Thread: Electrostatic Speakers

Hello Sharkies! Been around the forum scene for quite a while, and just joined this forum and thought I offer my thoughts on some equipment I just bought: the speakers and the cables that came with it.

I couldn’t afford brand new speakers, and thought I’d try a different type speaker as opposed to my B&W 805 Diamond speakers. My dealer has loaned me Marten Logan Quest Z electrostatic speakers, as well as TARA Labs “The One” cables for this purpose. Right away I could hear a difference in sounds between the B&W and The ML. My B&W definitely have more punch to them, and the bass is quite remarkable. (this works great when I’m listening to my classic rock collection) What I found interesting was the way the ML speakers had a sound that seemed to encompass the whole room. Like a wall of sound (courtesy of Phil Spector) If you’ve never heard a good pair of electrostatic speakers, then I’d urge you to try and listen to some if you can. Really a whole new world out there. The cables that my dealer loaned me where TARA Labs. Though I’ve heard of them before, I haven’t really seen any advertising in any magazines showing off new models etc. I saw them in Stereophile Recommended components issues. I’ve always used Wireworld cables in my system before and do love them. I will say that I immediately heard a difference when I put the TARA Labs cables in my system. The high frequencies were insane to say the least. As a matter of fact, the Marten Logans with those cables really expanded when I put Dark side of the moon on (180gm vinyl) Anyone out there have any experience with electrostatic speakers?

-Brian J.

Originally Posted by Audioseduction

Hi Brian, I've owned several MLs in the past decade and currently have a pair of Summit Xs. I also use Tara Labs The One speaker, interconnects and power cords for my entire 2CH system. For my taste I have not heard a pair of speakers which presents such a virtual live setting that is very emotional and pleasing. Congrats on your listening experience with the MLs. They are magic! ENJOY!

Thank youAudioseduction, for your comments. I appricaite your remarks on theTARA Labs cables. I too love them! I didn’t mention it in my postbut also use TARA Labs The One power cable as well. I read that theyhave a new series called Evolution, have you heard them yet?Stereophile just recommended the TL interconnects, though I willnever afford their price. But if I had the money…. Ahhh! How do theSummit X’s sound?

Originally Posted by Albert

I use Acoustat 2+2 speakers with several types of cables (Audience Au24e for the turntable and phono amp, Tetra Artet for digital sources and LectraLine Xe between pre and power amps). I still use Axiom Audio speaker cable, though.

I really like the wide soundstage and imaging one gets with electrostats along with the fast transients. Bass is not bad with Acoustats, very fast and clean but not the most powerful. It does work very well for most types of music but not the best for heavy metal. I love acoustic music and vocals which sound amazing.

Thank you Albert.I don’t ever read about heavy metal audiophiles, but suppose thereare some out there. Me being one of them

ABC Audio - I remember my first experience with Electrostatics - the second from the top of the line Martin Logan Odyssey (the Statement I would hear later) and you practically had to scoop my jaw up off the floor the impressed me so much. The smaller ones retained some of the magic but ultimately they fell apart on amplified music and the prices were so high that giving up all amplified music was too difficult. The driver mismatch also didn't help and was for me distracting. I looked to ribbon based panels but they never had any of the ESL magic of the MLs, SoundLabs, KingSound, or Quads. KingSound I like on the more affordable end of the ESL range and SoundLab is arguably the best of the big expensive ones.

I have the Martin Logan CLXs and Decenti subs with Cardas clear wire Electrostatics if set up right and as good as you can afford up stream do offer some great music. I have not heard your Tara wire glad you like your Martin Logans I to think they have a lot of magic for the price. If you have the right room they are a bargain IMO.

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

The Summit-X's macrodynamics are very good, arguably among the best of any electrostatic speaker. The Summit-X's macrodynamics are no match, however, for the better dynamic speakers. But you're paying for micro, not macro-dynamics, when you buy the MLs.

Myles a few years ago when I was shopping for speakers I agree with you that their were dynamic speakers that were better than the CLXs. Trouble was they were a lot more money unless I am a poor shopper . What the CLXs do good they do very well. If you set them up right in a room that works with them I do not think electrostatics can be beat at there price point.

As with all gear electrostatics are going up in price and getting better to boot. Have you heard a Dynamic speaker as good as a electrostatic at the same price point . If you could.

I agree with the short comings of electrostatics Bass, pairing with amps and size what are your thoughts

I think it is largely what your ear gravitates to as to what is better and personally I fond most of the audiophile related verbiage leads many down the wrong path. Time and again I read people focusing on elements of the sound spectrum as in A has a bigger soundstage than B, or more macro-dynamics or better imaging or cleaner bass or whatever.

Most audio really comes down to one's own personal assessment of the "gestalt" of the overall reproduction. I am in the process of building an all Audio Note system and before becoming a reviewer one of their top rigs basically destroyed every system I heard before it. A decade later and 6 years of reviewing later and hearing probably 300 more systems and none of it has really changed my mind though at least now there is a horse-race. But it is a "different" sound and it's not going to grab people as it grabbed me. Electrostatics I understand at least. They present music in an electrostatic way and if you buy in then I should imagine it would be a difficult course to leave. Just as the best horns are able to do things that really nothing else does. (If I had the space and the massive bank account I'd go down that road).

But to me the arguments over - X has more bass or X has superior dynamics misses the point. Maybe. Plenty of speakers will out-bass or out micro-dynamic speakers that I like a lot more. Plenty of forests may speakers may have nicer trees here and there but the overall forest creates the larger overall impact. And price paid has little to do with the results for me. There are speakers that use fantastic lingo and hi tech drivers and they sound very impressive and I usually note something like wow what a wet treble but while it is cool and all - I notice it.

Personally, I'm a bit of a speaker slut. I have really liked some Stats and some horns and some traditional kind of LE slim tower like speakers. Ultimately, my preference for sound quality gravitates to SET amps so that eliminates a lot of speakers.