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Differences among the electrostatics of Martin Logan models?

I recently heard a pair of Martin Logan ESL13's (Expression), and loved them, but they are way out of my budget.  I understand the electrostatic portion of the ESL 9 is nearly identical, and that got me thinking about pairing one of the many models of used MLs (eg ESL X, EM-ESL, Ascent, Sequel, Scenario, EFX, etc) with a good subwoofer.  Does anyone know which models of ML use the same electrostatic section as the 9's and 13's?  Which older models would have noticeably inferior electrostatics, and which should just be avoided? 
cheeg

Showing 1 response by ledoux1238

ledoux1238
316 posts
 
I am looking into ML 11’s. The dealer near me didn’t have a pair on hand, so he suggested the ESL X, from the Electromotion series. I was not impressed. The one aspect that bothered me the most was the disjointed  nature of the upper range with the bass. Two weeks later, the 11’s were set up in his shop. Although their placement was not optimized, the sound from the 11’s was totally different from the ESL X’s. The sound was of one piece, bass + upper range, probably similar to the 13’s that you heard.

I believe it is a mistake to go the ESL X route, not I in the same league as the Masterpiece series. I don’t know about the Summit or other similar range past models. If price is the issue, perhaps you should consider the 9’s. After much research, I have moved my gaze from the 11’s to the 9’s.


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