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Best speakers to replace Martin Logan CLS

I am fortunate to have possessed a pair of ML CLS IIz for the last 10 years. They’re in an open living room (extends to kitchen and also the rest of the main floor of the house ~ 1400 sq ft). I love the sound and I listen to a lot of acoustic/jazz. I feel like the more power I feed them the better they sound. They’re being powered by 200W @ 8ohm Monolith amp. I’m also using 3 subs with it with crossover set at 80Hz. Although they sound great but I always worry the panels will go bad at any time due to their age. I do not plan to replace the panels if they go bad, but rather I’d like to replace them with a different pair of similar or better sounding speakers. From what I’ve read, these seem to be the speakers that I might like: Harbeth 40.1(2), Eminent Technology LFT-8b, used Soundlab Majestic 545, used and restored Quad ESL 57. I’ve ruled out Magnepans due to WAF. I almost bought a pair of Apogee Duette Sigs after hearing but backed out due to similar concerns with the CLS (panels will go bad at some point). I’ve also looked at some other speakers like Revel Studio2, Focal Sopra No2, Legacy Audio Focus/Signature, Spatial Audio, but I’m not sure since I’ve never heard them. Budget is up to $10k (prefer to buy used) but probably would like to stay under $5K. Please advise.
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bsandovalb's avatar
bsandovalb
8 posts
 
If you love your CLS... keep them... they just do some things that any other speaker can (magic)... I agree with you on buying a second set of speakers so you can play with two different set ups...

I also have a pair of CLS2, with new panels... and they are outstanding. Just bought a pair of Sound Anchor stands and see how they improve.

Since someone mentioned Usher, I have the BE10 and are lovely sounding, have deep and great bass, and the beryllium mids/tweeter is very sweet (I also have other ushers with the Diamond tweeter, but prefer the BE)... one advantage of the BE10s is that they are very stable at 8 ohms, so they play exceptionally good with any amp I throw at them... have used from 22w SET tube amp to 300W solid state, and a lot in between... all sounding great, so it is a very nice speaker to rotate electronics...

You cannot have just one set of speakers, you need at least another flavor !! :P

emailists
923 posts
 
You’ve answered your own question.  

You are clearly an electrostatic fan and are okay with the space they require.

The Soundlab 545 is the obvious answer and you have the subs to extend their Low frequency.

Doubt you’ll find them used however.

While I haven’t heard them, I’m quite familiar with other Soundlabs and supposedly their latest tech has really helped with dynamics and bass.  Read some of the reviews and please let us know what you decide.  
dorningarts
17 posts
 
I love Martin Logan, one speaker I heard recently that had similar clarity and a real effortless sound is the Paradigm Persona, frankly they blew me away, and I think the dynamics would better the Logans. Just a thought, a very personal thing, speakers:)
arjunm
3 posts
 
I have had the original Martin Logan CLS (1s) since 1988 and last changed the panel in 2002/3 as I was renovating our house and felt the panels got damaged in the move. At that time I coordinated with Jim Powers at ML and he also refreshed my electronics/power supply. Since then these speakers have been performing and enhancing my enjoyment. I have powered them with Audio Research D-70 Mk.II, Music Reference RM-9 Mk.2 and now the CAT JL5 (Black Path). They provide that magic that very few other speakers do. Over the years I tried the B&W 801's, Hales Reference etc. and now I did pick up the German Physiks Unlimited and have it in a second set up, but I just keep coming back to the CLS. I am considering a used ML Renaissance but we will see. In 2011, when ML announced that they will not mass produce the panels of CLS's anymore I panicked and bought a pair of spare panels as insurance which I have not had the need to use as yet. If you take reasonable care these panels last forever.
Enjoy them as there is no real replacement.

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