Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL Speaker Review
If you haven’t experienced electrostatic speakers at some point in your audio journey it’s something I can highly recommend. The wall of sound that hits you with a good setup is unlike anything you get from a traditional woofer or horn speaker. An unreal level of detail and speed is what I enjoy daily with my Magnepan 0.7 but if I had one criticism it’s that it needs some harder-hitting bass in certain genres.
Martin Logan thinks they have the solution for that and thus they released the Martin Logan Electromotion ESL Hybrid Electrostatic speaker we have for this review. Now ridiculously long name aside this is an interesting concept, a combination of the woofer and electrostatic that will hopefully lead us to get the best of both technologies.
The Concept
The concept is simple combine two technologies in one to create a more rounded and versatile speaker. Users of electrostatic speakers such as myself love the sound but regularly complain about insufficient bass impact. Martin Logan thinks they have found the solution by integrating a loudspeaker at the bottom of an electrostatic driver. In reality, this is a complicated process.
Matching frequencies, crossover, and overlap are extremely difficult. The goal is to create a cohesive sound that is well blended and acts together as one unit. Many companies fail when integrating driver types because you can hear distinctly that two or more drivers are in use.
The Electromotion ESL configuration is interesting and also very clever. A 34-inch curved electrostatic transducer sits atop a cabinet that houses an 8-inch cone woofer. The Electrostatic panel handles mid to high frequencies where the woofer is integrated for the lows. Martin Logan uses some ridiculously confusing marketing mumbo jumbo to discuss the handover between these frequencies.
Seriously have a read at this “ESL features a proprietary Vojtko™ topology filter utilizing custom air core coil and low DCR steel laminate inductors, polyester film capacitors in series, and low DF electrolytic capacitors in parallel.”
I really wonder if they know their primary demographic are regular people and not Nasa engineers. Their pompous self-flagellation aside whatever they did seemed to work.
What I can wrap my head around is the curved EST panel. Most EST speakers are flat which causes a few issues and benefits. The flat drivers can have sibilance and reflective issues depending on the environment. The curved driver on the Martin Logan allows for a bigger driver in a smaller space as well as curving the sound around to reduce direct reflection and make it easier to place them nearer walls without degradation to performance.
Lifting up the base on my review unit another clever feature is the downward firing bass port. Used on a hard surface I thought it was great but on softer surfaces, a different sound is produced.
Specification
Frequency: 42–22,000 Hz ±3dB
Power: 20—300 watts per channel
Sensitivity: 91 dB/2.83 volts/meter
Impedance: 6 OhmsCrossover Frequency
Driver Highs/Mids: XStat™ CLS™ electrostaic transducer (Panel Size: 34" x 8.6" inches : Area: 292 in²
Subwoofer: 8" paper cone with extended throw drive and bass reflex port
Inputs: Push style with banana jacks
Weight: 16.1 kg
Dimensions: 52.1" x 9" x 16.3 " (132.3cm x 22.9cm x 41.4cm)
Build + Aesthetic Impressions
The Electromotion ESL are not cheap speakers but in the world of audiophile speakers, they kind of are yet they certainly don’t feel that way. Personally, I think styling is a thing of beauty. They are imposing but look so unlike anything else that they become an instant conversation piece. The sharp angularity of the base is offset by the gentle curve of the upper.
The harsh black block on the bottom juxtaposed against the transparent grill of the transducer. It looks great and my only criticism is that they are only available in black, I think a lighter option would look even more impressive.
A mix of metal and wood are combined seamlessly and the finishing is of an extremely high standard. Fine details like the logo, quality of the banana grips, and the materials used on the bass port all show that attention to detail was in the design brief for the asl. '
Electrostatics are usually such delicate pieces of equipment that I’m often worried about them falling over when knocked but the bass unit weight means that will likely never happen and if they do the metal frame should be rigid enough to provide the transducer support.
Sound
Having both electrostatic speakers (Magnepan 0.7) and Dynamic speakers (KEF LS50 Meta) in my current setup (both combined with subwoofers gives me the ability to switch back and forth the Marting Logan Electromotion ESL and evaluate the pros and cons. After a couple of weeks of testing various setups, I think my conclusion is that they are excellent but won’t replace either of my setups.
Yes, the ESL is fantastic and for those looking to step up their speaker game, it provides an interesting and complete solution. My thinking is that they are not a better or worse technology but another tool to get the job done. Electrostatics will still be popular as well dynamics but what Martin Logan has done is show that this hybrid speaker can compete on the same level.
The speakers sound incredible a blend of impact and imaging. When you set them up for the first time and after letting them break in you are going to be wowed by that wall of sound effects but also by the impact of the lows. It’s the lows that make it stand out because nothing can match a large woofer for throwing volume and impact.
Yet the lows being present doesn’t display in deep sub-bass rumble, there are occasions where pairing with a subwoofer may be fun but unlike with normal electrostatic I have used in the past I don’t think it’s necessary. I can happily live with the amount of bass-driven by the ESL whereas with my Magnepan I need to have my subwoofer at hand for watching movies or listening to EDM.
The midrange displays striking clarity and separation. Micro detail is outstanding with strings and vocals explosive with natural spacing and realism outputting sound in a way that you can almost turn your head to listen closer.
Despite the often raw expression of vocals on EST drivers, the Martin logan has some warmth and intimacy to them that makes for an easy-going and non-fatiguing listen.
The highs are just wow. I think this might be my favorite point of the speakers as I am somewhat of a treble head. Nots in the upper frequencies just sound so clear, open, and light. The speed is outstanding and the ability to space such notes apart from the mids is beautiful. I almost feel as if the highs are floating and dissipating.
Now, you can probably tell I am a big fan of the sound but I think it’s important to mention the caveats. The speakers are very sensitive with just 6 ohms resistance but I found them scaling with power.
I would say they are definitely source dependent and that they are so revealing they are also very source file dependent. These speakers a ruthless and unforgiving on poorly mastered tracks. They have to finesse to make bad recordings sound very very bad indeed.
The other area is that as with most Electrostatic speakers how they sound is very dependent on positioning and root planing. The curved EST panel does allow you to place them closer to a wall than with a flat panel but I still suggest leaving a little room.
For me, I found optimal performance around 1 meter from the back of the base to the wall was sufficient. The listening distance minimum for me was 4 meters.
Positives
An all-in-one solution to enhancing bass on EST transducers
Stunning looks and high-level finishing
Detailed sound with great imaging
Remains good value despite the high price tag
Negatives
Not better or worse than existing technologies
Sound quality is dependent on source material (unforgiving)
In some cases, a stand-alone sub-woofer is still required (EDM & Action Movies)
Final Thoughts
If I didn’t already have both a set of electrostatic and dynamic speakers I may actually consider the Martin Logan Electromotion ESL hybrids. I think the solution to the bass on ESTs is elegantly solved here and done so in a way it doesn’t suffer from crossover issues. The sound is really something when you consider it is coming out of a single speaker pairing with no additional subwoofer.
It gives you all that electrostatic goodness but delivers a little extra punch making it more versatile. I think if you just want one very high-resolution speaker set without messing around with subs then this is a very good solution that looks fantastic and is very well priced.
Official website of Martin Logan ESL: www.martinlogan.com
