fabulousfrankie Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 As big a Klipsch fan as I am I just preordered some Martin Logans fronts and bought the center. How could I do this...well it was a deal that I just couldn't pass up. I work for Tweeter and I got the soon to be released Vistas(MSRP of $3695) and the CinemaI center(MSRP $1795) for an incredible price. This all came about because I was getting the upgrade bug and decided to lug my KLF20's into work to do some comparisons. The 1st comparison I did was next to the new Martin Logan Vantage(one step up from what I got, mine's not released yet) my Klipsch sounded like garbage to put it simply. I could definitely tell the cabinet needed some more bracing during the comparison and doubted owning Klipsch. Both sounded dynamic but the Vantages really brought out the fact that there is a cabinet resonance in the Klipsch. I realised I needed to put things in perspective because the Vantages sell for $5k. FYI, this was being driven of a Krell CD player and Krell integrated amp. After realising that I was doing an unfair comparison I moved my Klipsch to the main speaker listening room where we have Polk's mid and high end, Sapphire, Martin Logan's lower priced offerings, and Focal's Cobalt and Profile series. After comparing to pretty much everything in that room I couldn't be prouder to own my Legends. They blew away the Polk LSi, Sapphire, and the lower priced ML's sounded very compressed compared to the KLF20's. I then compared them to the $4k Focal Profile towers and to my surprise, I(and 2 other associates) thought the Klipsch sounded fuller with roughly equal amounts of detail. I was initially thinking the Focal's were going to be a much better speaker. At higher volumes the Focals started to compress, the Klipsch have their limits too but it was at a much higher level than anything else in that room. I now couldn't be happier with my Klipsch, especially since I had to go to a $5k speaker before I got what I thought was a better speaker. So there's my confession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabulousfrankie Posted March 21, 2006 Author Share Posted March 21, 2006 Here's what I bought: Fronts:http://www.martinloganowners.com/~tdacquis/forum/showthread.php?t=1838 Center:http://www.martinloganowners.com/~tdacquis/forum/showthread.php?t=96 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyKlipschFan Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 First off Congrats.. The ML's will sound different in your house. And it is ok to like the sound coming from things "not" Klipsch too. I would have a hard time believing they are more dynamic that your Klipsch, the horns just excell at that better than what the ML's use too. Enjoy what you have, that is what really matters anyhow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Congrats,variety is the spice of life.I know from the first day I hooked up my 20's I was more than satisfied in the bang for buck department.I had some 2k Polks that could never compare to the 20's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerFan Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Congrats on your purchase. I just hope you aren't making the same mistake Bruins made when he sold his Klipsch and bought Rockets only to have to sell them and buy Klipsch again. Anyway, good luck.[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbyT Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Congrats on some nice speakers. If I didn't buy the RF7s, Logans were next up on my short list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddvj Posted March 21, 2006 Share Posted March 21, 2006 Hopefully you've got something nice to drive those puppies. Regarless of what ML would tell you otherwise, you need some serious juice to run their speakers. They do sound nice though, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanman023 Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 congrats on your new purchase...its nice to change it up once in a while.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdm56 Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Yup, congrats on the new speakers. They look real nice. Much better than some other recent Martin-Logans I've seen. M-L's do have a nice sound; some of the best mids I've EVER heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formica Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 I've made a request to get frank banned [][] I like the ML's I've heard as well... Even though they add their own character to the music by using room reflections, the final effect is very pleasing esp on vocals and acoustic guitars. They would be on my short list for 2ch if I had an appropriate room. I would have a hard time believing they are more dynamic that your Klipsch, the horns just excell at that better than what the ML's use too. I understand what frank is tring to say as they "seem" more full and detailed in that vocal region... but I wouldn't be surprised if your assumption is correct if someone were to measure the speaker's capacity over the full frequency range. Electrostatics' are renowned for their inefficiencies and limited SPL capabilitys. Makes a Krell and a 20amp circuit look reasonable. Like already mentioned, it's also important to note the price difference... Still, many horn fans seem to also be closet electrostatic fans. Congrats and enjoy... [] ROb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabulousfrankie Posted March 22, 2006 Author Share Posted March 22, 2006 Congrats on your purchase. I just hope you aren't making the same mistake Bruins made when he sold his Klipsch and bought Rockets only to have to sell them and buy Klipsch again. Anyway, good luck. I'm not going to be in that situation because the Klipsch are moving to the bedroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruinsrme Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Congrats on your purchase. I just hope you aren't making the same mistake Bruins made when he sold his Klipsch and bought Rockets only to have to sell them and buy Klipsch again. Anyway, good luck.[] What i found, there were many great sounding speakers but none that came close to the livliness of Klipsch. That is what I missed most about the Klipsch. Now, I sit back and enjoy. Occassionaly I kick myself for buying, selling and rebuying but sometimes one must learn the hard way. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerFan Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Congrats on your purchase. I just hope you aren't making the same mistake Bruins made when he sold his Klipsch and bought Rockets only to have to sell them and buy Klipsch again. Anyway, good luck. I'm not going to be in that situation because the Klipsch are moving to the bedroom. Maybe you'll find yourself spending alot more time in bed.[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 At first you'll be moved to tears, after six months you'll be bored to tears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spkrdctr Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I like MLs too. BUT, I have found that you must look at the top of the line speakers to compare to Klipsch. You need a ton of power (I'd look at 400 watts per channel) and a willingness to abuse the speakers to really have fun with Home Theater. They will work, but you need a nice sub. The Klipsch, RF 5 and 7 series sound just as good and do not need the major power requirement. All in all though, the MLs sound good for normal listening levels. I'd buy them if I could get them for Klipsch prices..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenratboy Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I sell ML, and while they are cool speakers, you need a VERY good amp to even make them worth your while. With the Clarity's, you hear a HUGE difference between a Denon 3806 and 4806 (thats $1300 vs. $3000+ for the amp), and even better amps make them sound better. These are their CHEAPEST electrostatic floorstanders! Also, the placement can be a PITA and not give a nice wide sweetspot like some other brands (I would not use ML for a 'family' HT system unless it was something with ATF drivers). They are good speakers, but for me, they just don't do it. What are you driving them with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabulousfrankie Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 I sell ML, and while they are cool speakers, you need a VERY good amp to even make them worth your while. With the Clarity's, you hear a HUGE difference between a Denon 3806 and 4806 (thats $1300 vs. $3000+ for the amp), and even better amps make them sound better. These are their CHEAPEST electrostatic floorstanders! Also, the placement can be a PITA and not give a nice wide sweetspot like some other brands (I would not use ML for a 'family' HT system unless it was something with ATF drivers). They are good speakers, but for me, they just don't do it. What are you driving them with? Right now I have two small 5 ch Parasounds...but so far I'm leaning towards this: http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=processors&product=18.1 I know about how finicky dipole speakers can be and I think I can properly place them. I've also always thought that ML's lack dynamics until I've heard the latest panel in the Vantage's, what I'm getting is going to have the same panel as the Vantage I heard but a passive woofer vs a powered woofer(I got the bass covered). If I didn't do an A/B test I wouldn't have believed it. Even if you can't afford them, I recommend everyone take a listen to the ML Vantage. I heard the Clarity's right next to my KLF20's and the Vantages and the Clarity's sufferred terribly from dynamic compression. Kenratboy, Have you heard anything with the new panel...the Vantage or Summit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easylistener Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 You are going to need more than that to back those babies sing. I need more than that for RF3II's and RF7's. I would look into a two channel to run the mains, with a huge power supplie and a lot of power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabulousfrankie Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 You are going to need more than that to back those babies sing. I need more than that for RF3II's and RF7's. I would look into a two channel to run the mains, with a huge power supplie and a lot of power. What the Parasounds or the Emotiva? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easylistener Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 first I don't know what parasounds you have but you say the small ones. So yes you need a bigger better amp than the parasounds or the emotiva to drive those speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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