Martin Logan in the house!

**Sonnie** · **11-05-07, 11:05 PM**

Got the Ascent i's in today... gorgeous speakers! Unfortunately a minor scratch during shipping. The box side had a huge hole in it and you could clearly see about an inch or so scratch on the side of the speaker. Obviously it will not effect performance, but would hurt resale value if I ever did decide to sell them.

Got them setup and I must say, even with the Denon, awesome is not a fair enough word. I believe I have finally found what I've been looking for. It did take a little setup time, but I dialed them in and they are just simply awesome. As I was coming back inside to get something, my wife went out and checked them out while I had David Gilmour in Concert playing. When I got back in the room, her response was, "Those sound good, you are going to keep those aren't you?"

I've worked out a deal on an Anthem AVM-50 and MCA-50 combo. Sweet! A dream is happening! I can't wait to get it all in and setup. I think I'm gonna be happy!

**F1 fan** · **11-05-07, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

I've worked out a deal on an Anthem AVM-50 and MCA-50 combo.

WOW

with this combo and the ML's you are playing in the big leagues Mr.

Quote:

I think I'm gonna be happy!

If these new toys don't do it for you then you better just give up the hobby altogether.

**thxgoon** · **11-06-07, 02:44 AM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

I've worked out a deal on an Anthem AVM-50 and MCA-50 combo. Sweet!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttt!!!!!!! Any pics yet?

**Sonnie** · **11-06-07, 08:45 AM**

Thanks guys! No pics yet... waiting on everything to get here. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll have everything in and all setup.

**Bob_99** · **11-06-07, 12:25 PM**

Along with all the other previous posters, congratulations on the newest member of the family. That technology always fascinated me and I almost bought some MLs but for some strange reason I just had this notion in my mind that the electrostatic construction would end up cover with animal hair (two dogs and a cat). It's probably just one of my many crazy moments.

Bob

**jerome** · **11-06-07, 12:31 PM**

Quote:

Bob_99 wrote:

...but for some strange reason I just had this notion in my mind that the electrostatic construction would end up cover with animal hair (two dogs and a cat). It's probably just one of my many crazy moments.

Electrostatic loudspeakers are so easy to clean: you only have to vacuum clean them once in a while. Another solution is to play VERY loud to get the dust off the membrane ...

**Sonnie** · **11-06-07, 12:40 PM**

lol... There ain't a brave enough animal to come in my HT room...

We do have a cat, but he has never graced us with his presence in the HT room since it's dedicated.

**Bob_99** · **11-06-07, 12:58 PM**

Quote:

We do have a cat, but he has never graced us with his presence in the HT room since it's dedicated.

Another advantage to the dedicate room folk.

Bob

**Sonnie** · **11-22-07, 05:39 PM**

Here's a pic... kinda dark. I guess I need to get a bright light and place in there while I'm taking the pic. The flash isn't enough. I'll also take some close ups of my gear later on. This is practice.

The sound is definitely what I've been looking for... it has finally arrived!

**mike c** · **11-22-07, 06:15 PM**

when you talk about improvement in sound, is it just with music? or did HT improve as well?

**Sonnie** · **11-22-07, 09:22 PM**

It's hard to tell with movies... or at least I haven't really noticed a significant difference. I've only watched a couple of movies and neither were anything special. I just got the center connected today and listened to a little bit of the Eagles, but there was no center information with PCM. I'm not sure if I change it to DTS if there is center info or not, but that DVD sounds quite a bit better than it has on anything else and significantly better than the Boston's. I watched about 5 minutes of Transformers but it wasn't enough to determine anything. I also watched a couple of tracks of David Gilmour before I had the center... awesome... just awesome. The guitar just sounds sooooo much different through the ML's... it's definitely a sound I like. I don't know how to describe it... maybe crisp and openess... I just don't know, but I like it a lot.

I'll update my thoughts once I've watched a few more movies.

I do know that on the front row, the middle seat is the only one that sounds so sweet. The side seats are good, but not like the center seat. When I move to the back row they sound pretty good all across.

**jerome** · **11-23-07, 12:31 AM**

From your picture, it seems that you have rotated your speakers too much towards the listening position. Did you position your speakers using the lamp test as described by ML?

I'm asking you that because I also tried to point my speakers towards me and the result was a reduced stage and minimized sweet spot.

Finally, ML speakers sound better with space around them. It's not always possible but I would recommend to try to move them from the side walls as far as you can. Finding the perfect location is not easy but the results of a few minor modifications can be greater than expected

**Sonnie** · **11-23-07, 02:05 AM**

Never heard of the lamp test... I didn't see that in the manual. I read 1/3 inside viewed from listening position. I had them toed out more, but they sounded better toed in as they are from the sweet spot. No matter how I toed them there was no sweet spot outside of the center front seat. The back row outside seats sounded better than the front row.

Can't move them any further from the walls. There is only a few inches before they would be in the view between sitting in one of the outside front row seats and the screen. It's hard to tell from that picture. I can take a pic from one of those seats and show you what I mean though.

**jerome** · **11-23-07, 02:27 AM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

Never heard of the lamp test... I didn't see that in the manual. I read 1/3 inside viewed from listening position. I had them toed out more, but they sounded better toed in as they are from the sweet spot. No matter how I toed them there was no sweet spot outside of the center front seat. The back row outside seats sounded better than the front row.

You can find the description on page 10 of this manual:
http://www.no.martinlogan.com/pdf/ma...nual_vista.pdf
The main reason for using a flashlight (or laser) is that you can accurately see and adjust the speaker placement.
Now if you say that they sound best the way they are on the picture then don't move them. Just trying to help

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

Can't move them any further from the walls. There is only a few inches before they would be in the view between sitting in one of the outside front row seats and the screen. It's hard to tell from that picture. I can take a pic from one of those seats and show you what I mean though.

I have the same problem at home but I decided to prioritize the 2-channel system. And anyway, even if we are several watching a good movie, I always sit in the middle seat on my sofa !!!!

**Sonnie** · **11-23-07, 02:34 AM**

For a movie it's not as big of a deal since the bulk of it comes from the center. Music and concert DVDs is where the outside front row seat is not as good.

Thanks for the tip... I'll check it out anyway.

**Captain Crunch** · **11-23-07, 07:25 AM**

Outstanding set up Sonnie.
Iv never hear ML's but I hear they are truly great speakers.
Congrats on the new speakers and enjoy them man!

**thxgoon** · **11-24-07, 01:11 PM**

Wow sonnie those look just awesome! They must sound just incredible. I heard ML's years back and was always impressed with their sound. Try some movies with good instrumental tracks and I bet you'll hear the difference. Something like Gladiator, Independence Day, Dearly Beloved (Beethoven movie), Apollo 13, The Perfect Storm or anything scored by James Horner or Hanz Zimmer. Enjoy! I know a lot of us are drooling

**Sonnie** · **11-24-07, 03:57 PM**

Thanks guys!

I watched Live Free and Die Hard last night and I noticed quite a difference. The screen seems like it's much wider... it's like the sound comes from the entire front wall, but then voice dialog is still where it should be. Any music is big and broad... wide soundstage. Definitely a difference. Off axis for a movie was still very good as well.

Btw... LFDH is one awesome movie for bass and surround sound... maybe even the best I've heard... at least up there with the very best.

**Captain Crunch** · **11-25-07, 12:38 PM**

I agree it was a very good movie for LFE and surround. I'd say it's just right below Transformers. To my ears anyway.
But both are great movies to show off your speakers and subs to your friends.

**John S** · **11-25-07, 07:23 PM**

Congrats Sonnie. I am sooooo jealous. I'll never forget a few years ago I took a favorite CD over to a friend's to hear his MartinLogans. I don't know what the model was, but they looked just like yours. After I heard the first 5 seconds of that CD I knew what the definition of "mid-fi" was--which was the stuff I was listening to in my house. A true revelation.

**conchyjoe7** · **11-28-07, 02:39 PM**

Sonnie:
First, congrats on the new speakers! I have no doubt that you will love them. That said, I think many of the amps you are looking at are under powered for what the MLs "need". Do what I did...if you can't afford both at first, buy that Parasound HCA-2205AT and you will be thrilled. It is powerful as need be (385wpc @ 4 ohms), and delivers a LOT of current (60 ampere peaks per channel) which the MLs will love and IMHO need. Later, you can go and get a Parasound 2 channel HCA-2200 mk II which will give you 400wpc @ 4 ohms and 90...yep 90 ampere peaks per channel for that ultimate "musicians in the house" listening experience. While I do not have MLs, my Aerial 10Ts also require a lot of current and amps that can smoothly sail over low impedence bumps...The Parasounds will do that in spades and sound as good as all but the priciest of amplifiers (and I'm talking automobile priced amplifiers).
Let us know what you do, but do not buy an amp rated at 125wpc into 8 ohms, they won't cut it with those bad boy speakers (not even in their 4 ohm modes)!

Cheers,
Konky.
Oops...guess I should have kept reading before suggesting, as you have made your decision and a very wise one at that. You can do no better than what you have...

**Sonnie** · **11-28-07, 06:33 PM**

Thanks John and Konky... it is a very nice setup indeed.

I agree too Konky... less power would not have been the logical choice. The Anthem gear proves the Denon just wasn't enough.

**ACGREEN** · **11-28-07, 10:50 PM**

congrats on the speakers. I looked long and hard the ML's before going B&W and KEF. You can't go wrong.

**Sonnie** · **11-28-07, 11:51 PM**

Thanks AC!

**yourgrandma** · **11-29-07, 11:44 PM**

I remember listening to the ml prodigies when Audio King carried them (Think I was 15...) and I was very impressed with how lifelike they sounded. Plus who could deny the cool factor. They are beautiful.

I was always told that the martins sound best in a very large room, Im just curious, how big is your room, and can you tell if there is any reason to believe youre not getting the most out of them due to limited space?

Congrats. I love getting new gear. I would love to be able to pick up a whole set of speakers in one swoop. It took me seven years to put together my setup. Good thing I like how the DefTechs sound (for the price anyway)

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