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General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

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RE: Marten Speakers

Posted by RGA on January 9, 2017 at 22:03:11:
I have heard the speakers on your list. I like some of them for different reasons. A ribbon panel has certain advantages and certain disadvantages - for instance another poster below feels they don't pressurize instruments - that is my assessment of them - a sub adds bass depth and bass volume but that is not the same thing as midrange instruments being pressurized in the room - when you hear that you know what it is and it's something that some people really want. I've never heard it from any panel at any price with subs or not.
On the other hand the panel can be more holographic like the cleanest window in existence through which to view the sunrise. While a great boxed speaker may tear down any and all windows put you out on the deck - to have you "there" but while there you have to breathe in a bit of smog. I take the "there" with a bit of dirt over clean but "through the window" - you may not.
Going by reviews can be somewhat dicey when you are looking at just high numbers of positive reviews. If you do that then you will wind up really only seeing the mega corporations because they can afford to send dozens of speakers to every magazine outfit - so yes you see a lot of B&W/KEF/Focal reviews everywhere because they're massive and all around the world. But then so is McDonald's - it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best.
Using my Audio Note E speakers as an example: They have been well reviewed everywhere as well - magazines where at least one reviewer (often 2-3) not only gave them great reviews but ALSO bought a pair of either the Audio Note E or J is long indeed: Stereophile, Dagogo (where I write), 6moons, Hi-Fi Critic, Hi-fi Choice, TnT, Audiophile, Part-Time Audiophile, AVShowrooms (bought em and gave em product of the year 2015), Hi-Fi in Hong Kong - bought em gave em speaker of the year 2013) and on it goes. So not only do they get raves but the reviews have bought them - and a lot of them too - especially when you consider the company is mainly an amplifier and CD player manufacturer. B&W which probably sells 100 times more loudspeakers (at least!), should have 100 times more reviewers owning their speakers right? And yet it isn't the case.
There is the positive review and there is the thing the reviewer is truly passionate about. It is very possible for me to review something that I very much like because in fact I do. Take ATC - I like the sound - there is a cut through it like a knife exacting nature to them. Full marks. Great - but would it be desert island sound? No. Nothing against ATC - great build big drive and power (especially the actives).
As a reviewer it is difficult because you have to weigh how good the thing is both to yourself and to the reader and the intention of the product. Some stuff is geared to the strictly Hi-fi sensibilities of neutrality. So I try to listen for what the product brings to the table and the goal of the manufacturer and for what the target audience likes.
So if you want that sort of stunning clarity, holographic sound - I can review and recommend one sort of speaker. But if you like that enveloping big tone and body sort of sound that may miss the absolute in clarity and holographic sound then a different kind of speaker is easier to recommend. Simplistically - some people prefer more truth some prefer more beauty and some want something more balanced.
At the California Audio show a few years ago - I tried to find the best rooms with the best sound targeting both camps: The best two modern sounding rooms (Hi-Fi) I listed were YG Acoustics and MBL. The best beauty sounding rooms I chose Acoustic Zen and Von Gaylord.

So perhaps the best question we all should have asked you at the beginning, accepting that you have to buy unheard, is to
1) list a few of your favorite speakers that you have already heard in your life. (This way we get an idea of what you kind of like.
2) the size of your room (dimensions length, width height and where you will sit. Also tell us if you have a live room or a dead room. Live would perhaps be a room with hard wood floors and not a lot of stuff in the room or on the walls. A dead room might heavily carpeted with bookcases and leather furniture that fills the room.
3) Music tastes. While I prefer a speaker that can play everything from gentle strings to AC/DC and Trance - the reality is certain speakers just don't do a great job with all these kinds of music and so if you like Dio/Slipknott/Nightwish,Disturbed or most Hip Hop then some speakers can immediately be crossed off the list - like most all single drivers.
4) do you think one day you might want to explore low powered tube amp options such as 8 watt 300B or 2A3 tube amplifiers. Many find this to be the best sound - so if you want to keep that option open it will force you to cross some of the speakers off your list because they may lack too much sensitivity and efficiency. (I hate spending money on something and a few months later I hear something much better and then get stuck with middling resale value).
5) Is there a wife acceptance factor on the look of the product? Some stuff looks modern and cool and may play a role. If this does not matter then really don't let it matter. A lot of stuff that looks cool and or has "conversation appeal" like tweeter on top sexy cabinets, or panel/planars or omni-directionals or fancy shmancy techno-babble like Diamond tweeters or Kevlar - or someone puts out a white paper - all this crap just gets in the way - does it sound any f-ing good? All that puff and bluff is trying to convince you to buy the stuff. I often wonder - gee if it is any f-ing good - it should convince you of all that when the play button is pushed or the needle drops.
6) speaking of resale value - this is another parameter to consider especially since you are buying blind. Will you be able to sell the product and not lose too much money. Some brands are very good - some rather not. Even big name high end brands are iffy. It doesn't necessarily mean the quality is poor or anything it's just the way the product is viewed by the worldwide market.
Buying second hand will minimize your damage should you not love the sound of whatever speaker that you buy.
My last point is that there is nothing wrong with your list - all fine makers - been around for many many years - all if it is good in some fashion - but will it be good to you or not is the thing.