Planar Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Martin-Logan Odyssey Speakers by denf

Model:	Odyssey
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$6000.
Description:	Electrostatic hybrid. "Force-Forward" dual woofer design
Manufacturer URL:	Martin-Logan
Manufacturer URL:	Martin-Logan

Review by denf ( A ) on October 19, 2002 at 07:06:03
IP Address: 205.188.208.75

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for the Odyssey

This, my FOURTH pair of Logans' is the best overall. Although the midrange of the reQuests is hard to beat, by ANY other speaker I've ever heard, the Odysseys have some new technology that translates to better, more accurate reproduction.
The area most improved over other Logans is DYNAMICS. This is the first electrostat that can easily rival a good dynamic speaker in the "jump factor" dept. Both macro and micro dynamic graduations are superbly rendered. They also don't compress during loud passages like other older Logan designs. Beware though, because they are so "clean" and non-fatiguing, you will probably tend to play them a bit louder than usual, and you'll be ramping up and over the 100 db range before you know it.
The frequency extremes are also handled with better clarity and pitch. The high freq. seem to go on forever, with the absolute cleanest reproduction of cymbals that I've ever heard, ANYWHERE (with the exception of my own Zildjians in the basement).
The bass is much cleaner and quicker than again, any of the other Logans I've owned. Although it doesn't seem to reach as deep as my prior reQuests, the pitch and definition is much better.
These also seem to have a more accurate and stable image, and do project stable images more "outside" the panels. During more bombastic musical passages, they definately "hold it all together" much better than the older Logans.
MIDRANGE: Those who have owned Logans know that this is the area that few loudspeakers, at ANY price, can match, let alone beat. These things reproduce the human voice (both male & female) better than any speaker out there, with that incredible "in the room" spookiness that ALWAYS catches anyone who wanders in my room, off-guard. ANYTHING that falls into this all important range will, rest assuredly, be reproduced most faithfully.
Some caveats. Take it from someone who's been there, SEVERAL times, because of the "ruthlessly revealing" nature of these (and other M.L. speakers), and being a Dipole design, there are some important considerations to take into account for the prospective owner;
First,learn from my (& others) early frustrations -- don't even THINK of hooking these up to a "receiver". These will tell you EXACTLY what type and caliber of components, wires, ancillaries, that you're hooking 'em up to. Just as you wouldn't put K-Marts best tires on a Ferrari, don't even mess with these if you can't hook them up to top notch gear.
Also, because they radiate sound EQUALLY from the front AND rear, those with small rooms or unacommodating spouses need not apply. They need lots 'a room, both in front, in back, and to the sides.
All that being said, in the end, if you're looking for a holographic window on the performance with, as a good friend put it -- "these speakers are like a virtual reality machine!" you won't regret taking these monolithic beauties home.
System:
M.L. Odyyseys (Sonic Horizons "Daybreak" AC Cords)
Llano Design "Trinity" Reference 400 hybrid amp (PS Lab AC)
Audio Aero "Capitole" 24/192
PS Audio P300
Analysis Plus "Silver Oval/Oval 9" Bi-wire spkr. cable
Granite Audio 470 XLR & RCA interconnects
Well Tempered "Classic V" turntable (w/Audio-Technica ML170)
Balanced Audio Technology "P5" tube phono stage
Reference Line "Preeminence 1B" passive pre
Aurious M.I.B.
Shakti "Stones & On Lines"
Quantum Power "Symphony" (2)
Argent "Room Lens" (3)
Sanus "CF6" audio rack
Vibrapod isolaters (many)
Sonic Horizons "Skyline", "Hurricane" (2) AC cords
Silver Audio "Power Burst" Ac cord
Sennheiser HD600
Wheatfield HA-1
Similar Products Used:
ReQuest, Hales T-5, Alon IV, Aerius i, Sequel II, Magnapan MGIIA, Signet SL260

Product Weakness: Lacking very deepest bass reproduction.
Product Strengths: Life-like explosive dynamics. Transparent mids.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	See review
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	"
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	"
Speakers:	"
Cables/Interconnects:	"
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Prog. rock, jazz-fusion, classical
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 16 x 12
Room Comments/Treatments:	'Corner tunes", acoustical wall treatment
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 year
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	"
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Lacking very deepest bass reproduction.
Product Strengths:	Life-like explosive dynamics. Transparent mids.