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REVIEW: Martin-Logan Ascents Speakers

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Model: Ascents
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $4200
Description: Electrostatic hibrid
Manufacturer URL: Martin-Logan
Manufacturer URL: Martin-Logan

Review by bart ( A ) on April 13, 2004 at 09:58:22
IP Address: 12.162.96.140
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for the Ascents


I bought the Ascents to replace my ailing Quad ESL-63s (Crosby mods), so to a great extent this review is a comparison between the two. The Ascents have much greater extension in both the treble & bass. The treble is airy & detailed without sounding etched, much more detail than the Quads. The bass is deep & tight, not one-note. The bass is very well integrated with the rest of the sound. Not as accurate (to my ears) as the Quads with stereo subs, but good enough that I think I can do without them, esp. in the much smaller quarters I am about to move into. The midrange is quite good, not quite as magical as Quads, but quite good. No glaring fault that I can point at. The Ascents throw a huge soundstage: deep, wide, & tall (not to excess), with instruments clearly placed, & lots of air around them. Ambiance, where on the recording, is clearly reproduced.

All of the above characteristics improved a bit with each of the following mods: upgrading crossover capacitors to AuriCap Thetas, biamping (either active or passive, both yielded improvements), & installing the Ascent II stator panels. The new panels had a major positive effect on the dynamic range of the speakers.

These speakers do justice to all of the music I listen to: classical (chamber, symphonic, some opera), jazz, & rock.


Product Weakness: This may be room related: Overall, I prefer the sound when I sit off-axis to the center of the panels. I have the Ascents aimed to cross over slightly in front of my listening sofa, & I sit 2-3 feet from the center of the sofa.
Product Strengths: Overall integration of sound from top to bottom end, huge soundstage, wide dynamic range.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: ARC VT-100 III
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): ARC SP-9 III
Sources (CDP/Turntable): ARC CD-1, VPI TNT Jr.
Speakers: Martin Logan Ascent
Cables/Interconnects: DH Labs (DIY, with Cardas connectors)
Music Used (Genre/Selections): see review
Room Size (LxWxH): 42 x 13 x 7
Room Comments/Treatments: none
Time Period/Length of Audition: 8 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Tice, TrippLite, dedicated lines
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Martin-Logan Ascents Speakers - bart 09:58:22 04/13/04 ( 3)