MartinLogan Vantage vs. MartinLogan Montage

Just for the heck of it I decided to give my Vantages a break for a week. I moved my Montage left and right floor standing speakers from the rear to the front of room in the spot that was previously occupied by the Vantages.

Source Equipment: Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD, PS3 (3D), Media Server feeding an Asus Xonar STX sound card, and Sonos.

Amplification: Pioneer Elite SC-37, Pioneer VSX-33. I am in the market for a new amp because I have sold the Emotiva XPA-2.

Music:
The Montage created a wide sound stage. The sound was well off to the right and left of the speakers with an excellent center image. While listening to 2-channel music the speakers completely disappeared in the room and never really drew any attention to themselves. The bass was plenty and the mid-range was very good. I did have to increase the low pass crossover to 45Hz from 30Hz on the Depth-i to get the low end closer to my liking.

Comparison with the MartinLogan Vantage:
I moved the Montage back to their designated surround duties and listened to the same material again on the MartinLogan Montage.  Right off the bat I noticed that the Montage were more forward sounding and brighter than the Vantage.  The cymbals had a tad bit more sparkle to them on the Montage, but on the Vantage's, to my ears, they were more natural and less fatiguing over time.  The soundstage on the Montage was wide but did not extend vertically as high as the MartinLogan Vantages.  The alarm clocks and bells in Pink Floyd’s “Time” had more height to them on Vantage then the Montage. 

The Vantage retail for $5,600 whereas the Montage retailed for $1,500.  So, it was clearly obvious to me that in this case the extra dollars actually resulted in better sound, even in my modest system.  The MartinLogan Montage overall are very good speakers and hold there own when it comes sound staging and imaging and that is one of the reason’s why I will always keep them. 

MartinLogan ElectroMotion Speakers and Denon AVR-4311 - Mo's Take

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.

Tron Legacy: Blu-ray 2D and 3D Review

Tron Legacy (Blu-ray)

By Doctorr

Video: 5 Mo's/5
Audio: 5 Mo's/5

I have to tell you the truth.  The only reason why I decided to watch this movie in 3D was because a friend of mine had told me that he and his wife walked out of the movie theater during the movie.  My sister on the other hand loved it.  I found it hard to believe that a movie released during the Christmas and New Year Holiday season could be that bad.  I have fallen asleep in movies but I have never walked out on one.  For that reason, I wanted to watch Tron - Legacy in both 3D and 2D, but the only way I could watch it in 3D was to buy the damn thing.  So, I bought the whole set, i.e., 3D Blu-ray+2D Blu-ray+DVD+Digital copy.

And, boy am I glad I did.   

The script itself is nothing special but from an audio/video presentation stand point this movie is nothing short of reference quality. 

Associated Equipment: Sony 55HX800 (ISF Calibrated), Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD (2D), PS3 (3D), Pioneer Elite SC-37 (Center and Surrounds), Emotiva XPA-2 (Fronts), MartinLogan Vantage (Fronts), Depth-i (Sub), Montage (Rear), Motif (Center). 

Video:

Like "The Dark Knight" the aspect ratio of the movie switches between the original (2.35:1) and IMAX (1.78:1) aspect ratio.  It might bother some people but it did not bother me at all. 

Blu-ray 2D Presentation: The 2D Blu-ray video is beautiful.  The skin tones in the real world are natural.  The color palette in the real world is intentionally warm.  The digital world is dark with a blueish tint, again done so intentionally and superbly.  The detail is top notch.  I did not notice any video grain.  If your display is not properly calibrated you will miss out on all the amazing shadow detail.  The action is stylized and choreographed to Daft Punk’s awesome soundtrack.  My brother commented afterwards that it was like watching a "music video". 

Audio:

The audio is presented in 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.  The bit rate peaks at 7.67 MBPS.  That my friends, is reference-quality bit rate.  Daft Punk's soundtrack is powerful with lots of room filling electronic bass.  The LFE is again reference-quality.  Simply put, awesome! I was smiling while listening to this soundtrack.  The dialogue is intelligible.  The surround sound presentation is so good that in order to enjoy the soundtrack and the surround to the fullest you need full size rear speakers. 

Best Audio/Video Demo Scenes:

Scene 16, 1hr 40min mark, "Building an Army":  Sam, Quorra, and Kevin Flynn escape.  The drums in the Rear Speakers are loud and room filling.  There is great dynamic range in this scene.  Did I mention Full Size Rear Speakers are a must.

Scene 17, "Air Battle":  All channels comes alive, lots of LFE, lots of surround imaging.  The musical score again makes this scene work.

Scene 18, "Flynn's Sacrifice": This scene is all about Daft Punk and how the score makes the Climax work.  Loved every minute.

3D Presentation:
Well, this is the weak link.  3D is OK but not great.  3D is less brighter and therefore the image looses some of the pop from 2D.  3D adds more depth to the image and does not get in the way of the beautiful sound track.  I'd rather watch the movie in 2D. 

Highly Recommended.

The musical score, sound design, and video make this movie a MUST OWN. 

Wal-Mart plans to reduce space for Electronics...LMAO!

"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the world’s biggest retailer, plans to cut back on space for electronics as sales in that category have declined, contributing to the company’s two-year U.S. sales slump. The company, which is based in Bentonville, Arkansas, will reduce the floor space devoted to items like flat-screen televisions and give some of that space to apparel, according to Rosalind Brewer, who runs the Wal-Mart East division. Brewer spoke at a retail conference in Atlanta today. The reduction is a reversal of Wal-Mart’s 2009 move to allocate 21 percent more floor space to entertainment gadgets and comes after electronics contributed to a 1.8 percent decline in sales at U.S. stores open at least a year in the fourth quarter, its seventh consecutive drop. “It’s something Wal-Mart has needed to do for a year,” said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a New Canaan, Connecticut-based consulting firm, in an interview. “You don’t need as much space in that area with products shrinking and purchases going online, and electronics has narrow profit margins. Floor space is a scarce commodity.”   Courtesy Hometoys.com"

Is One Sub Better than Two?

I just read this on AVSForum. 

"If your room has typical dimensions--20 x 14 x 8 ft., about 2,100 cu. ft.--one well-designed subwoofer with an internal amplifier equal in size to the full output of your receiver (full power for 1 channel + 1/8 power x the number of other channels) and a 10-inch or 12-inch driver should deliver solid deep bass extension and ample output for music and movie soundtracks. On the other hand, if the room is larger than usual (4,000 to 8,000 cu. ft. or bigger) or has a vaulted or cathedral ceiling, you should definitely consider running an extra subwoofer."

So, doing the math, my receiver is 140 watts:

140 + 17.5 (1/8th of 140) x 5 = 787.5 watts.  I have a MartinLogan Depth-i which is spec'd at 900 watts Peak.  Therefore going by the AVSForum post my sub is ideal for my 20x12x8 room.

Blu-ray review: The American—Universal (Blu-ray)

The American (Blu-ray)

By Doctorr

Video: 5 Mo's/5
Audio: 4 Mo's/5

Synopsis: The movie opens in the mountains of Sweden.  Jack, an American abroad is enjoying a walk in the calm and quite mountains of Sweden with his female companion.  The sound field in quite and calm but then all hell breaks loose.  Shots are fired.  surrounds come alive and Jack ends up shooting his companion and the assassin who was sent to kill him.  It turns out that Jack himself is an assassin.  After this job does not go so well and his cover blown, he has no choice but to hide in the Italian countryside until his contact figures out how the Swedes found him.  His contact offers him a job and he takes it.  He becomes friends with a local Priest and gets involved in a relationship with Clara.  Jack senses that he might be loosing his edge, but still decides to break the rules.... 

I watched this movie last week but did not want to write about it because I felt that I would not do justice to it.  Here it is anyway. 

Video:

This blu-ray has to be the most beautifully filmed title that I have ever seen.  The photography is gorgeous.  The Italian country side shots are eye candy.  The detail is amazing and stunning in every shot.  The town where Jack is hiding out is a medieval town and it is captured beautifully on camera.  The color palette is intentionally stylized and created a great mood and atmosphere which pulled me right in to the movie.  I am telling you, man, the video is a must see.  The wide screen shots of the Italian countryside are absolutely amazing.  

Audio:

The soundtrack is laid back but is very effective in creating an atmosphere of tension.  In scenes where Jack is testing his handmade weapon, the gun shots seemed very real (not that I know what real gun shots sound like).  Nevertheless, I felt the sound in my chest.  There was one scene where me and my wife jumped out of our seats.  If your system is correctly calibrated you will literally hear the bullets being fired towards you from the front of the room.  Amazing!

Highly Recommended.

2-channel vs. Multichannel

A well-mastered, high-bitrate, multichannel recording played on a good surround system blows 2-channel out of the water, creating a much more solid (i.e., stereo) soundfield. That's only an opinion.  I would like to know what you think.  Please take the survey below.