MartinLogan Source Speakers User Manual
TM
S OURCE
user’s manual
Thank you—to you the MartinLogan owner,
for loving what we do,
and
for making it possible for us to do what we love.
Serial Numbers: _______________ / _______________
Record your serial numbers here for easy reference. You will need this
information when filling out your warranty registration. Source’s serial
number is located near the bottom of the backplate and on the shipping
container. Each individual unit has a unique serial number.
Source
Tested to Comply
with FCC Standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
This device complies with part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1)
This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
CONTENTS
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Installation in Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Low-Voltage (DC) Power Connection
Speaker Level Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Break-In
Placement & Room Acoustics . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Listening Position
The Wall Behind the Listener
The Wall Behind the Speakers
The Side Walls
Experimentation
Final Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Extra “Tweak” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Your Room
Terminology
Rules of Thumb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Dipolar Speakers and Your Room
Solid Footing
Dispersion Interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Controlled Horizontal Dispersion
Controlled Vertical Dispersion
Three Major Types of Dispersion
Home Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Electrostatic Advantages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
MartinLogan Exclusives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Full Range Operation
CLS™ (Curvilinear Line Source) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Generation 2 Diaphragm
MicroPerf Stator
Vacuum Bonding
AirFrame™ Technology
Electrostatic Loudspeaker History . . . . . . . . 17
Frequently Asked Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Specifications
Warranty and Registration
Serial Number
Service
Dimensional Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Glossary of Audio Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
In accordance with the European Union WEEE
(Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive
effective August 13, 2005, we would like to notify
you that this product may contain regulated materials
which upon disposal, according to the WEEE directive, require special reuse and recycling processing.
For this reason MartinLogan has arranged with our
distributors in European Union member nations to collect
and recycle this product at no cost to you. To find your
local distributor please contact the dealer from whom
you purchased this product, email info@martinlogan.com
or visit the distributor locator at www.martinlogan.com.
Please note, only this product itself falls under the
WEEE directive. When disposing of packaging and
other related shipping materials we encourage you to
recycle these items through the normal channels.
The lightning bolt flash with arrowhead symbol, within
an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to
the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in
the literature accompanying the appliance.
WARNING! Do not use your Source loudspeakers outside of the country of original sale—voltage requirements
vary by country. Improper voltage can cause damage that will be potentially expensive to repair. The Source is
shipped to authorized MartinLogan distributors with the correct power supply for use in the country of intended
sale. A list of authorized distributors can be accessed at www.martinlogan.com or by emailing info@martinlogan.
Contents 3
INSTALLATION IN BRIEF
We know you are eager to hear your Source speakers,
so this section is provided to allow fast and easy set up.
Once you have them operational, please take the time to
read, in depth, the rest of the information in this manual.
It will give you perspective on how to attain the greatest
possible performance from this most exacting transducer.
If you should experience any difficulties in the setup or
operation of your Source speakers, please refer to the Room
Acoustics, Placement or Operation sections of this manual.
Should you encounter a persistent problem that cannot be
resolved, please contact your authorized MartinLogan dealer.
They will provide you with the appropriate technical analysis
to alleviate the situation.
WARNING!
• Hazardous voltages exist inside—do not
remove cover.
• Refer servicing to a qualified technician.
• To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose this module to moisture.
• Turn amplifier off and unplug speaker
should any abnormal conditions occur.
• Turn amplifier off before making or
breaking any signal connections!
• Do not operate if there is any visual
damage to the electrostatic panel element.
• Do not drive speaker beyond its rated
power.
• The power cord should not be
installed, removed, or left detached
from the speaker while the other end is
connected to an AC power source.
• No candles or other sources of open
flame should be placed on the speaker.
• No liquids either in glasses or vases
should be placed on speaker.
• Speaker should not be exposed to dripping or splashing liquids.
• The terminals marked with the lightning
bolt symbol should be connected by an
instructed person or by way of ready
made terminals.
Step 1: Unpacking
Remove your new Source speakers from their packaging.
Step 2: Placement
Place each Source at least two feet from the back wall
and angle them slightly toward your listening area. This is
a good place to start. Please see the Placement section
(pages 8–11) of this manual for more details.
Step 3: Power Connection (AC) (see warning)
Your Source speakers require AC power to energize their
electrostatic cells. Using the AC power cords provided,
them in
first to the AC power receptacle on the rear panel of
the speaker
nection, and then to a wall outlet. Please see Low-Voltage
(DC) Power Connection (pages 6) for more details.
Step 4: Signal Connection
Use the best speaker cables you can. Higher quality cables,
available from your specialty dealer, are recommended
and will give you superior performance. Spade connectors
are suggested for optimum contact and ease of installation.
Attach your speaker cables to the signal input section on the
rear panel. Be consistent when connecting speaker leads to
the terminals on the back of the Source. Take great care to
assign the same color to the (+) terminal on both the left and
right channels. If bass is nonexistent and you cannot discern
a tight, coherent image, you may need to reverse the (+) and
(–) leads on one side to bring the system into proper polarity.
For detailed setup instructions, please turn to the
Connections section (Page 6–7) of this manual for more
details.
Step 5: Listen and Enjoy
Now, you may turn on your system and enjoy!
, making sure that you have made a firm
plug
con-
4 Installation in Brief
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! You have invested in one of
the world’s premier loudspeaker systems.
The MartinLogan Source represents an advanced
combination of sonic technologies establishing an unprecedented direction for audiophile design. The result of
years of research, the new Source™ hybrid electrostatic
loudspeaker delivers new standards for efficiency, dynamics and precision in a floorstanding loudspeaker.
Housed within a radical, ultra-rigid extruded aluminum
AirFrame™, the Source’s CLS transducer builds upon
the legacy of MartinLogan’s electrostatic heritage with
the incorporation of advanced vacuum bonding and
MicroPerf stat panels, providing even greater efficiency
and precision. The integration electrical interface technology developed by MartinLogan’s Statement™ e2
engineering team extends effortless dynamics and purity,
resulting in even higher sonic standards of efficiency and
precision.
Featuring an advanced crossover topology, MartinLogan
carefully builds each Source crossover utilizing precision
components to flawlessly preserve sonic subtleties while
effortlessly handling the broadest range of dynamics contained within even the most demanding sonic source.
The materials in your new Source speakers are of the highest
quality and will provide years of enduring enjoyment
and
deepening respect. The cabinetry is constructed from the
highest quality composite material for acoustical integrity.
Through rigorous testing, the curvilinear electrostatic panel
has proven itself to be one of the most durable and reliable transducers available today. Fabricated from a
custom tool punched high-grade steel, the patented
panel is then coated with a special polymer that is applied
via a proprietary electrostatic bonding process. This panel
assembly houses a membrane just 0.0005 of an inch
thick.
The other sections of your User’s Manual explain in detail
the operation of your Source speakers and the philosophy applied to their design. A clear understanding of your
speakers will insure that you obtain maximum performance
and pleasure from this most exacting transducer. It has been
designed and constructed to give you years of trouble-free
listening enjoyment.
Introduction 5
CONNECTIONS
Low-Voltage (DC) Power Connection
Your Source speakers use external low-voltage power supplies to energize their electrostatic panels. For this reason the
proper low-voltage power supplies are provided. A power
supply should be firmly inserted into the ‘DC Power In’
receptacle on the rear connection panel of each speaker,
then to any convenient AC wall outlet. Your Source speakers integrate a signal sensing circuit which will switch the
Source off after a few minutes of no music signal, and
requires less than two seconds to recharge the panels
when a music signal is present.
Your Source speakers are provided with a power supply
for the power service supplied in the country of original
consumer sale. The AC power requirements applicable to
a particular unit is specified both on the packing carton
and on the DC power supply.
If you remove your Source speakers from the country of
original sale, be certain that the AC power supplied in any
subsequent location is suitable before connecting the lowvoltage power supply. Substantially impaired performance
or severe damage may occur to a Source speaker if operation is attempted from an incorrect AC power source.
WARNING! The DC power supply should
not be installed, removed, or left detached
from the speaker while connected to an AC
power source.
Figure 1. Signal and Power Connection. One channel shown.
6 Connections
Speaker Level Connection
Break-In
Use the best speaker cables you can. The length and
type of speaker cable used in your system will have an
audible effect. Under no circumstance should a wire of
gauge higher (thinner) than #16 be used. In general, the
longer the length used, the greater the necessity of a lower
gauge, and the lower the gauge, the better the sound,
with diminishing returns setting in around #8 to #12.
A variety of cables are available whose
claim better performance than standard heavy gauge wire.
We have verified this in many cases, and the improvements
available are often more noticeable than the differences
between wires of different gauge. The effects of cables
may be masked if equipment is not of the highest quality.
Connections are done at the signal input section on the
rear electronics panel of the Source. Use spade connectors for optimum contact and ease of installation. Hand
tighten the binding posts, but do not overtighten—do not
use a tool to tighten the binding posts.
Be consistent when connecting the speaker cables to the
signal input terminals. Take care to assign the same color
cable lead to the (+) terminal on both the left and right
channel speakers. If bass is nonexistent and you cannot
discern a tight, coherent image, you may need to reverse
the (+) and (–) leads on one speaker to bring the system
into proper polarity.
manufacturers
When you first begin to play your Source speakers, they
will sound a bit bass shy. This is due to the high quality,
long-life components used in our woofer. Our custom
made, butyl surround woofer requires approximately
72 hours of break-in at 90 dB (moderate listening levels)
before any critical listening. The break-in requirements of
the crossover components (and, to a lesser degree, the
stator) are equivalent.
WARNING! Turn your amplifier off
before making or breaking any signal connections!
Connections 7
PLACEMENT & ROOM ACOUSTICS
Listening Position
Your speakers should be placed approximately two to
three feet from the front wall, the wall in front of the listening position, and about two feet from the side walls.
Your sitting distance should be further than the distance
between the speakers themselves. You are trying to attain
the impression of good center imaging and stage width.
There is no exact distance between speakers and listener,
but there is a relationship. In long rooms, naturally, that
relationship changes. The distance between the speakers
will be far less than the distance from you to the speaker
system. However, in a wide room, you will still find that
if the distance from the listener to the speakers becomes
smaller than the distance between the speakers themselves,
the image will no longer focus in the center.
Now that you have positioned your speaker system, spend
time listening. Wait to make any major changes in
setup for the next few days as the speaker
change subtly in its sound. Over the first 72 hours of play the
actual tonal quality will change slightly with deeper bass and
more spacious highs resulting. After a few days of listening
you can begin to make refinements and hear the differences.
your initial
system itself will
The Wall Behind the Listener
Near-field reflections can also occur from your back wall (the
wall behind the listening position). If your listening position
is close to the back wall, these reflections can cause problems and confuse imaging quality. It is better for the wall
behind you to be absorptive than to be reflective. If you
have a hard back wall and your listening position is close to
it, experiment with devices that will absorb information (i.e.
wall hangings and possibly even sound absorbing panels).
The front surface ideally should be one long wall without
any doors or openings. If you have openings, the reflection
and bass characteristics from each channel can be different.
The Side Walls
A good rule of thumb is to have the side walls as far away
from the speaker sides as possible. However, MartinLogan’s
unique controlled dispersion electrostatic transducer inherently minimizes side wall reflections—a position as little
as two feet from the side walls often proves adequate.
Sometimes, if the system is bright or the imaging is not to
your liking, and the side walls are very near, try putting
curtains or softening material directly to the edge of each
speaker. An ideal side wall, however, is no side wall at all.
Experimentation
Toe-in
Now you can begin to experiment. First begin by toeing
your speakers in towards the listening area and then facing them straight into the room. You will notice the tonal
balance and imaging changing. You will notice that as the
speakers are toed-out, the system becomes slightly brighter than when toed-in. This design gives you the flexibility
to compensate for a soft or bright room.
Generally it is found that the ideal listening position is with
the speakers slightly toed-in so that you are listening to the
inner third of the curved transducer section. A simple, yet
effective method to achieve proper toe involves sitting at the
listening position, holding a flashlight under your chin and
pointing it at each speaker. The reflection of the flashlight
should be within the inner third of the panel (see figure 2).
The Wall Behind the Speakers
The front surface, the wall behind the speakers, should
not be extremely hard or soft. A pane of glass will cause
reflections, brightness and confused imaging. Curtains,
drapery and objects such as bookshelves can be placed
along the wall to diffuse an overly reflective surface. A
standard sheet rock or textured wall is generally an adequate surface if the rest of the room is not too bright and
hard. Walls can also be too soft. If the entire front wall
consists of heavy drapery, your system can sound dull.
You may hear muted music with little ambience. Harder
surfaces will actually help in this case.
8 Placement & Room Acoustics
Figure 2. Flashlight toe-in technique.
Tilting the Speakers Backwards and Forwards
As the diagrams show in the Dispersion Interactions section of this manual (page 12), the vertical dispersion is
directional above and below the stator panel itself. In
some instances, if you are sitting close to the floor, slight
forward tilting of the speakers can enhance clarity and
precision. Tilt can be adjusted by adjusting the MiniETC
spikes (see page 11).
12° of tilt beyond the standard 1°. Experimenting with
increased tilt may yield a superior listening experience.
1 Turn off you amplifier. Unplug the speakers and discon-
nect all wires from the back of the Purity.
2 Using a blanket to protect Purity’s cabinet, place the
speaker on its side.
Your Source loudspeaker also is equipped with a pivoting
base which allows the speaker to achieve an additional
3 Loosen and remove the hand nut on bottom of the
speaker.
4 Remove the base, rotate it, and replace it.
5 Re-attach the hand nut.
Imaging
In their final location, your Source’s can have a stage
width somewhat wider than the speakers themselves.
On well recorded music, the instruments can extend
beyond the edges of each speaker (left and right), yet
a vocalist should appear directly in the middle. The size of the
instruments should be neither too large nor too small, subject
to the intent and results of each unique audio recording.
Additionally, you should find good clues as to stage
depth. Make sure that the vertical alignment, distance from
the front wall, and toe-in is exactly the same for both speakers.
This will greatly enhance the quality of your imaging.
Bass Response
Your bass response should neither be one note nor
should it be too heavy. It should extend to the deepest organ passages and yet be tight and well defined.
Kick-drums should be tight and percussive—string
bass notes should be uniform and consistent throughout the entirety of the run without booming or thudding.
Figures 3–5. Rotate the base to accommodate various listening positions.
Tonal Balance
Voices should be natural and full and cymbals
should be detailed and articulate yet not bright and
piercing, pianos should have a nice transient characteristic
and deep tonal registers. This will give you clues on how to
get closer to these ideal virtues.
Final Placement
After the full break in period, obtaining good wall treatments, and the proper toe-in angle, begin to experiment
with the distance from the wall behind the speakers. Move
Placement & Room Acoustics 9
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