Martin Logan
Martin Logan
MartinLogan, the sound of electrostatic
MartinLogan is an American loudspeaker manufacturer founded in Lawrence, Kansas, by Gayle Martin Sanders and Ron Logan Sutherland: the company's name comes from their middle names. The brand has been associated with electrostatic loudspeakers and thin-film technology since its inception, and its guiding philosophy is summed up in the motto "Truth in Sound." Since 2019, the company has been owned by Scott and John Bagby, founders of Paradigm, and its electrostatic loudspeakers are produced at its factory in Mississauga, Canada.
Technologies: CLS, XStat and Folded Motion
The heart of the electrostatic models is the CLS (Curvilinear Line-Source) curvilinear panel, developed to solve the problem of high-frequency dispersion typical of flat panels: the horizontal curvature widens the listening area without sacrificing the lightness of the diaphragm. In the most recent models, the transducer is called XStat.
For its cone speakers, MartinLogan developed the Folded Motion tweeter, a thin membrane folded like an accordion that pushes air by compressing and expanding its folds. This technology brings the speed and detail of electrostatics to the Motion Series; in the Motion XT Series, the second-generation version has a larger radiating surface and is combined with Nomex-reinforced Kevlar midrange drivers.
The series
The catalog is organized into tiers. ElectroMotion combines electrostatic panels and dynamic woofers in home-sized cabinets. Motion XT is the pinnacle of the Motion family, Motion is the mid-range, and Motion Foundation is the entry-level model, bringing many of the brand's technologies to more accessible prices. At the top of the line is the Masterpiece series, the benchmark electrostatics.
The MartinLogans available from us
Among the electrostatic speakers you will find the new ElectroMotion ESL, in matte black and gloss black, and the ElectroMotion ESL X, also in matte black and gloss black, which adopt the larger XStat panel combined with two 8-inch woofers.
The Motion XT Series includes the new Motion XT F100 and F200 floorstanding speakers, the Motion XT B100 bookshelf speaker, and the Motion XT C100 center channel speaker. The Motion Series includes the new Motion F10 and F20 floorstanding speakers, the Motion B10 bookshelf speakers, the Motion C10 center channel speaker, and the Motion Stand 25 stands. The Foundation Series includes the new Foundation F1 and F2 floorstanding speakers, the Foundation B1 and B2 bookshelf speakers, and the Foundation C1 center channel speaker.
How to choose
An electrostatic speaker requires careful positioning: the panel also radiates backwards and must be placed at a certain distance from the rear wall, in exchange for a wide soundstage and transparency that are difficult to achieve otherwise. If the room allows, the ElectroMotions are the most direct way to hear the brand's signature; the ESL X is suitable for larger rooms.
If you need speakers that are easier to place, the Motion series offers the Folded Motion tweeter in traditional cabinets: the Foundation for mid-range systems, the Motion for a step up, and the Motion XT when you want the best in the family. The bookshelf versions work well in small rooms, while the floorstanding ones handle larger volumes and rooms. The inclusion of center speakers in each series makes it easy to build a seamless home theater system.
Buy MartinLogan from Audiocostruzioni
In the listening room of our Carpi showroom, you can listen to MartinLogan speakers and evaluate their pairing with amplification. Models can also be ordered online at audiocostruzioni.com with shipping. We'll advise you on selection and placement in-store or by email, and we'll evaluate your current components for trade-ins.
