you don’t have the space, you might want to reconsider. 

You didn’t specify what amp you will be using.  Electrostatics need power, and more importantly, current and the ability to handle impedance less that 1 ohm.  (That rules out most if not all receivers and a lot of tube amps.)  While I can't speak as to the Monolith III’s, my friend trashed a few amps in his day with the Monolith II’s because they were under powered.

Hope this helps...

Jeff

I have those exact speakers with the Krell Balanced Crossover made specifically for the Monolith III Speakers.  You will be hard pressed to find better speakers without spending a significant amount, and I do mean significant.  I have compared them against other speakers and nothing is making me want to change.  I am running them with Audio Research REF 250 amps driving the upper panels and a Mark Levinson 23.5 driving the woofers.  The electronic crossover is adjustable for high and low and it is seemless.  

I replaced the existing original woofers with the Peerless woofers and they are better.  

Also, Martin Logan still makes replacement panels for those speakers.  Check the serial numbers on the panels and use the decoder helper on the Martin Logan owner's web site to see how old the panels are.  I replaced my panels a few years ago thinking that they were the problem.  Turned out that they weren't it was something else causing the problem.  So when I replaced the panels and found the true issue, turned out that the panels were still good.

Replaced them anyway. 

enjoy the Monolith III's, I know you will.

enjoy