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Martin Logan Theos

71.175.52.139
Posted on August 25, 2015 at 11:01:13
mike555
Audiophile

Posts: 261
Joined: November 7, 2007
 I have an opportunity to buy a pair of almost new Martin Logan Theos speakers for a tremendous value ($1500) from a neighbor who is moving. I am not sure that they are a good fit for my listening room or amplification setup. My listening room is just 14' x 9' x 9'. My amp is a McIntosh MC-2105, which is conservatively rated at 105 watts per channel. Are these speakers going to overpower my room or be too demanding for my amp?

Thanks,
Mike

 

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RE: Martin Logan Theos, posted on August 25, 2015 at 11:35:43
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 In your room the amp is sufficient and while the speakers are going to have more bass than you might be used to with a full planar, bass traps or room EQ will solve any problem you might have there. It is only an 8" woofer so I don't think you will be overwhelming the room. If you have the option of running them on the short wall pulled well into the room you will have good results.

If you do end up feeling the setup is too much then you could sell the speaker without a loss. Considering the opportunity of a local purchase at a very good price of a relatively young model and speaker then I would do it if finances allow.

 

RE: Martin Logan Theos, posted on August 25, 2015 at 11:37:32
mike555
Audiophile

Posts: 261
Joined: November 7, 2007
 Thanks Satie. Yes I can set them up on the short wall, so this should be fine.

 

good opportunity, posted on August 25, 2015 at 13:23:10
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 6062
Joined: April 6, 2000
 Whenever you can buy 'stats after being able to listen to them for problems and avoid shipping companies, especially at a firesale price, one should buy them and ask questions later.

I do much prefer the later Logan hybrids over older Logan hybrids, and if it doesn't work out, you can always sell them at a higher price..

 

RE: Martin Logan Theos, posted on August 25, 2015 at 13:23:45
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 Sounds like one heck of a deal; they retail in the MG 3.7 range ( >$5K); even if they don't work out for you it shouldn't be hard getting substantially more than what you paid for them.









 

+1, posted on August 25, 2015 at 15:38:42
Javier
Audiophile

Posts: 338
Location: Laredo
Joined: December 14, 2005
 Mike don't let that offer go trough you will not regret

 

RE: Martin Logan Theos, posted on August 25, 2015 at 22:58:46
Mart
Bored Member

Posts: 31273
Location: upstate NY
Joined: June 6, 2001
Contributor
  Since: June 25, 2000
 My solitary concern is thar it might sound too sterile. Between the Solen capacitors in the McIntosh, whatever bulk cap is in the Theos (which are purportedly polypropylene, not electrolytic, as caps double as part of the XO in Logans, IIRC), an aluminum-cone woofer, and stability for the mighty beast amplifier seems ever so slightly challenged at 20kHz (minimum impedance 0.8Ω load) only. Possibly, very infrequent clipping that might eventually cause arch damage of the E-stat's membrane?!

I'd be very tempted to try OFC bi-wiring... with single-crystal 20ga unpaired runs to the ESL for a minute-attenuation & micro-inductance. Reducing the amp's effective damping-factor should sound even sweeter.

Yeah, they'd be too irresistible.




... just my 2¢
♪ moderate Mart ♫

☺ Planar Asylum

where speakers are thin & music isn't

 

RE: Martin Logan Theos, posted on August 26, 2015 at 09:19:35
mike555
Audiophile

Posts: 261
Joined: November 7, 2007
 Thank you for the feedback. Yeah I will biwire if I decide to make the purchase. How would I reduce my amp's damping factor?
Mike

 

RE: Martin Logan Theos, posted on August 26, 2015 at 11:24:50
Mart
Bored Member

Posts: 31273
Location: upstate NY
Joined: June 6, 2001
Contributor
  Since: June 25, 2000
 "Damping_Factor" is proportional to the inverse of "output_impedance". Boring @#$%& aside, this can accomplished with series resistance to help isolate the amplifier from the speakers. Too much can make speakers sound really dull & sluggish as the amplifier is too isolated from driving the speakers with any impact. But just half of an ohm or less, can tame speakers from coloring the music. It's a compromise thing to adjust & tweak. Maggies use single ohm attenuating resistors on their tweeters during break-in for this purpose. In your case, IF and only IF there's a sterility problem, would I ever look into resistive speaker cables ... like 20ga stuff.

Remember, there's a VERY good chance that everything is GREAT!!

... just my 2¢
♪ moderate Mart ♫

☺ Planar Asylum

where speakers are thin & music isn't

 

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