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12.162.96.140
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
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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)
- Martin-Logan Ascents Speakers - klepp 15:17:25 04/14/04 ( 2)
- Re: Martin-Logan Ascents Speakers - Martini 07:52:26 04/17/04 ( 0)
- Re: Martin-Logan Ascents Speakers - bart 19:38:18 04/14/04 ( 0)