| Model: | SL3 |
| Category: | Speakers |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $3495 |
| Description: | Electrostatic Hybrid speakers with 48" ESL panel and 10" woofer |
| Manufacturer URL: | Martin-Logan |
| Model Picture: | View |
|
Review by JamesM on April 19, 1999 at 22:42:07 IP Address: 207.2.8.178 |
Add Your Review for the SL3 |
Sadly, the SL3's have effectively ruined me; I am no longer able to happily listen to "Box and Cone" speakers. Several of my friends have also been converted. It took almost a full 60 seconds, and it was over.Once you're hooked on that Electrostatic sound, no other box speaker (not even the $11,000 Wilson Watt/Puppy or the $10,000 Dynaudio Confidence 5) can do. Not that box speakers are bad, just that they lack the clarity and snap of the ESL and they can't hope to ever get it using magnets. Good box speakers are often praised as "Electrostatic-like." After hearing the latest incarnation of the real deal, I know now that's just not possible. The SL3 is a tremendous value for the money, as they easily outclass any conventional speaker by a wide margin.
The integration between woofer and panel is very good, and happens at such a low frequency that it is practically inaudiable (to me at least). A wonderful compromise to get that perfect electrostatic midrange with some usable bass. I found the bass on the smaller Aerius i to be inadequate to keep up with the ESL panel and therefore not as seamless a mesh, but the SL3 has it right.
Don't let them scare you, these speakers are not too hard to drive. They go down to less than 2 Ohms but only at 20KHz+, which you will probably not do with them very often. They are fairly efficient, and my 105W/Ch B&K runs them wonderfully well. The low slew rate of the B&K helps to take the sting off, I think, so they don't sound overly bright. They also mate well with Krell and Classe', or high-end tube gear, so that's probably my next upgrade.
Highly recommended; these play wonderful orchestral and acoustic music, but aren't afraid to rock the house at all. They are excellent for HT performances - but be warned, no one I know has ever gotten them to mate well with a non-electrostatic center channel, so be prepared to get the Cinema (works very well) or the huge and fabulous Logos (amazing, but too big heavy and expensive).
As you can probably tell, I love these speakers. M-L Owners have a saying:
The only thing better than a Martin-Logan is a bigger Martin-Logan. :-)
| Product Weakness: | Expensive (although can be had used for less than $2k). Does not mate well with bright electronics. Mercilessly revealing of upstream components, they like expensive cables, amplifiers, and good source. Narrow line-source makes for a fairly small sweet spot, which can mostly be corrected for with careful placement. |
| Product Strengths: | Brilliant highs, incredible, natural, musical mid-range. No crossovers above 250hz. The last word in transparancy and imaging. |
| Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
| Amplifier: | B&K Components AVR-202 |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | None |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Sony DVD player, CD Changer (using B&K DAC) |
| Speakers: | Martin-Logan SL3, Cinema center channel |
| Cables/Interconnects: | DH Labs Silver Sonic T-14 speaker cables (separate bi-wire runs), digital fiber optic interconnects |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | All kinds (Mendellsohn to Nine-Inch-Nails) |
| Room Size (LxWxH): | 14 x 18 x 10 |
| Room Comments/Treatments: | No special room treatments |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | 5 months (so far!) |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Brick Wall power conditioner/surge suppressor |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
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