MartinLogan ElectroMotion series consists of the ElectroMotion ESL front speakers and matching Center and Surround that feature the Folded Motion™ XT tweeter. The floor standing ESL speakers are true audiophile-grade speakers that cost only $1,995 per pair. Add in the Center (EM-C2), Surround (EM-FX2), and a MartinLogan Dynamo 1000 and you have a system that is designed for both 2-channel and Home Theater duties for under $5,500.
The best part about this system is that the ElectroMotion ESL Speakers have a rated sensitivity of 91 db and a nominal impedance of 6 ohms which means that receivers such as the Denon AVR-4311, Pioneer SC-37/35, Marantz SR-7005, or a Yamaha A-3000 would mate well this package. Of course if you want the best from your Electrostats I recommend separate Power Amps that can dip down into the 2 - 4 ohm range.
I recently passed my Magnolia Level 2 - Tier 1 assessment. The assessment was given by our Magnolia Brand Manager. 2 Channel demo is a huge part of the assessment. Needless to say the Demo left him speechless. I used the MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL speakers in my Demo along with the Denon AVR-4311. The source for the Demo was a High Res 24bit/96khz recording of Steely Dan's Gaucho. I downloaded this album from HDTracks.com. I played "Hey Nineteen" via a USB flash drive plugged directly into the USB input of the Denon. The Denon 4311 can play FLAC files with sample rates up to 96khz and bit depths up to 24 bits via it's USB and 24/192 via it's digital inputs (digtial coax and HDMI).
Setup: I set the speakers to "full range" in the speaker menu and set the impedance to 4 ohms on the Denon. The speakers were pulled out 3 feet from the back wall and were toed in using the flash light technique. In the end the speakers were 8 feet apart, 12 feet from the listening position, and 3 feet from the back wall. This is the best I could do in the Sound room. I would prefer 6 feet apart, 9 feet from the listening position and 4 feet from the back wall.
Sound: The volume was at -5db during the demo. My Brand Manager's eyes absolutely lit up when "Hey Nineteen" came on. There was a "wall of sound". The front stage was wide and extended well beyond the plain of the speakers. The imaging was unbelievable. The bass was tight and free of the boom that some of our other speakers in the room exhibit. Donald Fagan's voice was right/center, i.e., a little to the right of center. The rhythm guitars flanked the right and left but floated around the left and right speakers. On a sub par speaker system you would hear them coming directly from the speakers. The Electric Guitar floated between the left and right speakers and Donald Fagan's keyboard/synthesizer was right center as well.
The demo impressed the brand manager so much that as soon as the demo was over he got up and shook my hand and said that was the best demo he has ever heard.
Comparison and Conclusion:
Later, I compared the ElectroMotions to the Definitive Technology Mythos STS. The STS are a Stereophile "Class B - Full Range" rated speakers and compete with speakers that cost 10 times as much. Trust me. As impressive as the Mythos STS are they cannot create the same Soundstage that the ElectroMotion ESL's can. Sure the highs are silkier on the STS and the STS are more dynamic in the low end, but the natural midrange of the ElectroMotions and the fast response that is a trademark of the ESL speakers is hard to beat. As for me, I could live happily with these speakers for a very long time.
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