You need to audition the Muraudio SP1’s. I too was a Martin Logan fan boy but when I auditioned these it was game over. I was looking for a speaker that had a broader more 3D soundstage. I had the Logan’s for about a decade and as you know they have the vojtko dsp processors and it felt limited. Since there were no dealers near me, I called Muraudio and spoke to the VP of sales and asked if they had any demo models they wanted to sell and lo and behold they had a pair. So I struck a deal to audition these speakers. I could audition for as long as I wanted, the only catch if I didn’t like them, I had to pay for shipping back to them. I took the risk and it paid off. After about a week listening I was sold. The best way I could describe what happened is the Martin Logan’s sounded processed. The SP1 was natural and the soundstage was incredibly broad, detailed and 3D. The veil was lifted. They will benefit from nicely blend subs which I have added two to fill out the bottom. They are in your price range- find a dealer or pair to listen to. For me they were game changing.
Speaker hunt -> To leave or not Leave Martin Logan Behind
Hello all,
I’ve been a MartinLogan owner for about 22 years and have gone through much of their lineup, including the CLX. I’m currently running the 15A, which has been my favorite to date.
Lately, I’ve been considering a move away from electrostatics. While I’ve managed to get the 15A dialed in extremely well in my room (great stage, excellent low end integration), I’m starting to experience some long-term fatigue with the panel presentation—particularly with my core listening preferences.
Roughly 60% of my listening is hard rock/metal, with the remaining 40% being more refined material (Al Di Meola, Patricia Barber, Nils Lofgren, etc.). I also occasionally stream electronic (techno/dubstep). Vinyl is my primary source, with some streaming mixed in.
What I’m looking for:
- Retain a large, dimensional soundstage similar to the 15A
- Strong, controlled low-end performance
- Improved midrange density/impact and overall drive, especially for rock/metal
- Better long-term listenability with more dynamic “weight”
I’m currently considering the Focal Sopra No.2, but I’m open to other options in the ~$15-25K range (new or used).
I figure I’ll need a sub as well once O lose the 12” subs on the ML
I’d really value input from those who have transitioned from panels to dynamic speakers—what worked, what didn’t, and where you ultimately landed.
Current system:
- MartinLogan 15A
- Mark Levinson No. 585
- Rega P8 / Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250
- Manley Chinook SE
- Cambridge Audio CXN V2
Room: 18’ wide (front wall) x 15’ to back wall and 9ft from listening seat to speakers
Appreciate any insights—especially from those with similar musical tastes or system paths.
Thanks in advance.
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- 83 posts total
Hi all, well I have to say that I am on a search as well to switch up my ML's but not for any of the reasons anyone says here. To date and over 40 years of owning and or listening to a ridiculous amount of speakers, my current ML CLX Art's with custom line source Dipole open baffle pressure port loaded woofer towers (4-15" drivers per tower) are the best sounding set of speakers I have owned bar none. I use an active cross over to split the duties of my amplifiers. So you are asking why the change? Well I am downsizing and the 4' x 6' per side panels are too big. Here is a list of the speakers I have owned and auditioned. OWNED Mirage M7si Mirage M3si Mirage M1si Mirage BPXv Mirage BPSS210 subs 2ea Egglestonworks Andra Egglestonworks Andra II Egglestonworks Andra III Egglestonworks Rosa (2pair) Egglestonworks Isabel Egglestonworks Center Chanel Egglestonworks Center Chanel w/ Andra bottom custom Egglestonworks Savoy Wisdom Audio Dipole 75 Wisdom Audio M75's Wisdom Audio M50's 2ea Wisdom Audio B7 Subs 2ea B&G 520i 3 pair Wilson Watt Puppy 5's Wilson Wow Subs 2ea Genesis V Infiniti Beta (2 pairs) Infiniti Kappa 9's Apogee Diva Apogee Centaur Major Apogee Full Range Odeon 26 Definitive Technology BP2000 Definitive Technology BP3000 Ohm F Emerald Physics 2.8's Emerald Physics 4.8's Gershman Gap 520 Gershman Avant Garde RX20 (2 pair) Magnepan MMG Magnepan 1.6 Magnepan 2.6 Magnepan 3.7i Von Schweikert VR 4 Velodyne DD 10 Velodyne DD 12 2ea Pass Labs Rushmore Martin Logan Prodigy Martin Logan Summit Martin Logan CLX Art Accustat 1+1 Talon Khorus X Silverline Sonatina Silverline Sonata Totem Forest Sequerra Met 7 Sequerra Met 11
AUDITIONED Vandersteen 5a Vandersteen 5a Carbon Vandersteen 7 Vandersteen 7XTRM Apogee Full Range Apogee Scintilla Apogee Grands Krell LAT Von Schweikwert VR 8 Magnepan 20.1 YG Sonja XV Kharma Exquisite Rockport Altair Avalon Eidilon Talon Firebird Infinity IRS V Genesis Dragon Pipedreams with Subs Rel G1 Stack ATC SCM40's That does not include all the speakers I listened to at Axpona last week. I have read in these posts about lack of midrange body and highs that are too bright or that they need to be close to a rear wall but then need rear wall treatment. Well let me try to answer that and also address the obvious. First most speakers sound better into a room not against a wall and that includes the Logans. I run mine 5' into the room and the depth of stage is incredible. My issue with my other ML's has been bass integration. Bass was always slow and never seemed coherent. I would up using high efficient 98db 15" CF woofers rated at 250W. They are stacked in a front pressure port as originally designed by Clayton Shaw. I power them with 2 crown k2 amps in mono and OMG is the Bass insane and FAST! I am currently running a VCap BAT REX 500 with Gen4 caps on the CLX Arts with one little trick! ALL ML's suffer from an impedance drop at 20khz to below 1 ohm. The Arts are .7 ohms. This drop can cause many amps to have problems, osscilate and distort. This will not just affect the the upper frequency but the whole spectrum. There are 2 simple solutions, one being using Zero Autoformers or two, a Zobel Network. I specifically spoke to the people at ML at Axpona as to just include a simple solution to the problem. I have also had many amps that I have used and most sounded better with the Zobel Network on the ML's. No ringing, no lean mids. Everything full, detailed and coherent. You list a Mark Levinson as your amp, I definitely believe if you spent $30 and made a Zobel Network you would find a new listening experience and for those who use tube amps with ML's to try Autoformers. The results will be eye opening. Here are 3 links for reference. https://www.martinloganowners.com/threads/clx-art-impedance-curve.16546/ https://www.martinloganowners.com/threads/what-about-zero-autoformers.18964/ |
Afternoon all, Thanks again for all the feedback, suggestions, and links, really appreciate it. My list is up to 22 speakers to research now… getting a little out of hand (in a good way). I’m also starting to consider amp/tube changes, and maybe even exploring Zobel network options. I try not to go too far down the cable rabbit hole, but for reference I’m currently running Nordost Norse Heimdall 2. Just wanted to say thanks again and that I’m keeping up with the thread and taking notes as I go. @technomagus Looks like I may need to spend some time with KEF speakers as well. @jtucker @cooperdude6 @shiner01 @polkalover @vip428 |
@necrosuit PS Audio BHK Pre and BHK 300 Monos |
- 83 posts total