Martin Logan Aeons help?

Another newbie (on a very restrictive budget) discovers Martin Logan - Aeons. HoBoy! They sounded magnificent in the dealers 'ideal setting'. From reading all the forum inputs - I have a LOT to learn.

I suppose I'll start with the room which is comprised of a one car garage (concrete block) which doubles as an office, dog room and naturally features a ceramic floor for maximum accoustic reflection. It measures 11 x 8 x 18. TV is a 36" Flat screen IN the skinny far wall - mostly sticks into the laundry room.

Have a Sony STR-DA4ES 7 channel receiver, 110 watts per channel. Sony CDP-CX455 400 CD unit. For now, its quantity and random disc shuffle - we're always working on some project in the house. Direct TV for movies at night. Eventually will pick up a DVD/SACD.

Saw a set of used Ascents. Too much speaker for my limited room? Will the 7ES have enough power for these speakers (or the Aeons?)

The speakers will have to be within 2' of the TV wall. At maximum width (11') one speaker will be in front of the open doorway to the laundry room. I can put sound absorbing materials behind the other.

Good googa mooga! I can't believe the discussion on cabling! Suggestions?

Looking ahead, am I better off to get the Cinema and Scripts or the Theater as the next step? Or do I move the Aeon's to the rear and get Ascent's?

Appreciate any insight and enlightment regarding my dilema.

Thanx in advance and Happy New Year to one and all!

The Captain

Agree with the above posts: TUBES with Martin Logan's are a must. The improvement was dramatic for me.... I have the model that was replaced by the Aeon's (the Aerius i), and 80 watts of tube power was plenty.

The VTL IT85 is an awesome integrated tube amp, with 80 wpc, the ability to later be biamped to another VTL ST85 (so you can double the power), has a pre-out, and a processor-in... this is a very versatile and awesome sounding integrated, especially if you're looking to use it for home theatre.

Have a similar dilemma. Have Aeons, then went ahead and got the Cinema and Scripts. Now I need new electronics, preferably multichannel. Would a Rotel 1095 (200w x 5) do the job? Some say the combo might be too analytical, yet others say it might be too laid back. Or should I go up the ladder and go for Classe (or further up, to EAD)?

Although I prefer tubes (and that's what I use), I also have a Classe CA200 (ie transistors) and it is excellent. I don't think one necessarily NEEDS tubes, especially if your family is like mine and does not want to wait while they warm up, etc.

ggabert: I think you should start with a thick rug and some wall treatments, no matter what speakers you end up with. You arne't likely to be too satisified with ML speakers if you MUST put them 2 feet from a wall - they sound flat and the image does not form well (and others think they sound even worse than I just described). This is just an unfortunate fact of life with ML's design.

I own Request's, Scripts and Cinema. I ended up purchasing a Sunfire Cinema Grand to use as the amp. It had two BIG things going for it:

1. Price - very cost effective on Audiogon
2. Very efficient with speakers that require < 2 ohms.

I listened to a number of amps, including krells and tubes before purchasing the Sunfire. The price / performance was not there for me. There may be better - but this is good - for now...

Also, I found that speaker placement with this system is really important. Just a BLW suggests, make sure you take room acoustics into account.