best combination for use with Martin Logan Clxs

suheil atallah -- Sat, 04/10/2010 - 09:57

HI There:

I just bought a pr of martin logan Clxs loudspeakers and starting to work to get the best from this fine loudspeakers and need to buy the rest of equipment to use with them.

we have right now:
- Martin logan center channel
- Audioresearch VT200 Mk1 (there is a posibility to sell this unit and change for another amp)
- anthem AVM50V surround processor
- Aerial Acoustics SR3 surround loudspeakers
and we need :
- turntable
- phonostage
- subwoofers ( thinking of buying a paradigm sub2)
-preamplifier
- amplifier: if the arc vt200 it will not be a good match
- cables : interconnects and loudspeakers cables ( considering nordost, transparent or wireworld)
my budget for all of this will be US$40,000.00

According to your experience with this fine loudspeakers I need to know what will be the best for use with them?

regards
suheil

Anonymous) (not verified) -- Tue, 04/13/2010 - 14:46

check out the martinloganowners.com

Anonymous_stat_lover (not verified) -- Wed, 04/14/2010 - 14:34

I have heard the CLX several times at length and had been a long time Martin Logan owner. I personally like CLX (and all Logans) with SS amps - the more expensive and the more powerful the better. I imagine tubes would work well, but only if they have A LOT OF POWER to control the panel, generate non-bloated bass, and create extended highs. I'm thinking the top of the ARC, VTL, or Atma Sphere chain here - which will blow your budget, or a $10K SS amp.

I can't wait to hear Mr. Valin's comments on the CLX with the ML subwoofers, but I think Jeff Dorgay of Tone Audio is very happy with the way 2 Descents work with the CLX.

Once you get the amp right, the pre-amplifier should be easier. Spend on cables LAST - only after you get the major electronics that you really like.

Listen for yourself, of course.

suheil atallah -- Fri, 09/30/2011 - 17:35

thanks you, I wonder if the new krell will be good enough or even audioresearch ds450 mono amps?

dlaloum -- Sat, 10/08/2011 - 18:54

I auditioned the previous CLS's years ago, as well as the rest of the ML range, and the Quad ESL's

I ended up owning the Quads (first 63's and then 989's)

I remember various attempts to match subs with the CLS's (late 80's) - then my own multiple attempts to do the same with my ESL63's - all of which failed.

The problem was that the bottom end was never cut from the same cloth as the top end... making it sound.... wrong....
In addition, I found that the crossovers required to implement the sub frequently degraded the top end and the mids - those wonderful mids which are the absolute raison d'etre for an electrostatic speaker! (If you degrade that, why bother with the ESL?)
My experiences listening to the ML hybrid designs was the same - never really happy with them.
Crossover technology has moved on, and now there is the potential for feeding a digital crossover directly from the source, and then running seperate DAC's for sub and pure ESL.... top end Pre-Pro's and AVR's already have that capability built it, and there are a number of ways of doing the same in seperates.
Short of that, I would not mess with Subs on full range ESL's.
bye for now

David

Garth Nelson -- Sun, 10/09/2011 - 21:02

I have the CLXs with two decent subs and I powering the CLX with ayre mono blocks . This works great for me if you are ever in Ontario Canada I would be glad to let you have a listen. If that works for you let me know.
Garth

Garth

Elliot Goldman -- Tue, 10/11/2011 - 11:38

I was a dealer for the speakers, not any longer, and had a lot of success with them with Krell monos and the big Bryston Mmo Blocks. I did use ARC tubes REF 210 and Mc 2301 as well.
The new ARC REF 250, which I did not use on them, are amazing amps and should be killer on them as well.
I am an anthem dealer as well. I would suggest however to get a quality two channel preamp to use when playing music only and set in bypass mode if you are using it for home theater.
It is a wonderful speaker and good luck. Placement is critical along with the gear

suheil atallah -- Thu, 11/24/2011 - 16:24

I am using the new audioresearch ds450 mono amps, which seems to works excellent with them, still waiting for the 600 hours but seems to be very promising.