Martin Logan Summit

While I myself have not run the Summits, I am somewhat familiar with the demands of these speakers and also with MLs to a much lesser degree.

First thing is you should check out the ML owners site (just google it and it will show up first) and you will get very good feedback on this.

I think you will likely need something high current and high power with the ability to manage a low ohm load. A Krell would be one example of such an amp. If you are running something in the mid level range of amps (ie. Rotel, Adcom, B&K, etc. . .) the amp is not likely to hold up to the demands and the result is exactly as you describe.

...i have a friend that has 'summits' and ..as ckoffend suggested,.uses krells' to drive his and the match is great...no clipping at any level...hope this helps..

You might want to check out the Innersound amps. They were designed for this exact purpose, and they really are quite good. Their output remains steady all the way down to 1/2 ohm. There are several currently listed at great prices.

I'm running a Pass Labs X250 with a pair of ML reQuests, which are MUCH harder to drive than the Summits and they are a wonderful match.

Also, a couple of guys on the ML Club site are using Plinius with very very good results too...

I've heard the Innersound amps are phenomenal with stats too, but haven't had the pleasure..

Martin Logan uses Mac and Parasound Halo equipment at the Audio shows, so those are two other brands that mate well..

Sunfire gear is also a good match..

Lots of options..

Tom
MartinLoganOwners.com

I also am running ML ReQuests. I've used Levinson ML334, Plinius SA102, Plinius SA 250 MK IV, and a BAT VK250 with the bat pak. The speakers didn't really keep up with the rest of the theater until i moved to the big plinius. With that amp i overdrove the room before the speakers or the amp even blinked. I got bored and moved to the BAT. I am having the same experience with it as the plinius, except that the imaging and depth have audibly increased.

I do like to listen loud, and these speakers are very transparent. You will end up driving them very loud before you get the same kind of 'full' feeling you get from traditional drivers.

So...relative to your experiences. The levinson and the smaller plinius would not drive the speakers to a level I was happy with. I was worried that i would cause either speaker damage or hearing damage with the SA250. I think that may have been because the Plinius had just an edge to it that made me feel they were stressing. With the BAT, the system seems effortless, and i drive the system to the level i like to listen without any feeling that they are stressing.

Hope that helps.