MartinLogan isn't the kind of company that rolls out new speaker models every month, so it's notable when new introductions are made. The Kansas-based electrostatic manufacturer has borrowed some tech from its $25,000 flagship
CLX loudspeaker and brought them to its
relatively more affordable $13,995 Summit X model, making it the first to inherit the CLX's XStat transducer, PoweredForce woofers and Vojtko crossover design. That's a lot of trademark names, but the take home message is a panel that reaches down to 160Hz before the dual 10-inch woofers that can reach down to 24Hz and still keep up with the fast electrostatics are blended in. Still north of our budget, but we can dream, right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ken @ Jan 31st 2009 12:48AM
Very nice.
I do have to say no matter what you think of the company, they are without doubt the nicest and most knowledgeable people I have worked with. As a customer (or dealer), they have your back 100% of the time.
glenn s @ Jan 31st 2009 4:39PM
They had better, for that money.
glenn s @ Jan 31st 2009 4:42PM
Oh, and I'm sure they sound great too. When I was a kid, my dad had a pair of Magneplanars, which are similar, and they were spectacular. Unfortunately, in my house, these would double as very expensive cat towers.
Josh Wardell @ Jan 31st 2009 11:24AM
I remember hearing MLs for the first time as a kid and being absolutely amazed. They are not as out of reach as you think, starting about 2 grand for a pair. I always said I would get them one day if I ever have a house with a music room.
Jazper @ Jan 31st 2009 4:06PM
I have a pair of the now "old" Summits and every time I listen to them I'm enthralled. Thankfully I have the ears to appreciate them and the pleasure I get from listening to music and/or movies on them is worth every penny (to me). Toss in fantastic, unique looks that are not freakish and they are one of the best choices for audiophile music, imo.
And yes, the lower levels of ML speakers are very good too. I listened to the next step down from the summits (was originally thinking of them) and after a number of visits I just couldn't ignore that the summits were easier to listen to and showed me things in my music I'd never heard before. If I'd not been able to afford the summits I would still have been very very pleased with the speakers. Highly recommended.
te2rx @ Jan 31st 2009 10:20PM
It has a cute body with cute little legs. It should hop around and bark and badger you with songs from Mario Paint.
Anyway it's interesting to see ML's recent designs move in a more angular and minimalistic direction. I have some Martin Logan Ascent speakers (2003?). They're thicker, curvier, and kind of give the impression of a bubbly SUV or something along those lnies.
CapWKidd @ Feb 2nd 2009 10:34AM
I rather buy used Sound Lab A1's........ they blow every other electrostat I have ever heard away....... amazing the bass those comes out of the A1's as well...