Martin Logan 2004-A Brochure
M
A R T I NLO GA N
®
The Loudspeaker Technology Company
Turn it up!
By 1970, most in the Audio Industry knew it—
electrostatic (ESL) loudspeaker technology was
by far the most accurate way to reproduce
sound. Conventional magnetically driven woofer/tweeter combinations couldn’t approach the
incredible precision and detail of this magical technology, but those in the know were
cautious. There were daunting challenges in
making an electrostatic loudspeaker practical.
ESL speakers utilized powerful, high-voltage
energy—energy that could often go awry as
Gayle Martin Sanders and Ron Logan Sutherland experienced firsthand when they tested
their first prototype in 1978.
It had taken two years of grueling research to
fulfill Gayle’s vision. If he could solve the almost
insurmountable problems that made this technology both dangerous and awkward to use,
without compromising performance, a whole
new world of sound would be available to audio
listeners. From the very first moment the prototype played, beautiful, transparent, liquid music
poured out of the transducer with amazing clarity and precision.
“Turn it up!” gasped Gayle. The minute he moved
the volume control, a jagged lightning bolt ripped
across the transducer leaving a plume of blue
smoke and a gaping hole in the middle of the
prototype transducer. “We gained a true respect
for electrostatic technology that night,” grinned
Gayle, “along with a determination and belief
that we could actually solve those problems that
were yet unresolved!”
What had for years been a burning vision came
to a full boil and the real work began, solving
one impossibly complex technical challenge after
another. New coatings, insulations, adhesives,
and materials from the aerospace industry provided the perfect solution to finally bring the
first practical and reliable hybrid electrostatic
transducer to the world.
The result in 1983 was the MartinLogan Monolith. This was the first application of what soon
became MartinLogan’s signature curvilinear line
source (CLS) electrostatic technology. The audio
industry buzzed over a product that set new standards in natural music reproduction, efficiency,
dispersion and durability.
But that was just the beginning…
Statement e2—What If?
Best Sound of Show —Stereophile Hi-Fi Show
Ultimate Stereo/
Theater Front
shown with maple trim
Our first 15 years of intense research and product development resulted in numerous breakthrough loudspeaker systems, international awards
and thousands of ecstatic customers the world
over. Throughout this time, perfect sound reproduction was always at the heart and soul of
MartinLogan. Thus, the Statement project fully
embodies our essential philosophy and way of
life. This absolutely unique loudspeaker system
has been a journey of discovery—revealing, challenging, and pushing the boundary that separates the possible from the impossible.
Every aspect of this loudspeaker system has been
redesigned and redeveloped in a continuous
loop, converging on absolute perfection. Nearly
a ton of flawlessly designed audio technology
stands 7 feet tall—with 6-foot CLS (curvilinear line
source) ESL (electrostatic) transducers, 16 proprietary dipolar dynamic drivers and 16 BalancedForce™ 12-inch bass drivers seamlessly wrapped
in a breathtaking sculpture of ultra-high density
material, stainless steel, and solid hardwoods.
From its 350-pound Loganite™ chassis to the
stainless steel tips of its custom designed, handmilled ETC™ (energy transfer coupler) spikes—
every sub-assembly, every line, every element,
and every performance asserts, no compromise!
When in its presence, one experiences the almost mystical and contradictory phenomenon
of uncompromised power linked with subtlety,
grace, and palpable ambience only perceived
when experiencing an original event.
Prodigy
With the answer to “what if” in hand, we focused on the real world—a loudspeaker system
of uncompromised performance leveraging our
Statement e2 research, yet encompassing a
reasonable size and obtainable price. By the
time the Prodigy prototype evolved into a real
product, we had not only integrated much of
the Statement engineering but also developed
numerous design innovations.
Utilizing rigidified, isolated, and braced chambers, housing dual high-resolution, high-excursion,
aluminum drivers, the Prodigy bass system extends
to –3 dB at 28 Hz, yet maintains uniform bass
response throughout your room via the proprietary
Force Forward™ bass configuration. Isolated,
hand-assembled high-pass and low-pass crossover modules utilize a unique double transformer
ESL interface, resulting in superb frequency extension and subtlety. Massive, high-purity, low-pass
copper coils and the finest grade components
throughout result in 300 plus watts RMS power
handling without compression—for huge, effortless dynamics!
Custom, hand-milled Prodigy ETC™ spikes
and solid, hand-cast aluminum trim and brace
pieces are machined and hand-finished to
exacting specifications. The ESL (electrostatic)
stator utilizes proprietary conformal-coated
high-dielectric nylon over perforated tungsten
steel. Precise diaphragm support is provided
by the same highly rigid ClearSpar™ technology found in all MartinLogan ESL transducers.
Stereo/Theater
Front/Surround
shown with optional
natural cherry trim
“Music I’d always loved came alive in a brand-new way.” —Larry Greenhill, Stereophile
Stereo/Theater
Front
shown with optional
piano black cabinet
and custom movado trim
From the moment we auditioned the first prototype, the performance and authority of this sleek
and powerful loudspeaker amazed us. Requiring 20% less floor space than the Prodigy,
Odyssey’s large ESL transducer and bass driver
compliment maintain incredible bass extension,
power, and resolution.
By using two bass drivers in a BalancedForce
configuration, bass management adapted from
the Statement e2 results in easy setup and effortless, extended bottom-end. Since all cabinet
resonance is neutralized, the entire system provides the highest levels of detail and resolution
throughout the audio spectrum.
As in all MartinLogan reference level products,
each audiophile-grade crossover component
is hand-soldered, utilizing point-to-point wiring
throughout the signal path. Only the highestpurity copper inductors and highest-grade polyester film capacitors are utilized.
Odyssey’s ESL transducer is in many ways ideal
in both size and performance. Dramatically
smaller than that of the Statement e2, its efficiency, power handling, and bandwidth are
extremely close in actual performance, making the Odyssey a true reference value.
Winner of 2003 Best Performance on the Year award —Audio Art Magazine “An achievement repeated nowhere else in the entire audio pantheon.” —Ken Kessler, HiFi News
Ascent iOdyssey
Refining the powerful performance of the
Ascent i required intense engineering and dynamic driver design. The result? An extremely
high-resolution, Odyssey-sized ESL transducer
and perfectly matched single high-resolution
woofer that provide a truly musical performance
at an even more affordable price.
Ascent i expresses MartinLogan’s signature
language of form and function, as well as much
of the breakthrough technology of the Prodigy
loudspeaker, maintaining controlled dispersion
with outstanding dynamic range, imaging, and
detail—all from a rigidly braced, extremely highdensity, sculpted MDF cabinet that is sleek and
beautifully finished. As in the Prodigy, Odyssey,
Aeon i, and Descent, hand-finished wood trim
is available in 16 distinctive finishes to match
any décor.
Audiophile-grade, cost-no-object, hand-assembled, point-to-point wired crossover components
provide the ultimate signal path. The soundstage,
openness, and accuracy exhibited by its large,
reference-quality Generation 2 ESL transducer
and aluminum woofer make the Ascent i perfect
as a stereo main or a home theater front-channel
in a myriad of room sizes and configurations.
Prodigy-style ETC™ spikes deliver powerful, tight,
well-defined bass.
Stereo/Theater
Channel
shown with optional
light oak trim
Aeon i
Stereo/Theater
Front/Surround
shown with
aniline dye red trim
Signature MartinLogan ESL performance from
a mere square foot of floor space—Aeon i.
The design process to establish reference level
performance for this amazing loudspeaker was
nearly as arduous as that of the Statement e2.
It’s interesting to note that housed within the affordable Aeon i lies one of the most accurate
transducers available in the world—the signature MartinLogan ESL. Created with the same
materials, care, and concern found in all MartinLogan reference level products, Aeon i’s Generation 2 ESL exhibits incomparable sonic accuracy,
resolution, and detail.
A high-excursion 8-inch aluminum cone driver
allows Aeon i to achieve the highest standards
of bass control and precision comparable with
our ultimate hybrid ESL products. Custom ETC™
spikes contribute to tight, detailed lows and
crystal clear highs, assuring that the Aeon i is
truly the most accurate, versatile, and refined
loudspeaker in its class.
The addition of optional Natural Ambience Compensation (NAC™) makes it easy to experience
the Aeon i in a pure "controlled dispersion"
audiophile mode or enjoy sound throughout the
listening environment in full spectral dispersion
mode. Listen and discover power and precision
that few loudspeakers can achieve—regardless
of price.
“Clarity informed by grace.” —Wes Phillips, The Absolute Sound “2003-04 European Imaging and Sound Association Audio Product of the Year”
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