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Martin Logan Vista spks versus Maggie 1.7 speakers. Best speaker for medium size room??

The Martin Logan Vista speaker has been discontinued; however, it always seems to be recommended over the Martin Logan  ESL-EM  which is less expensive, but not the Magneplanar 1.7 or the .7 speaker.  I am curious about "thinking outside box",  that is getting away from a traditional box speaker, for a more open,musical and transparent sound. 

Therefore, I need some input about which of the speakers cited above might work best in a 12X15 living room that opens into kitchen/ dining area that is 12X22.  As you know both the Magneplanar 1.7 and especially new .7 have received good reviews, and often are recommended on this blog

Even though the  ML Vista is discontinued, there are usually one or two pairs for sale on Audiogon. I don't want to eliminate this model because it has been discontinued, but I don't really know what took its place   Thank you.    

sunnyjim

Showing 4 responses by bdp24

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,158 posts
 
One that isn't mentioned much is the Eminent Technology LFT-8b, which are $2499/pr. A hybrid magnetic-planar/dynamic woofer with a x/o frequency at 180Hz. A really good speaker for the price. 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,158 posts
 

All of the above is excellent advice. Though 3ft. is given as the minimum distance planars should be from the wall behind them, acoustic theory suggests a minimum of 5ft. is actually more like it. That allows for the arrival time at your ears of the direct (from the front of the panels) and reflected (from the wall behind them) sound to be perceived as separate events by your brain, rather than as a single, blurred one. Sound travels at about one foot per millisecond, and acoustic events need to be no less than about ten milliseconds apart to be perceived separately (the precedence effect). With a panel 5’ from the wall, the sound from it’s backside, after being reflected from that wall, will reach your ears ten milliseconds (5’ + 5’) after the sound directly from the front of the panel. The reflected sound will therefore be heard as an event separate from the direct sound, which is what is wanted.

You should also know that, when the rear wave arrives back at the panel, that wave will contain certain frequencies that are in opposite polarity to the same frequencies currently being produced by the panel, the two therefore cancelling (+1 plus -1 = 0). It’s complicated! If you go with a panel speaker, do so knowing a fair amount of trial-and-error adjustment will be required to get the best sound from them in your room. It’s worth it---planars rule!

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,158 posts
 
Jim, Brooks Berdan Ltd. is an Eminent Technology dealer, and last time I was there they had a pair of LFT-8b to listen to. Some people prefer it to the 1.7, roughly the same price. The ET features push-pull design as opposed to the single ended 1.7, and is crossover-less between 180Hz and 10kHz, quite a feat!. It is a hybrid, with an 8" cone woofer for 180Hz and below. Though both magnetic planar speakers, they sound somewhat different. The ET website has some pro reviews of the speaker. Well worth a trip to BBL in Monrovia, just down the 210 freeway about ten miles East of Pasadena, to hear for yourself. I bought a pair from Sheila!
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,158 posts
 
Yeah, that's a problem for a lot of us! The thing is, a lot of good box speakers also need to be away from walls and corners, though perhaps not as far as planars.
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