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User's Manual
The Stylos Speaker System
THE ELECTROSTATIC TECHNOLOGY
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Stylos User's Manual
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Important
Contents
Your Stylos
Limited 90 Day Warranty coverage.
You have the option, at no additional charge, to receive
Limited 3 Year Warranty coverage. To obtain Limited 3
Year Warranty coverage you need only complete and
return the Certificate of Registration that was included
with your speakers along with a copy of your invoice to
Martin-Logan, within 30 days of purchase.
Martin-Logan may not honor warranty serviceMartin-Logan may not honor warranty service
Martin-Logan may not honor warranty service
Martin-Logan may not honor warranty serviceMartin-Logan may not honor warranty service
claims unless we have a completed Warrantyclaims unless we have a completed Warranty
claims unless we have a completed Warranty
claims unless we have a completed Warrantyclaims unless we have a completed Warranty
Registration card on file!Registration card on file!
Registration card on file!
Registration card on file!Registration card on file!
Should you be using your Martin-Logan product in a
country other than the one in which it was originally
purchased, we ask that you note the following:
1) The appointed Martin-Logan distributor for any given
country is responsible for warranty servicing only on
units distributed by or through it in that country in
accordance with its applicable warranty.
2) Should a Martin-Logan product require servicing in a
country other than the one in which it was originally
purchased, the end user may seek to have repairs
performed by the nearest Martin-Logan distributor,
subject to that distributor's local servicing policies,
but all cost of repairs (parts, labor, transportation)
must be born by the owner of the Martin-Logan
product.
3) If you relocate to a country, other than where you
purchased your Martin-Logan's, after owning your
speakers for 6 months your warranty may be
transferable. Contact Martin-Logan for details.
speakers are provided with an automatic
Introduction 4
The Electrostatic Concept 5
History 6
Martin-Logan Exclusives 8
Installation Options 1 0
Operation 1 1
Placement/Listening Position 1 2
On-Wall Installation 1 3
Room Acoustics 1 6
Home Theatre 2 0
Questions 2 1
If you did not receive a Certificate of Registration with
your Stylos
received new units. If this is the case, please contact
your Authorized Martin-Logan dealer.
Stylos User's Manual
speakers you cannot be assured of having
Troubleshooting 2 2
Recommended Music 23
Glossary 2 4
Stylos Specifications 2 6
Page 3
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Introduction
Congratulations, you have invested in one of the world’s
premier loudspeaker systems!
The result of 3 years of research and more than 40 fully
functional prototypes, the Stylos represents the latest
advancements in electrostatic technology and speaker
placement flexibility.
Combining our proprietary curvilinear electrostatic
transducer with a compact, but powerful woofer, we have
designed a product, in one package, that reproduces
music with uncompromised electrostatic clarity and
extended bass, yet can be mounted on or in a wall
requiring no floor space.
All materials in your new Stylos speakers are of the
highest quality to provide years of enduring enjoyment
and deepening respect. The cabinetry is constructed from
a special high-density hardwood powderboard for
structural integrity and is finished with a durable and
attractive matte surface finish.
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
specially tooled, high-grade steel, the panel is then
coated with a special high dielectric compound that is
applied via a proprietary electrostatic deposition process.
This panel assembly houses a membrane 0.0005 of an
inch thick! Ruggedly constructed and insulated, as much
as 200 watts of continuous power has driven the Stylos
energized diaphragm into massive excursions with no
deleterious effects.
Please read and follow these instructions as you initially
install the Stylos
instructions are important and will prevent you from
experiencing any delay, frustration, or system damage
which might occur in a trial-and-error procedure.
The other sections of your
detail the operation of your Stylos
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.
Happy Listening!
speakers into your system. These
User’s Manual User’s Manual
User’s Manual will explain in
User’s Manual User’s Manual
speakers and the
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Stylos User's Manual
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The Electrostatic Concept
How can sound be reproduced by something that you are
able to see through? Electrostatic energy makes this
possible.
Where the world of traditional loudspeaker technology
deals with cones, domes, diaphragms and ribbons that
are moved with magnetism, the world of electrostatic
loudspeakers deals with charged electrons attracting and
repelling each other.
To fully understand the electrostatic concept, some
background information will be helpful. Remember when
you learned, in a science or physics class, that like
charges repel each other and
opposite charges attract each
other? Well, this principle is the
An Electrostatic TransducerAn Electrostatic Transducer
An Electrostatic Transducer
An Electrostatic TransducerAn Electrostatic Transducer
foundation of the electrostatic
concept.
An electrostatic transducer
consists of three pieces: the
stators, the diaphragm and the
spacers.
See Figure 1
. The
Diaphragm
Spacer
diaphragm is what actually
moves to excite the air and
create music. The stator's job is
to remain stationary, hence the
word stator, to provide a
Figure 1Figure 1
Figure 1. Cut away view of an electrostatic transducer.
reference point for the moving
diaphragm. The spacers
Figure 1Figure 1
Notice the simplicity due to minimal parts usage.
provide the diaphragm with a
fixed distance in which to move
between the stators.
An Electromagnetic TransducerAn Electromagnetic Transducer
An Electromagnetic Transducer
An Electromagnetic TransducerAn Electromagnetic Transducer
As your amplifier sends music
signals to an electrostatic
Surround
speaker, these signals are
changed into two high-voltage
signals that are equal in
strength but opposite in polarity.
These high voltage signals are
then applied to the stators. The
resulting electrostatic field,
created by the opposing high
voltage on the stators, works
Basket Assembly
Magnet
simultaneously with and
Figure 2.Figure 2.
Figure 2. Cut away view of a typical moving coil driver.
against the diaphragm,
consequently moving it back
Figure 2.Figure 2.
Notice the complexity due to the high number of parts.
and forth, producing music. This
Cone
technique is known as push-pull operation and is a major
contributor to the sonic purity of the electrostatic concept
due to its exceptional linearity and low distortion.
Since the diaphragm of an electrostatic speaker is
uniformly driven over its entire area, it can be extremely
light and flexible. This allows it to be very responsive to
transients, thus perfectly tracing the music signal. As a
result, great delicacy, nuance and clarity is possible.
When you look at the problems of traditional electromagnetic drivers, you can easily see why this is so beneficial.
The cones and domes which are used in traditional
electromagnetic drivers cannot be driven uniformly
because of their design.
Cones are driven only at the
apex. Domes are driven at
their perimeter. As a result,
the rest of the cone or dome
is just "along for the ride". The
very concept of these drivers
require that the cone or dome
be perfectly rigid, damped
Stator
and massless. Unfortunately
these conditions are not
available in our world today.
To make these cones and
domes move, all electromagnetic drivers must use voice
coils wound on formers,
spider assemblies, and
surrounds to keep the cone
See
Dust Cap
Voice Coil Former
or dome in position.
Figure 2.
These pieces, when
combined with the high mass
of the cone or dome materials
used, make it an extremely
complex unit with many
weaknesses and potential for
Spider
failure. These faults contribute to the high distortion
products found in these
drivers and is a tremendous
Magnet Assembly
Magnetic GapVoice Coil
disadvantage when you are
trying to change motion as
quickly and as accurately as
a loudspeaker must (40,000
times per second!).
Stylos User's Manual
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Page 6
History
In the late 1800’s, any loudspeaker was considered
exotic. Today, most of us take the wonders of sound
reproduction for granted.
It was 1880 before Thomas Edison had invented the first
phonograph. This was a horn-loaded diaphragm that was
excited by a playback stylus. In 1898, Sir Oliver Lodge
invented a cone loudspeaker, which he referred to as a
“bellowing telephone”, that was very similar to the
conventional cone loudspeaker drivers that we know
today. However, Lodge had no intention for his device to
reproduce music, because in 1898 there was no way to
amplify an electrical signal! As a result, his speaker had
nothing to offer over the acoustical gramophones of the
period. It was not until 1906 that Dr. Lee DeForrest
invented the triode vacuum tube. Before this, an electrical
signal could not be amplified. The loudspeaker, as we
know it today, should have ensued then, but it did not.
Amazingly, it was almost twenty years before this would
occur.
In 1921, the electrically cut phonograph record became a
reality. This method of recording was far superior to the
mechanically cut record and possessed almost 30 dB of
dynamic range. The acoustical gramophone couldn't
begin to reproduce all of the information on this new disc.
As a result, further developments in loudspeakers were
needed to cope with this amazing new recording medium.
By 1923, Bell Telephone Laboratories made the decision
to develop a complete musical playback system consisting of an electronic phonograph and loudspeaker to take
advantage of the new recording medium. Bell Labs
assigned the project to two young engineers, C.W. Rice
and E.W. Kellogg.
Rice and Kellogg had a well equipped laboratory at their
disposal. This lab possessed a vacuum tube amplifier
with an unheard of 200 watts, a large selection of the new
electrically cut phonograph records and a variety of
loudspeaker prototypes that Bell Labs had been collecting over the past decade. Among these were Lodge’s
cone, a speaker that used compressed air, a corona
discharge (plasma) speaker, and an electrostatic
speaker.
After a short time, Rice and Kellogg had narrowed the
field of "contestants" down to the cone and the electrostat.
The outcome would dictate the way that future generations would refer to loudspeakers as being either
"conventional", or "exotic".
Bell Laboratory’s electrostat was something to behold.
This enormous bipolar speaker was as big as a door. The
diaphragm, which was beginning to rot, was made of the
membrane of a pigs intestine that was covered with fine
gold leaf to conduct the audio signal.
When Rice and Kellogg began playing the new electrically cut records through the electrostat, they were
shocked and impressed. The electrostat performed
splendidly. They had never heard instrumental timbres
reproduced with such realism. This system sounded like
real music rather than the honking, squawking rendition
of the acoustic gramophone. Immediately, they knew they
were on to something big. The acoustic gramophone was
destined to become obsolete.
Due to Rice and Kellogg's enthusiasm, they devoted a
considerable amount of time researching the electrostatic
design. However, they soon encountered the same
difficulties that even present designers face; planar
speakers require a very large surface area to reproduce
the lower frequencies of the audio spectrum. Because the
management at Bell Labs considered large speakers
unacceptable, Rice and Kellogg's work on electrostatics
would never be put to use for a commercial product.
Reluctantly, they advised the Bell management to go with
the cone. For the next thirty years the electrostatic design
lay dormant.
During the Great Depression of the 1930's, consumer
audio almost died. The new electrically amplified
loudspeaker never gained acceptance, as most people
continued to use their old Victrola-style acoustic gramophones. Prior to the end of World War II, consumer audio
saw little, if any, progress. However, during the late
1940's, audio experienced a great rebirth. Suddenly there
was tremendous interest in audio products and with that,
a great demand for improved audio components. No
sooner had the cone become established than it was
challenged by products developed during this new
rebirth.
In 1947, Arthur Janszen, a young Naval engineer, took
part in a research project for the Navy. The Navy was
interested in developing a better instrument for testing
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Stylos User's Manual
Page 7
microphone arrays. The test instrument needed an
extremely accurate speaker, but Janszen found that the
cone speakers of the period were too nonlinear in phase
and amplitude response to meet his criteria. Janszen
believed that electrostats were inherently more linear
than cones, so he built a model using a thin plastic
diaphragm treated with a conductive coating. This model
confirmed Janszen's beliefs, for it exhibited remarkable
phase and amplitude linearity.
Janszen was so excited with the results that he continued
research on the electrostatic speaker on his own time. He
soon thought of insulating the stators to prevent the
destructive effects of arcing. By 1952 he had an electrostatic tweeter element ready for commercial production.
This new tweeter soon created a sensation among
American audio hobbyists. Since Janszen's tweeter
element was limited to high frequency reproduction, it
often found itself used in conjunction with woofers, most
notably, woofers from Acoustic Research. These systems
were highly regarded by all audio enthusiasts.
people continued to use box speakers with cones.
In the early 1960's Arthur Janszen joined forces with the
KLH loudspeaker company and together they introduced
the KLH 9. Due to the large size of the KLH 9, it did not
have as many limitations as the Quad. The KLH 9 could
play markedly louder and lower in frequency than the
Quad ESL. Thus a rivalry was born.
Janszen continued to develop electrostatic designs. He
was instrumental in the design of the Koss Model One,
the Acoustech, and the Dennesen speakers. Roger West,
the chief designer of the JansZen Corporation became
the president of Sound Lab. When JansZen Corporation
was sold, the RTR loudspeaker company bought half of
the production tooling. This tooling was used to make the
electrostatic panels for the Servostatic, a hybrid electrostatic system that was Infinity's first speaker product. Other
companies soon followed; each with their own unique
applications of the technology. These include Acoustat,
Audiostatic, Beverage, Dayton Wright, Sound Lab, and
Stax to name a few.
As good as these systems were, they would soon be
surpassed by another electrostatic speaker.
In 1955, Peter Walker published three articles on
electrostatic loudspeaker design in
Wireless World
, a
British electronics magazine. In these articles Walker
demonstrated the benefits of the electrostatic loudspeaker. He explained that electrostatics permit the use
of diaphragms that are low in mass, large in area, and
uniformly driven over their surfaces by electrostatic
forces. Due to these characteristics, electrostats have the
inherent ability to produce a wide bandwidth, flat frequency response with distortion products being no
greater than the electronics driving them.
By 1956 Walker backed up his articles by introducing a
consumer product, the now famous Quad ESL. This
speaker immediately set a standard of performance for
the audio industry due to its incredible accuracy. However, in actual use the Quad had a few problems. It could
not play very loud, it had poor bass performance, it
presented a difficult load that some amplifiers did not like,
its dispersion was very directional, and its power handling was limited to around 70 watts. As a result, many
Electrostatic speakers have progressed and prospered
because they actually do what Peter Walker claimed they
would. The limitations and problems experienced in the
past were not inherent to the electrostatic concept. They
were related to the applications of these concepts.
Today, these limitations have been addressed. Advancements in materials due to the U.S. space program give
designers the ability to harness the superiority of the
electrostatic principle. Today's electrostats use advanced
insulation techniques or provide protection circuitry. The
poor dispersion properties of early models have been
addressed by using delay lines, acoustical lenses,
multiple panel arrays or, as in our own products, by
curving the diaphragm. Power handling and sensitivity
have been increased.
These developments allow the consumer the opportunity
to own the highest performance loudspeaker products
ever built. It's too bad Rice and Kellogg were never able
to see just how far the technology would be taken.
Stylos User's Manual
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Martin-Logan Exclusives
Full Range OperationFull Range Operation
Full Range Operation
Full Range OperationFull Range Operation
The most significant advantage of Martin-Logan's
exclusive transducer technology reveals itself when you
compare it to examples of other loudspeaker products on
the market today.
The Stylos uses no crossover networks above 700 Hz
because they are not needed. It consists of a single,
seamless electrostatic membrane reproducing all
frequencies above 700 Hz simultaneously. How is this
possible?
First, it is important to understand that music is not
composed of separate high, mid and low frequency
pieces. In fact, music is comprised of a single complex
waveform with all frequencies interacting simultaneously.
The electrostatic transducer of
the Stylos essentially acts as
an exact opposite of the
microphones used to record
the original event. A microphone, which is a single
working element, transforms
acoustic energy into an
electrical signal that can be
amplified or preserved by
some type of storage media.
The Stylos
transducer transforms
electrical energy from your
amplifier into acoustical
energy with a single membrane.
Upon looking carefully at a
traditional magnetic driver (I.e.
dynamic, ribbon, induction),
no single unit can reproduce
the full range of frequencies.
Instead, these drivers must be
designed to operate within
narrow areas of music and
then combined electrically so
that the sum of the parts
electrostatic
Figure 1. Figure 1.
Figure 1. Illustrates how a conventional speaker system
Figure 1. Figure 1.
must use a crossover network that has negative affects
on the musical performance, unlike the Stylos which
needs no crossover networks in the "critical zone".
Conventional Loudspeaker
TweeterTweeter
Tweeter
TweeterTweeter
MidrangeMidrange
Midrange
MidrangeMidrange
WooferWoofer
Woofer
WooferWoofer
Martin-Logan
StylosStylos
Stylos
StylosStylos
ElectrostaticElectrostatic
Electrostatic
ElectrostaticElectrostatic
TransducerTransducer
Transducer
TransducerTransducer
WooferWoofer
Woofer
WooferWoofer
equals the total signal. While this sounds nice in theory, a
different story unfolds in real-world conditions.
In order to use multiple drivers, a crossover network is
enlisted to divide the complex musical signal into the
separate parts (usually highs, mids, and lows) that each
specific driver was designed to handle. Unfortunately,
due to the phase relationships that occur within all
crossover networks and during the acoustical recombination process, nonlinearities and severe degradation of the
music signal takes place in the ear's most "critical zone",
the crossover between the tweeter and midrange.
Figure 1
So, music in the "critical zone" becomes delayed in time.
Critical ZoneCritical Zone
Critical Zone
Critical ZoneCritical Zone
700 - 20kHz700 - 20kHz
700 - 20kHz
700 - 20kHz700 - 20kHz
StylosStylos
Stylos Loudspeaker
StylosStylos
Critical ZoneCritical Zone
Critical Zone
Critical ZoneCritical Zone
700 - 20kHz700 - 20kHz
700 - 20kHz
700 - 20kHz700 - 20kHz
.
These delays can be pickedup by your ear and result in
poor imaging and ambience
cues. Voices lose their
complex harmonies and
sound less like the vocalist
and more like a stereo
speaker.
The Stylos electrostaticThe Stylos electrostatic
The Stylos electrostatic
The Stylos electrostaticThe Stylos electrostatic
transducer can single-transducer can single-
transducer can single-
transducer can single-transducer can singlehandedly reproduce allhandedly reproduce all
handedly reproduce all
handedly reproduce allhandedly reproduce all
audio frequencies aboveaudio frequencies above
audio frequencies above
audio frequencies aboveaudio frequencies above
700 Hz simultaneously.700 Hz simultaneously.
700 Hz simultaneously.
700 Hz simultaneously.700 Hz simultaneously.
The crossover phase disconti-
nuities that are associated
with traditional tweeter,
midrange/woofer systems are
eliminated in the Stylos. This
results in a
improvement in imagingimprovement in imaging
improvement in imaging
improvement in imagingimprovement in imaging
and staging performanceand staging performance
and staging performance
and staging performanceand staging performance
due to the minutelydue to the minutely
due to the minutely
due to the minutelydue to the minutely
accurate phase relation-accurate phase relation-
accurate phase relation-
accurate phase relation-accurate phase relationship of the full-rangeship of the full-range
ship of the full-range
ship of the full-rangeship of the full-range
panel wave launch.panel wave launch.
panel wave launch.
panel wave launch.panel wave launch.
dramaticdramatic
dramatic
dramaticdramatic
See
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Stylos User's Manual
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Vapor Deposited FilmVapor Deposited Film
Vapor Deposited Film
Vapor Deposited FilmVapor Deposited Film
The diaphragm material used in all Martin-Logan
speakers employs an extremely sophisticated vapor
deposited conductive polymer membrane. A proprietary
conductive compound is vaporized then electrostatically
driven into the surface of the polymer film in a vacuum
chamber. This process allows an optically transparent
membrane, adds no mass to the diaphragm and is
extremely uniform in its surface resistivity characteristics.
This uniform surface resistivity controls the electrostatic
charge on the diaphragm surface and regulates its
migration. As a result, no discharging or “arcing” can
occur.
Transducer IntegrityTransducer Integrity
Transducer Integrity
Transducer IntegrityTransducer Integrity
All Martin-Logan transducers begin with two pieces of
high grade, cold rolled steel. These steel pieces are then
custom perforated and insulated with an exotic composite
coating. This proprietary coating insulates the stator to 3
times its actual needed working voltage and gives the
Stylos a wide margin of safe operation. In addition to the
electrical insulation properties, this coating also provides
the Stylos with a durable, attractive finish that dampens
the steel to prevent ringing. The finished metal plates are
curved into a 30 degree arc. Placed between them is our
exclusive vapor deposited diaphragm and spacers. This
assembly is then bonded together with aerospace
adhesives whose strength is so great that it is commonly
used as an alternative to welding.
The result of these advanced technologies is a transducer that is attractive, durable, highly rigid, well dampened, and neutral.
Mechanical/AcousticalMechanical/Acoustical
Mechanical/Acoustical
Mechanical/AcousticalMechanical/Acoustical
Tone ShapingTone Shaping
Tone Shaping
Tone ShapingTone Shaping
diaphragm + or - 6dB without the use of an insertion loss
crossover. The advantage of this system is a high
efficiency driver with wide bandwidth capabilities of
dimensions which are easily integrated into a domestic
environment.
Curvilinear Line SourceCurvilinear Line Source
Curvilinear Line Source
Curvilinear Line SourceCurvilinear Line Source
Since the beginning of audio, achieving smooth full range
dispersion has long been a problem for all loudspeaker
designers. Large panel transducers present even more of
a challenge because the larger the panel, the more
directional the dispersion pattern becomes.
Full range electrostatics have always been one of the
most complex transducers because they attain their full
range capabilities via a large surface area. It looked as if
they were in direct conflict to smooth dispersion and
almost every attempt to correct this resulted in either poor
dispersion or a serious compromise in sound quality.
After extensive research, Martin-Logan engineers
discovered an elegantly simple solution to achieve a
smooth pattern of dispersion without degrading sound
quality. By curving the horizontal plane of the electrostatic
transducer, a controlled horizontal dispersion pattern
could be achieved, yet the purity of the almost massless
electrostatic diaphragm remained uncompromised. After
creating this technology, we developed the production
capability to bring this technology out of the laboratory
and into the market place.
You will find this proprietary Martin-Logan technology
used in all of our products. It is one of the many reasons
behind our reputation for high quality sound with practical
usability. This is also why you see the unique "see
through" cylindrical shape of all Martin-Logan products.
The clear Lexan® panels on the back of the Stylos stator
are the key elements of an innovative pressure compensation technology. Martin-Logan is able to tone-shape the
Stylos User's Manual
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Installation Options
The most difficult part of installing your Stylos is deciding which of the available installation options will best integrate into
your home. Here are some examples of how each of the 4 Stylos installation kits can be used. The only thing to add is your
imagination.
On WallOn Wall
On Wall
On WallOn Wall
- When the wall in front of you is ideal for speaker
placement but floor space is not available
- To flank a projection screen, window or fireplace
- Fit inside a cabinet
Hardware required: Standard wall-mount kit included with
all Stylos
On a StandOn a Stand
On a Stand
On a StandOn a Stand
- When the wall behind the speaker will not allow speaker
mounting, i.e. book case or window
- If there is a high possibility the speakers will be frequently moved
- As a dipole side channel for a home theatre system
Hardware required: Optional Stylos stand kit
On A Side WallOn A Side Wall
On A Side Wall
On A Side WallOn A Side Wall
- The front wall is a window or book case
- The room is long and narrow
- A dipole side channel for home theatre
Hardware required: Optional Stylos side-mount kit
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In WallIn Wall
In Wall
In WallIn Wall
- When not being seen is as important as sounding great
- Allows finishing the Stylos grill to match the wall color
- Most complicated installation
Hardware required: Optional Stylos in-wall kit, certified
electrician to provide in-wall A.C. in accordance to code,
in-wall speaker cable accessibility
Stylos User's Manual
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Operation
AC Power ConnectionAC Power Connection
AC Power Connection
AC Power ConnectionAC Power Connection
Because your Martin-Logan Stylos
supply to energize their electrostatic cells with highvoltage DC, they must be connected to an AC power
source. For this reason they are provided with the proper
IEC standard power cords. These cords should be firmly
inserted into any convenient AC wall outlet. Extension
cords may be used, if necessary, since the AC power
requirement of the speaker is extremely small (less than 5
watts). The Stylos have been designed to remain on
continuously and should remain connected to a continuous AC power source. As mentioned earlier, power
consumption of the Stylos is very small and the life
expectancy of its components will not be reduced by
continuous operation.
The power cord should not be installed, re-The power cord should not be installed, re-
The power cord should not be installed, re-
The power cord should not be installed, re-The power cord should not be installed, removed, or left detached from the speaker whilemoved, or left detached from the speaker while
moved, or left detached from the speaker while
moved, or left detached from the speaker whilemoved, or left detached from the speaker while
the other end is connected to an AC powerthe other end is connected to an AC power
the other end is connected to an AC power
the other end is connected to an AC powerthe other end is connected to an AC power
source.source.
source.
source.source.
Your Stylos speakers are wired for the power service
supplied in the country of original consumer sale unless
manufactured on special order. The AC power rating
applicable to a particular unit is specified both on the
packing carton and on the serial number plate attached to
the speaker.
If you remove your Stylos speakers from the country of
original sale, be certain that AC power supplied in any
subsequent location is suitable before connecting and
operating the speakers. Substantially impaired performance or severe damage may occur to a Stylos speaker if
operation is attempted from an incorrect AC power
source.
If your home is not equipped with three-prong wall
outlets, you may use “cheater” plugs to connect the
speakers to AC power. These may be obtained at your
dealer or any hardware department.
use an internal power
Signal ConnectionSignal Connection
Signal Connection
Signal ConnectionSignal Connection
Connections are done at the
the bottom electronics panel of the Stylos. Use spade
connectors for optimum contact and ease of installation.
Make certain that all of your connections are tight.
Be consistent when connecting the speaker cables to the
Signal Input Signal Input
Signal Input terminals. Take care to assign the same
Signal Input Signal Input
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.
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 #14 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 speaker cables are now available whose
manufacturers claim better performance than with
standard heavy gauge wire. We have verified this in
some cases, and the improvements available are often
more noticeable than the differences between wires of
different gauge.
We would also recommend, if possible, that short runs of
speaker cable connect the power amplifier(s) and
speakers and that high quality long interconnect cables
be used to connect the preamplifier and power amplifier.
This results in the power amplifiers being close to the
speakers, which may be practically or cosmetically
difficult, but if the length of the speaker cables can be
reduced to a few meters, sonic advantages may be
obtained. The effects of cables may be masked if the
equipment is not of high quality.
Signal InputSignal Input
Signal Input section on
Signal InputSignal Input
Stylos User's Manual
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Placement/Listening Position
Distance fromDistance from
Distance from
Distance fromDistance from
the Side Wthe Side W
the Side W
the Side Wthe Side W
For the most even bass response, we
recommend that the center of the
Stylos be greater than 16" from the
side-wall. Locating the Stylos closer to
the corner may reinforce certain bass
notes.
allall
all
allall
Distance from theDistance from the
Distance from the
Distance from theDistance from the
FloorFloor
Floor
FloorFloor
Using ergometric data of the 95th%
male (6’1") and the 5th% female
(4’11) placed on the average height
seat of living room furniture, we
recommend a floor to speaker
distance of 7" inches. This will provide
excellent frequency response if you
are sitting or standing. However, if this
is not practical, the speaker can be
tipped in the brackets to compensate
for a 3 inch variation in mounting
height.
Page 12
Stylos User's Manual
Page 13
On-Wall Installation
Installation ProcedureInstallation Procedure
Installation Procedure
Installation ProcedureInstallation Procedure
After determining the best location for
your speakers, based on your room
requirements and our recommendations, you are ready to begin
installation.
Tools required:
1 - M-L Wall Mount Kit:
4 - wall brackets
1 - Stylos template
16 - zip anchors
16 - #8X3/4" screws
1 - plumb line
2 - 1/2" screws with knobs
2 - 1/2" allen head cap screws
4 - metal washers
4 - nylon washers
1 - 3/16 allen wrench
1 - pencil or scratch awl
1 - screw driver
1 - power drill
1 - #2 phillips bit for drill
1 - tape measure 6ft or longer
1 - roll of masking tape
1 - bullet level (optional)
STEP 1 STEP 1
STEP 1
STEP 1 STEP 1
Unroll the template and mount it to the
wall pushing the plumb line's pin
through the bull's-eye (making sure
the line tied to the push-pin falls
directly from the bottom of the pin). We
recommend locating the bull's-eye 66
inches from the floor. This distance
will place the Stylos the recommended 7" from the floor. See
Placement/Listening Position section
for seating and speaker placement,
information and suggestions.
Step 2 Step 2
Step 2
Step 2 Step 2
Shift the bottom of the template side to
side until the plumb line matches the
vertical center line on the template;
then tape each of the four corners of
the template to the wall. After taping
make sure the template is still aligned.
Figure 1Figure 1
Figure 1. Mount Template
Figure 1Figure 1
(Figure 1)
(Figures 1 & 2)
Figure 2Figure 2
Figure 2. Mark Zip Anchor Locations
Figure 2Figure 2
STEP 3 STEP 3
STEP 3
STEP 3 STEP 3
Using the pencil or awl, poke through
the template at the 8 bracket mounting
marks and mark the wall for anchor
attachment.
anchor mounting cross-hairs fall in
different locations in the upper and
lower bracket slots (see Figure 3).
This was designed-in so that the
bottom bracket rests securely on top of
the screw shafts, preventing it from
inadvertently slipping down the wall;
conversely, the upper bracket crosshairs fall in the center of the slot
allowing maximum up or down travel
to correct for any misalignment
not poke large holes in the template
cross-hairs.
from the wall and save it for the other
speaker or a future installation.
(Figures 2 & 3)
You will notice that the
Remove the template
. Do
Stylos User's Manual
Page 13
Page 14
On-Wall Installation Cont.,
STEP 4 STEP 4
STEP 4
STEP 4 STEP 4
We have supplied plastic Zip-It
anchors designed for easy installation
on drywall only*. If you have drywall,
insert the provided Zip-It anchors** at
the 8 previously marked locations,
until flush. DO NOT OVERDRIVE. If
you hit a wall stud, back the anchor
out and use a 1-1/2" drywall screw
(not supplied) instead of the Zip-It
anchor when attaching the bracket.
**
*If you have a masonry, paneled,
**
plaster or other type of wall, you
should consult a local hardware store
for proper anchors for your wall type.
You will need 16 anchors that will
accept a #8 screw for the total
installation.
(Figure 4)
****
**
To insert Zip-It anchor, insert #2
****
Phillips driver bit into the recess of the
Zip-It anchor head. Use manual screw
driver or electric drill. Push the Zip-It
anchor into the surface of the wall
board until the two cutting blades
penetrate the surface. Rotate the Zip-It
into the drywall until the collar sets
flush to the surface. DO NOT OVERDRIVE.
STEP 5STEP 5
STEP 5
STEP 5STEP 5
Install the lower bracket first, using
any of the 4 brackets. Place the
bracket over the four lower anchors,
with the protruding arm of the bracket
located towards the bottom; insert all
four screws, do not tighten. Place a
level on the top of the bracket. With
the bracket resting on the screws,
level and tighten the screws.
Install the top bracket, with the
protruding arm located above the
anchors. The distance between the
top surface of the lower bracket arm
and the bottom surface of the upper
bracket arm should be approximately
62.5". Level and tighten.
(Figure 5)
Figure 3Figure 3
Figure 3. Zip Anchor Locations
Figure 3Figure 3
Figure 5Figure 5
Figure 5. Bracket Mounting Details
Figure 5Figure 5
Figure 4Figure 4
Figure 4. Insert Zip Anchors into Wall
Figure 4Figure 4
Page 14
Stylos User's Manual
Page 15
Mounting the StylosMounting the Stylos
Mounting the Stylos
Mounting the StylosMounting the Stylos
Remove the Stylos from the packing
bag, spread the bag on the floor and
lay the Stylos face down. If possible,
attach the speaker cable and A.C.
cord to the Stylos now, as the A.C.
receptacle and 5-way binding posts
are more accessible before mounting
to the wall.
Parts required for each Stylos:
1 - additional human
2 - metal washers
2 - nylon washers
1 - cap screw
1 - cap screw with knob
1 - allen wrench
STEP 6 STEP 6
STEP 6
STEP 6 STEP 6
This step requires 2 people. Place the
speaker between the brackets,
the top first.the top first.
the top first.
the top first.the top first.
nylon washer between the Stylos and
the bracket. Then, using the metal
washer and the bolt with the knob,
loosely attach the Stylos to the
bracket. To attach the bottom, use the
same procedure as above except
mount with the 1/2" allen head cap
screw, do not tighten at this time.
Adjust the Stylos for your listening
position. After fine tuning the speaker
position (see Step 7), tighten both
bolts.
knob strips from the bolt, pop off the
knob and use the supplied allen
wrench to tighten. Replace the knob to
complete the design cosmetics.
(Figure 6)
attachattach
attach
attachattach
Begin by placing a
Do not over-tighten.Do not over-tighten.
Do not over-tighten. If the top
Do not over-tighten.Do not over-tighten.
Figure 6Figure 6
Figure 6. Stylos Assembly Parts Sequence
Figure 6Figure 6
STEP 7STEP 7
STEP 7
STEP 7STEP 7
For optimum performance, both
speakers should be positioned so that
they mirror each other. We recommend aiming the inside 1/3 of the
electrostatic panel to your main
listening area. Take the time to
measure the distance from the wall to
the outward edge of each speaker to
ensure mirrored placement.
Stylos User's Manual
(Figure 7)
Figure 7Figure 7
Figure 7. Stylos Position
Figure 7Figure 7
Page 15
Page 16
Room Acoustics
Your RoomYour Room
Your Room
Your RoomYour Room
This is one of those areas that requires both a little
background to understand and some time and experimentation to obtain the best performance from your
system.
Your room is actually a component and an important part
of your system. This component is a very large variable
and can dramatically add to, or subtract from, a great
musical experience.
All sound is composed of waves. Each note has its own
wave size, with the lower bass notes literally encompassing from 10' to as much as 40'! Your room participates in
TerminologyTerminology
Terminology
TerminologyTerminology
Standing WavesStanding Waves
Standing Waves. The parallel walls in your room will
Standing WavesStanding Waves
reinforce certain notes to the point that they will
sound louder than the rest of the audio spectrum and
cause “one note bass”, “boomy bass”, or “tubby
bass”. For instance, 100Hz represents a 10' wavelength. Your room will reinforce that specific frequency if one of the dominant dimensions is 10'.
Large objects in the room such as cabinetry or
furniture can help to minimize this potential problem.
Some serious “audiophiles” will literally build a
special room with no parallel walls just to get away
from this phenomenon.
this wave experience like a 3 dimensional pool with
waves reflecting and becoming enhanced depending on
the size of the room and the types of surfaces in the room.
Remember, your audio system can literally generate all of
the information required to recreate a musical event in
time, space, and tonal balance. The purpose of your
room, ideally, is to not contribute to that information.
However, every room does contribute to the sound and
the better speaker manufacturers have designed their
systems to accommodate this phenomenon.
Let’s talk about a few important terms before we begin.
Reflective Surfaces (near-field reflections)Reflective Surfaces (near-field reflections)
Reflective Surfaces (near-field reflections). The
Reflective Surfaces (near-field reflections)Reflective Surfaces (near-field reflections)
hard surfaces of your room, particularly if close to
your speaker system, will reflect those waves back
into the room over and over again, confusing the
clarity and imaging of your system. The smaller
sound waves are mostly effected here and occur in
the mid and high frequencies. This is where voice
and frequencies as high as the cymbals can occur.
Page 16
Stylos User's Manual
Page 17
Resonant Surfaces and ObjectsResonant Surfaces and Objects
Resonant Surfaces and Objects. All of the surfaces
Resonant Surfaces and ObjectsResonant Surfaces and Objects
and objects in your room are subject to the frequencies generated by your system. Much like an
instrument, they will vibrate and “carry on” in
syncopation with the music and contribute in a
negative way to the music. Ringing, boominess, and
even brightness can occur simply because they are
“singing along” with your music.
Resonant CavitiesResonant Cavities
Resonant Cavities. Small alcoves or closet type areas
Resonant CavitiesResonant Cavities
in your room can be chambers that create their own
“standing waves” and can drum their own “one
note” sounds.
Rules of ThumbRules of Thumb
Rules of Thumb
Rules of ThumbRules of Thumb
Hard vs. Soft SurfacesHard vs. Soft Surfaces
Hard vs. Soft Surfaces. If the front or back wall of your
Hard vs. Soft SurfacesHard vs. Soft Surfaces
listening room is soft, it may benefit you to have a
hard or reflective wall in opposition. As well, the
ceiling and floor should follow the same basic
guideline. However, the side walls should be roughly
the same in order to deliver a focused image.
This rule suggests that a little reflection is good. As a
matter of fact, some rooms can be so “over
damped” with carpeting, drapes and sound absorbers that the music system can sound dull and lifeless.
On the other hand, rooms can be so hard that the
system can sound like a gymnasium with too much
reflection and brightness. The point is that balance is
the optimum environment.
Clap your hands. Can you hear an instant echo respond
back? You’ve got near-field reflections. Stomp your foot
on the floor. Can you hear a “boom”? You’ve got
standing waves or large panel resonances such as a
poorly supported wall. Put your head in a small cavity
area and talk loudly. Can you hear a booming? You’ve
just experienced a cavity resonance.
Break-up ObjectsBreak-up Objects
Break-up Objects. Objects with complex shapes, such
Break-up ObjectsBreak-up Objects
as bookshelves, cabinetry, and multiple shaped
walls can help break up those sonic gremlins and
diffuse any dominant frequencies.
Solid CouplingSolid Coupling
Solid Coupling. Your loudspeaker system generates
Solid CouplingSolid Coupling
frequency vibrations or waves into the room. This is
how it creates sound. Those vibrations will vary from
20 per second to 20,000 per second. If your speaker
system is not securely planted on the floor or solid
surface, it can shake as it produces sound and,
consequently, the sound can be compromised. If
your speaker is sitting on the carpet and only foot
gliders are used, the bass can be ill defined and
even boomy. The use of spikes is recommended to
insure secured footing for your speakers.
Stylos User's Manual
Page 17
Page 18
Room Acoustics and Dispersion Interactions
Three Major Types of DispersionThree Major Types of Dispersion
Three Major Types of Dispersion
Three Major Types of DispersionThree Major Types of Dispersion
In the field of loudspeaker design, it is a known fact that
as the sound wave becomes progressively smaller than
the transducer producing it, the dispersion of that wave
becomes more and more narrow, or directional. This fact
occurs as long as the transducer is a flat surface. Large
flat panel speakers exhibit
venetian blindvenetian blind
venetian blind effects due to
venetian blindvenetian blind
this phenomenon. This is why most manufacturers opt for
small drivers (i.e. tweeters and midrange) to approximate
what is known as a
point sourcepoint source
point source wave launch.
point sourcepoint source
Multiple Large Panel DispersionMultiple Large Panel Dispersion
Multiple Large Panel Dispersion
Multiple Large Panel DispersionMultiple Large Panel Dispersion
Even though they suffer from "
tian blindtian blind
tian blind" effect, angled multiple panel
tian blindtian blind
speakers can deliver good imaging,
but only to specific spots in the listening
area.
Traditional Point Source Dis-Traditional Point Source Dis-
Traditional Point Source Dis-
Traditional Point Source Dis-Traditional Point Source Dispersionpersion
persion
persionpersion
As can be seen,
cepts invite a great deal of room interaction. While delivering good frequency
response to a large listening audience,
imaging is consequently confused and
blurred.
Historically, most attempts to achieve smooth dispersion
from large flat panel transducers resulted in trade-offs.
After exhaustive testing of these different solution
attempts, we found an elegantly simple, yet very difficult
to execute solution. By curving the radiating surface, we
create the effect of a horizontal arc. This allows the
engineers at Martin-Logan to control the high frequency
dispersion pattern of our transducers. That is why you see
the gentle curve on our products.
vene-vene-
vene-
vene-vene-
point sourcepoint source
point source con-
point sourcepoint source
Page 18
Curvilinear Line Source Disper-Curvilinear Line Source Disper-
Curvilinear Line Source Disper-
Curvilinear Line Source Disper-Curvilinear Line Source Dispersionsion
sion
sionsion
A controlled 30-degree cylindrical
wave-front, which is a
gan exclusivegan exclusive
gan exclusive, offers optimal sound
gan exclusivegan exclusive
distribution with minimal room interaction. The result is solid imaging with a
wide listening area.
Martin-Lo-Martin-Lo-
Martin-Lo-
Martin-Lo-Martin-Lo-
Stylos User's Manual
Page 19
Controlled Horizontal DispersionControlled Horizontal Dispersion
Controlled Horizontal Dispersion
Controlled Horizontal DispersionControlled Horizontal Dispersion
Controlled Vertical DispersionControlled Vertical Dispersion
Controlled Vertical Dispersion
Controlled Vertical DispersionControlled Vertical Dispersion
Your Stylos launch a 30 degree dispersion pattern when
viewed from above. This horizontal dispersion field gives
you a choice of good seats for the performance while
minimizing interaction with side walls.
Make sure both speakers stand exactly at the same
vertical angle, otherwise the image can be skewed or
poorly defined. The wave launch of both speakers is
extremely accurate in both the time and spectral domain
and, consequently, small refined adjustments can result
in noticeable sonic improvements.
See Figure 1
.
As you can see from the illustrations, your Stylos
ers project a controlled dispersion pattern. Each Stylos is
a 38" line source.
profile minimizes interactions with the floor and the
ceiling.
See Figure 2
. This vertical dispersion
speak-
Figure 1Figure 1
Figure 1. Martin-Logan Stylos
Figure 1Figure 1
dispersion pattern distributed horizontally.
Stylos User's Manual
deliver a 30 degree wave launch
Figure 2Figure 2
Figure 2. Your Stylos
Figure 2Figure 2
when viewed vertically.
speaker system is a 38" line source
Page 19
Page 20
Home Theatre
It has long been the practice of stereo buffs to connect
their television to the stereo system. The advantage was
the use of the larger speakers and more powerful
amplifier of the stereo system. Even though the sound
was greatly improved, it was still mono and limited by the
broadcast signal.
In the late 1970's and early '80's two new home movie
formats became widely available to the public; VCR and
laser disc.
By 1985, both formats had developed into very high
quality audio/video sources. In fact, the sonic performance of some video formats exceeded audio-only
formats. Now, with theatre quality sound available at
home, the only element missing was the "surround
sound" presentation found in movie houses.
Fortunately, "Dolby" encoded movies (which includes
almost all movies) have the same surround sound
information encoded on home releases as the theatre
films. All that is required to retrieve this information is a
decoder and additional speakers to reproduce it.
As home theatre is a complex purchase, we recommend
that you consult your local Martin-Logan dealer as he is
well versed in home theatre. The following list and
descriptions will only give you a brief outline as to the
responsibilities and demands placed on each speaker.
Front Left and Right. Front Left and Right.
Front Left and Right. These speakers are the same
Front Left and Right. Front Left and Right.
two used for audio only and should be of very good
quality. The front speakers need to be able to play
loud (over 102 dB) and reproduce bass below 80 Hz.
Center Channel.Center Channel.
Center Channel. This is the most important speaker in
Center Channel.Center Channel.
a video system as almost all of the dialogue is
reproduced through it. Also, a large portion of the
information that is reproduced by the front channel
speakers is reinforced by the center speaker. It is
important that the center speaker be designed by the
same manufacturer as the front speakers and is
recommended for use as a center speaker. This is
not the place to cut corners.
SurroundSpeaker
(dipoledesign)
SurroundSpeaker
(dipoledesign)
Surround Speakers.Surround Speakers.
Surround Speakers. We recommend that the surround
Surround Speakers.Surround Speakers.
FrontSpeaker
Rear Projection
Television
CenterSpeaker
FrontSpeaker
Subwoofer
Subwoofer
speakers play down to 80 Hz or below. The surround
speakers contain the information that makes it
appear that planes are flying over your head. Some
may suggest that this is the place to save money and
purchase a small inexpensive speaker. If you choose
to do so, be prepared to upgrade in the future as
discrete six channel digital encoding becomes
available and the demands on the surround speakers increase.
Subwoofer.Subwoofer.
Subwoofer. Most movie soundtracks contain large
Subwoofer.Subwoofer.
amounts of bass information as part of the special
effects. A good subwoofer will provide a foundation
for the rest of the system. Good subwoofers are very
complex and expensive to manufacture. We recommend a subwoofer with a built in amplifier.
Each piece of a surround system can be purchased
separately. Take your time and buy quality. No one has
ever complained that the movie was too real.
Page 20
Stylos User's Manual
Page 21
Questions
What size of an amplifier should I use with theWhat size of an amplifier should I use with the
What size of an amplifier should I use with the
What size of an amplifier should I use with theWhat size of an amplifier should I use with the
Stylos?Stylos?
Stylos?
Stylos?Stylos?
We recommend an amplifier with 80 to 200 watts per
channel for most applications. The Stylos
well with either a tube or transistorized amplifier, and will
reveal the sonic character of either type. However, it is
important that the amplifier be stable operating into
varying impedance loads: a stable amplifier will be able
to deliver twice its rated wattage into 4 Ohms and should
maintain or increase power into 2 Ohms.
Should I unplug my Stylos during a thunder-Should I unplug my Stylos during a thunder-
Should I unplug my Stylos during a thunder-
Should I unplug my Stylos during a thunder-Should I unplug my Stylos during a thunderstorm?storm?
storm?
storm?storm?
Yes. Or before. It’s a good idea to disconnect all of your
audio/video components during stormy weather.
Is there likely to be any interaction between theIs there likely to be any interaction between the
Is there likely to be any interaction between the
Is there likely to be any interaction between theIs there likely to be any interaction between the
Stylos and the television in my Audio/VideoStylos and the television in my Audio/Video
Stylos and the television in my Audio/Video
Stylos and the television in my Audio/VideoStylos and the television in my Audio/Video
system?system?
system?
system?system?
will perform
Our research department has literally punctured hundreds of holes in a diaphragm, neither affecting the
quality of the sound nor causing the diaphragm to rip.
However, you will be able to see the actual puncture and
it can be a physical nuisance. If this is the case, replacing
the electrostatic transducer will be the only solution.
Will my electric bill go ‘sky high’ by leaving myWill my electric bill go ‘sky high’ by leaving my
Will my electric bill go ‘sky high’ by leaving my
Will my electric bill go ‘sky high’ by leaving myWill my electric bill go ‘sky high’ by leaving my
speakers plugged in all the time?speakers plugged in all the time?
speakers plugged in all the time?
speakers plugged in all the time?speakers plugged in all the time?
Your Stylos are equipped with a device we call the signal
sensing circuit. Here's how it works. The signal automatically diminishes the bias voltage of the ESL cell to
conserve energy and prolong the life of the system. If you
like, you can think of it as an attendant who turns off the
lights when you aren't using them. Your ESL's don't use
much energy anyway (they may cost you about as much
to operate as one 15 watt light bulb) but after five minutes
of the absence of any program material, the circuit will
turn them off.
Actually, there is less interaction between a television
and an electrostatic speaker than between a television
and a conventional system. The magnets in conventional
speakers do interact with televisions tubes. However, we
do recommend that you keep your speakers at least one
foot away from the television because of the dynamic
woofer they employ.
Could my children, pets, or myself be shockedCould my children, pets, or myself be shocked
Could my children, pets, or myself be shocked
Could my children, pets, or myself be shockedCould my children, pets, or myself be shocked
by the high-voltage present in the electrostaticby the high-voltage present in the electrostatic
by the high-voltage present in the electrostatic
by the high-voltage present in the electrostaticby the high-voltage present in the electrostatic
panel?panel?
panel?
panel?panel?
No. High voltage with low current is not dangerous. As a
matter of fact, the voltage in our speakers is
lessless
less than the static electricity that builds up on the
lessless
surface of your television screen.
If my child punctured the diaphragm with aIf my child punctured the diaphragm with a
If my child punctured the diaphragm with a
If my child punctured the diaphragm with aIf my child punctured the diaphragm with a
pencil, stick, or similar item., how extensivepencil, stick, or similar item., how extensive
pencil, stick, or similar item., how extensive
pencil, stick, or similar item., how extensivepencil, stick, or similar item., how extensive
would the damage to the speaker be?would the damage to the speaker be?
would the damage to the speaker be?
would the damage to the speaker be?would the damage to the speaker be?
10 times10 times
10 times
10 times10 times
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or per-Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or per-
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or per-
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or per-Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or performance of the Stylos?formance of the Stylos?
formance of the Stylos?
formance of the Stylos?formance of the Stylos?
We recommend that you not place any loudspeaker in
direct sunlight as the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun
can cause deterioration of grill cloth, speaker cones, etc..
Exposures through glass will not cause a problem,
however the heat generated by the sun will age the finish
on the speaker as it would any fine furniture. MartinLogan speakers are not recommended for outdoor use.
Will excessive smoke or dust cause any prob-Will excessive smoke or dust cause any prob-
Will excessive smoke or dust cause any prob-
Will excessive smoke or dust cause any prob-Will excessive smoke or dust cause any problems?lems?
lems?
lems?lems?
Exposure to excessive contaminants, such as smoke or
dust, may potentially effect the performance of the
electrostatic membrane and may cause discoloration of
the diaphragm membrane.
Stylos User's Manual
Page 21
Page 22
Troubleshooting
No OutputNo Output
No Output
No OutputNo Output
Check that all your system components are turned on.
Check your speaker wires and connections.
Check all interconnecting cables.
Weak Output, Loss of HighsWeak Output, Loss of Highs
Weak Output, Loss of Highs
Weak Output, Loss of HighsWeak Output, Loss of Highs
Check the power cord. Is it properly connected to the
speaker?
Exaggerated Highs, BrightnessExaggerated Highs, Brightness
Exaggerated Highs, Brightness
Exaggerated Highs, BrightnessExaggerated Highs, Brightness
Check the toe-in of the speakers. Read
tics tics
tics for more information.
tics tics
Lack of BassLack of Bass
Lack of Bass
Lack of BassLack of Bass
Check your speaker wires. Is the polarity correct?
Poor ImagingPoor Imaging
Poor Imaging
Poor ImagingPoor Imaging
Room Acous-Room Acous-
Room Acous-
Room Acous-Room Acous-
Low Frequency (60Hz) HumLow Frequency (60Hz) Hum
Low Frequency (60Hz) Hum
Low Frequency (60Hz) HumLow Frequency (60Hz) Hum
If the Stylos hum when the amplifier is turned on, but not
playing music, the cause may be a ground loop. A
ground loop is caused by a difference in the ground
potential in the A.C. line. To eliminate this loop, use a
ground lift adaptor on the Stylos A.C. cord.
Popping and Ticking Sounds, Funny NoisesPopping and Ticking Sounds, Funny Noises
Popping and Ticking Sounds, Funny Noises
Popping and Ticking Sounds, Funny NoisesPopping and Ticking Sounds, Funny Noises
These occasional noises are harmless and will not hurt
your audio system or your speakers. All electrostatic
speakers are guilty of making odd noises at one time or
another.
These noises may be caused by dirt and dust particles
collecting on the speaker, by high humidity or by AC line
fluctuations that may occur in your area.
Dirt and dust may be vacuumed off with a brush attachment connected to your vacuum cleaner or you may
blow them off with compressed air.
DO NOT SPRAY ANY KIND OF CLEANINGDO NOT SPRAY ANY KIND OF CLEANING
DO NOT SPRAY ANY KIND OF CLEANING
DO NOT SPRAY ANY KIND OF CLEANINGDO NOT SPRAY ANY KIND OF CLEANING
AGENT ON OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEAGENT ON OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE
AGENT ON OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE
AGENT ON OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEAGENT ON OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE
ELECTROSTATIC ELEMENT.ELECTROSTATIC ELEMENT.
ELECTROSTATIC ELEMENT.
ELECTROSTATIC ELEMENT.ELECTROSTATIC ELEMENT.
Check placement. Are both speakers the same distance
from the walls? Do they have the same amount of toein?
Check the polarity of the speaker wires. Are they connected properly?
Page 22
Stylos User's Manual
Page 23
Recommended Music
Compact DiscsCompact Discs
Compact Discs
Compact DiscsCompact Discs
ClassicalClassical
Classical
ClassicalClassical
Cantate Domino ..................................
Copland:
Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Fanfare
Dorian Sampler Vol. 1 ............................
Nojima Plays Liszt ...........
Pachelbel Canon:
Acadamy of Ancient Music ....
Round-Up ..................................................
Sainte-Saens:
Ein Straussfest...........................................
Tchaikovsky:
Piano Concerto No. 1...............
Violin Concerto .........................
Jazz and Big BandJazz and Big Band
Jazz and Big Band
Jazz and Big BandJazz and Big Band
Count Basie & His Orchestra:
88 Basie Street .......................................
David Benoit:
Every Step of the Way ...........
This Side Up ..................................
Ray Brown Trio:
Country .............................
Dafos ..............................
Todd Garfinkle:
The Immigrant's Dilemma .........
Shirley Horn:
Freddie Hubbard:
Ride Like the Wind ........................
Symphony No. 3 ................
Summer Wind ....
You Won't Forget Me ............
Reference Recordings RR-25CD
Windham Hill Records WD-1039
Reference Recordings RR-12 CD
Proprius PRCD 7762
Telarc CD-80078
Dorian DOR-90001
L'Oiseau-Lyre 410 553-2
Telarc CD-80141
Philips 412 619-2
Telarc CD-80098
Chesky Records CD-13
Chesky Records CD-12
Pablo 3112-42
GRP Records GRD-9558
En Pointe ENP 0001
Concord Jazz CCD-4426
MA Recordings M017A
Verve 847-482-2
En Pointe ENP 0002
Bob James & Earl Klugh:
Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass:
Present Perfect ......................................
Diane Schuur and the
Count Basie Orchestra
Vollenweider:
Yellowjackets:
Rock and PopRock and Pop
Rock and Pop
Rock and PopRock and Pop
Greg Brown:
Dire Straits:
Sara Hickman:
Billy Idol:
Ricky Lee Jones:
Lyle Lovett:
Linda Ronstadt:
Paul Simon:
Steve Winwood:
Yellow:
Along with the introduction of CD came the record label samplers. These compilations are an excellent way to become
familiar with a wide variety of artists and genres of music. Ask the
"expert" at your favorite store for the names of artists or record
lables that produce the type of music which interests you.
Caverna Magica ....................
Shades ..............
Dream Cafe ..
Brothers in Arms .........
Short Stop ........................
Charmed Life ..........................
And His Large Band............
Round Midnight .............
Graceland ..................
Back in the High Life .......
Baby .....................................
One On One ........
................. GRP Records GRD-9550
MCA Records MCAD-5752
Red House Records RHRCD47
Warner Bros. 9 25264-2
Flying Cowboys ............
Warner Bros. 9 25447-2
Phonogram 848 791-2
CBS CK 36241
MPS 823 543-2
CBS MK 37827
Elektra 9 60964-2
Chrysalis F2 21735
Geffen 9 24246-2
MCA MCAD-42263
Asylum 9 60489-2
Island 9 25548-2
Stylos User's Manual
Page 23
Page 24
Glossary
ACAC
AC. Abbreviation for alternating
ACAC
current.
Active crossoverActive crossover
Active crossover. Uses active
Active crossoverActive crossover
devices (transistors, IC’s,
tubes) and some form of power
supply to operate.
AmplitudeAmplitude
Amplitude. The extreme range of a
AmplitudeAmplitude
signal. Usually measured from
the average to the extreme.
ArcArc
Arc. The visible sparks generated by
ArcArc
an electrical discharge.
BassBass
Bass. The lowest frequencies of
BassBass
sound.
Bi-AmplificationBi-Amplification
Bi-Amplification. Uses an electronic
Bi-AmplificationBi-Amplification
crossover or line-level passive
crossover and separate power
amplifiers for the high and low
frequency loudspeaker drivers.
CapacitanceCapacitance
Capacitance. That property of a
CapacitanceCapacitance
capacitor which determines how
much charge can be stored in it
for a given potential difference
between its terminals, measured
in farads, by the ratio of the
charge stored to the potential
difference.
CapacitorCapacitor
Capacitor. A device consisting of two
CapacitorCapacitor
or more conducting plates
separated from one another by an
insulating material and used for
storing an electrical charge.
Sometimes called a condenser.
ClippingClipping
Clipping. Distortion of a signal by its
ClippingClipping
being chopped off. An overload
problem caused by pushing an
amplifier beyond its capabilities.
The flat-topped signal has high
levels of harmonic distortion
which creates heat in a loudspeaker and is the major cause of
loudspeaker component failure.
CrossoverCrossover
Crossover. An electrical circuit that
CrossoverCrossover
divides a full bandwidth signal
into the desired frequency bands
for the loudspeaker components.
dB (decibel)dB (decibel)
dB (decibel). A numerical expres-
dB (decibel)dB (decibel)
sion of the relative loudness of a
sound. The difference in decibels
between two sounds is ten times
the common logarithm of the ratio
of their power levels.
DCDC
DC. Abbreviation for direct current.
DCDC
DiffractionDiffraction
Diffraction. The breaking up of a
DiffractionDiffraction
sound wave caused by some type
of mechanical interference such
as a cabinet edge, grill frame, or
other similar object.
DiaphragmDiaphragm
Diaphragm. A thin flexible mem-
DiaphragmDiaphragm
brane or cone that vibrates in
response to electrical signals to
produce sound waves.
DistortionDistortion
Distortion. Usually referred to in
DistortionDistortion
terms of total harmonic distortion
(THD) which is the percentage of
unwanted harmonics of the drive
signal present with the wanted
signal. Generally used to mean
any unwanted change introduced
by the device under question.
DriverDriver
Driver. See transducer.
DriverDriver
Dynamic RangeDynamic Range
Dynamic Range. The range
Dynamic RangeDynamic Range
between the quietest and the
loudest sounds a device can
handle (often quoted in dB).
EfficiencyEfficiency
Efficiency. The acoustic power
EfficiencyEfficiency
delivered for a given electrical
input. Often expressed as
decibels/watt/meter (dB/w/m).
ESLESL
ESL. Abbreviation for electrostatic
ESLESL
loudspeaker.
HeadroomHeadroom
Headroom. The difference, in
HeadroomHeadroom
decibels, between the peak and
RMS levels in program material.
HybridHybrid
Hybrid. A product created by the
HybridHybrid
marriage of two different technologies. Meant here as the
combination of a dynamic woofer
with an electrostatic transducer.
Hz (Hertz)Hz (Hertz)
Hz (Hertz). Unit of frequency
Hz (Hertz)Hz (Hertz)
equivalent to the number of
cycles per second.
ImagingImaging
Imaging. To make a representation
ImagingImaging
or imitation of the original sonic
event.
ImpedanceImpedance
Impedance. The total opposition
ImpedanceImpedance
offered by an electric circuit to the
flow of an alternating current of a
single frequency. It is a combination of resistance and reactance
and is measured in ohms.
Remember that a speaker’s
impedance changes with
frequency, it is not a constant
value.
InductanceInductance
Inductance. The property of an
InductanceInductance
electric circuit by which a varying
current in it produces a varying
magnetic field that introduces
voltages in the same circuit or in a
nearby circuit. It is measured in
henrys.
InductorInductor
Inductor. A device designed prima-
InductorInductor
rily to introduce inductance into
an electric circuit. Sometimes
called a choke or coil.
LinearityLinearity
Linearity. The extent to which any
LinearityLinearity
signal handling process is
accomplished without amplitude
distortion.
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Stylos User's Manual
Page 25
MidrangeMidrange
Midrange. The middle frequencies
MidrangeMidrange
where the ear is the most
sensitive.
Passive crossoverPassive crossover
Passive crossover. Uses no active
Passive crossoverPassive crossover
components (transistors, IC’s,
tubes) and needs no power
supply (AC, DC, battery) to
operate. The crossover in a
typical loudspeaker is of the
passive variety. Passive crossovers consist of capacitors,
inductors and resistors.
PhasePhase
Phase. The amount by which one
PhasePhase
sine wave leads or lags a second
wave of the same frequency. The
difference is described by the
term phase angle. Sine waves in
phase reinforce each other; those
out of phase cancel.
Pink noisePink noise
Pink noise. A random noise used in
Pink noisePink noise
measurements, as it has the
same amount of energy in each
octave.
PolarityPolarity
Polarity. The condition of being
PolarityPolarity
positive or negative with respect
to some reference point or object.
RMSRMS
RMS. Abbreviation for root mean
RMSRMS
square. The effective value of a
given waveform is its RMS value.
Acoustic power is proportional to
the square of the RMS sound
pressure.
ResistanceResistance
Resistance. That property of a
ResistanceResistance
conductor by which it opposes the
flow of electric current, resulting in
the generation of heat in the
conducting material, usually
expressed in ohms.
ResistorResistor
Resistor. A device used in a circuit
ResistorResistor
primarily to provide resistance.
ResonanceResonance
Resonance. The effect produced
ResonanceResonance
when the natural vibration
frequency of a body is greatly
amplified by reinforcing vibrations
at the same or nearly the same
frequency from another body.
SensitivitySensitivity
Sensitivity. Volume of sound
SensitivitySensitivity
delivered for a given electrical
input.
StatorStator
Stator. The fixed part forming the
StatorStator
reference for the moving diaphragm in a planar speaker.
THDTHD
THD. Abbreviation for total harmonic
THDTHD
distortion. (See Distortion.)
TIMTIM
TIM. Abbreviation for transient
TIMTIM
intermodulation distortion. (See
Distortion.)
TransducerTransducer
Transducer. Any of various devices
TransducerTransducer
that transmit energy from one
system to another, sometimes
one that converts the energy in
form. Loudspeaker transducers
convert electrical energy into
mechanical motion.
TransientTransient
Transient. Applies to that which lasts
TransientTransient
or stays but a short time. A
change from one steady-state
condition to another.
TweeterTweeter
Tweeter. A small drive unit designed
TweeterTweeter
to produce only high frequencies.
WavelengthWavelength
Wavelength. The distance mea-
WavelengthWavelength
sured in the direction of progression of a wave, from any given
point characterized by the same
phase.
White noiseWhite noise
White noise. A random noise used
White noiseWhite noise
in measurements, as it has the
same amount of energy at each
frequency.
WooferWoofer
Woofer. A drive unit operating in the
WooferWoofer
bass frequencies only. Drive units
in two-way systems are not true
woofers but are more accurately
described as being mid/bass
drivers.
Stylos User's Manual
Page 25
Page 26
Specifications
The Stylos hybrid speaker system
consists of a broad-range single
element electrostatic transducer
integrated with a quick-response
woofer. This approach takes
advantage of the benefits that both
technologies have to offer.
Dispersion is a controlled 30
degrees. This was achieved by
curving the electrostatic transducer
element itself, an elegantly simple
solution.
Frequency ResponseFrequency Response
Frequency Response
Frequency ResponseFrequency Response
55-20,000 Hz +/- 3dB
DispersionDispersion
Dispersion
DispersionDispersion
Horizontal: 30 degrees; Vertical 38" Line Source
SensitivitySensitivity
Sensitivity
SensitivitySensitivity
88dB 2.83 volts/1 meter
ImpedanceImpedance
Impedance
ImpedanceImpedance
Nominal: 4 ohms; Minimum: 2 ohms at 20,000 Hz
Crossover FrequencyCrossover Frequency
Crossover Frequency
Crossover FrequencyCrossover Frequency
700 Hz, 12dB per octave
Woofer TypeWoofer Type
Woofer Type
Woofer TypeWoofer Type
6.5" high rigidity cone with extended throw driver assembly, sealed enclosure
Power HandlingPower Handling
Power Handling
Power HandlingPower Handling
200 watts/channel
Recommended Amplifier PowerRecommended Amplifier Power
Recommended Amplifier Power
Recommended Amplifier PowerRecommended Amplifier Power
60 - 200 watts/channel
WeightWeight
Weight
WeightWeight
40 lbs. each
Page 26
SizeSize
Size
SizeSize
63.5 H x 10.5 W x 4.5 D
Stylos User's Manual
Page 27
Notes
Stylos User's Manual
Page 27
Page 28
$ 5.00$ 5.00
$ 5.00
$ 5.00$ 5.00
THE ELECTROSTATIC TECHNOLOGY
2001 delaware street
p.o. box 707
lawrence, kansas 66044
ph: 913.749.0133
© 1993
martin-logan ltd.martin-logan ltd.
martin-logan ltd. all rights reserved
martin-logan ltd.martin-logan ltd.
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