Marten Coltrane
 

Has anybody heard these? THey seemed to be demoed a lot with low power tube amps which makes me wonder how they would mesh with my Ongaku? :scratch2:

They look gorgeous to boot. Not sure what the RRP is though.

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They had an article on these in the Norwegian hifi magazine Fidelity late last year. The essence of the article was that these speakers were the best they have ever heard, in addition there was an interview with the designer. Would love to hear these!

Howie
Let me check my notes a bit later but if I remember correctly at RMAF two years ago (2010) one dealer showed the Coltrane's power by the Ongaku integrated. I was a very nice sounding set-up.

Jim

Nothin' like puttin' your speakers in front of the stairs! ;)

May be they're spiral acoustic treatments. :D

Howie, have you considered Tidal or Kharma?

I have heard Kharma a few times and am not too convinced even though they used to use the same drivers as Marten. Cheaper by some margin though, The Kharma Midi Exquisite is US$35k here, a lot cheaper than the Coltrane at US$50k or the Coltrane II @ US$80k here.

The marten looks a lot better though :D

I have only heard the really huge Tidal speakers so couldn't comment on their normal sound.

Thanks

howie

Howie...if in the course of your auditioning Marten speakers you get a chance to hear their new Django loudspeaker ($15K here in US), I would appreciate any listening impressions you have of the speaker. Thanks.

Sure. They're not here yet.

I heard the Marten Coltrane IIs driven by a Kondo Overture integrated amp (their cheapest amp) with a paltry 32 watts of push pull EL34 I think.

Whoooeeeee. The amp had no trouble driving those Marten speakers to high levels. The diamond tweeter, which costs Marten about US$12k was very clear and the overall sound was one of clarity and cohesion. I was concerned at the nature of the ceramic woofers and mid range but there was no harshness.

Unfortunately I can buy two pairs of ktemas for a pair of Coltrane IIs. The Coltrane is a bit cheaper at US$50k.

Choices choices choices...

So Howie are you looking to replace the Strads or is this for another system?

Howie
I knew I had seen the Coltrane's with Ongaku at RMAF '10.

See post #104 in this thread

http://www.audioaficionado.org/event...2010-a-11.html

Jim

Replacement. Ongaku can't handle the 2.7ohm dip on the strads but boy does it sound good though! :tears:

You should pick gear to compliment your speakers, not the other way around...

I think it depends and there are no hard and fast rules. You change your components as and when the budget allows and something takes your fancy.

Especially for those who have decided to go the SET way, there is no way you can just find a SET to suit any speaker. The decision to go SET means you will have to accommodate your amp by finding an appropriate speaker. I don't think there is a right or wrong here.

Having a 27 watt amp does limit my choices of speaker but the SET magic is a big draw to so I am willing to compromise a little!

Just my 2 cents! :yes:

howie

Howie...what is the Coltrane's sensitivity and how benign is its impedance curve?

Thanks Mike. Yeesh...I am not sure this is such a great pairing with the Ongaku amp. A good portion of the low frequency portion of the pass band well below 4 ohms. Howie, have you tested the two together? :scratch2:

Cyril,

I am actually looking more at the Coltrane II which is nominal 8 ohms with a 4.1 ohm minimum if I recall correctly.

I have found though, that measurements on paper don't always correspond to real life situations especially with regards to tube amps which can produce thunderous results with what would appear to be an incompatible load.

A much more reliable way, in my experience, is to see what real people use with certain speakers or amps or what manufacturers use to demo their products. You can bet your bottom dollar that they won't purposefully compromise their system.

The ktema is actually a similar load as the strads but much much easier to drive. Some of the very sensitive speakers i looked into like the JBL DD6600, Tannoy Kingdom Royal are real pigs even with 95db + and 8ohm ratings and you rarely see these speakers with SETs. Don't ask me why but I 'm sure 15 inch woofers play a part!

Best way is to demo I guess and make double sure.:yes:

Howie...understood. As you said, trying them out together is the only way to really know if they are synergistic :thumbsup: Good luck. I have always been intrigued by Marten speakers, so looking forward to your impressions. And if you do get a chance to listen to the Django down the road, PM me please with any thoughts. Thanks much.

Don't worry i will look out for the Django for you. :yes:

Howie Bro ... have been living with the Coltrane 2 for the past 4 months and quite a ride it has been . Is not the retail closer to 95k rather than the 80k that you mentioned ? If you do take the plunge do try the upgrade option, i.e the internal cabling from Jorma No.1 to Jorma Prime. Pretty worthwhile in my set up.

Yes sorry. 95k is correct:(

May i ask what the rest of your system is?

Would love to hear more about the Coltranes!

Thanks

Howie

Howie ... My rig is digital only . Meredian 808.2 . Vitus pre- power , Nordost Thor ,Finite Elemente Stand , Stillpoint CP stands and SS Ultras. Jorma Prime I/C 's , PC's , Jorma Origo S/C. In the process of setting up a computer front end and am awaiting delivery of my Vitus DAC.
The C2 is all about speed , coherence and purity of tone . The thing I quite enjoy about it :music:is that the resolution is spread evenly across the spectrum .The deep bass being nearly as detailed as the mids and highs. It does take quite a while to come into it's own from new . Demanding of continuity in your signal chain it will pounce on any sloth or discontinuity in set-up . The down firing port how-ever helps in it not being as difficult to set up in terms of room interaction.
They are quite an easy load and should be a good match with your Ongaku . Different from the SF house sound, but am sure a pairing you would be satisfied with for quite some time to come. Cheers !:music:

I heard the Coltrane 2 with Vitus pre power last night and boy did it sound good. Your rig must be impressive to say the least. You're dead right about the C2. Speed accuracy, those guitar strings more realistic than I have ever heard them.

Any chance of some photos of your system?! :smile:

Cheers

Howie

Howie.. am out of town will post when back, in a day or two. Would you happen to remember the cabling in use in the set-up you auditioned ?

Howie ... have been unable to upload , been trying . Send me your mail id would be happy to e-mail you ... Cheers and Happy Listening !

Jazzhead - There are some nice benefits by becoming a subscriber. One of which is being able to post pictures. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed!

Mike

PS - Nice system! :thumbsup:

howiebrou at cantab dot net

I can upload them for you if you like whilst you contemplate subscribership! Let me know.

Howie

Ritmo ... Thanks for the thumbs up ... Happy Listening !

Here is a link to the Coltranes (version 1's) on the AN UK ONGAKU

Audiogon Shows: RMAF 2010: Audio Note UK

Seguso... Welcome To AA!!!


:welcome2.:

Seguso, welcome aboard! :wave:

Seguso,

A big warm welcome to AA! :thumbsup:

howie

Seguso... Welcome! :wave:

Howie... How are you enjoying your Coltrane 2's?

They're wonderful Ivan. A perfect blend of detail, delicacy and power. I listen to quite a variety of music and it works equally well on vocals as it does on large orchestral scores. The Gryphon Colloseum mono blocks have no problem in pushing them at all and any supposed harshness from ceramic drivers is completely absent. For me, who prefers things on the lusher side of the fence, it would be a definite no no.

I can honestly say that at this stage I have no intention nor desire to change them for anything else.:yes:

howie

Good to hear, thanks. ;)

http://audioshark.org/attachment.php...2&d=1430520789

From the cabinets to the smallest components, the Coltrane 3 uses exclusive, premium materials to continue the Coltrane commitment to superior structure and sound. And while more lounge-friendly in size than the Coltrane Supreme 2, it features the same groundbreaking technology that revolutionised the ‘live’ audio experience.

First order filters and CELL concept drivers from Accuton deliver a sound that is perfectly time and phase coherent. The tweeters, midrange and bass drivers have identical acoustic centres to give outstanding timing and flow. And distortion is unbelievably low, for superb levels of detail and resolution, even at high volume.

Does the Coltrane 3 set a new standard in audio excellence?
Hear it and believe it at Highend 2015, Munich.

http://www.hifisentralen.no/forumet/...-coltrane3.jpg

Press release

I listened to this speaker a few hours just some days ago at Marten.
Marten Coltrane 3. Built with the same principles as Supreme II, but much smaller.
It performs surprisingly close to the big boss Supreme II.
It looks like Coltrane 2 but just the carbon back is the same. The resolution is as god as I 'v ever heard. Micro dynamics and macro dynamics are together with the precision extremely good. It makes a lot of other speaker to sound dull. The sound is light like a feather, fast as lightning and powerful. The Supreme II has got a bigger soundstage but I'm not sure the resolution is better. Coltrane 3 is surprisingly close to Supreme II.
I think, this is the best speaker Mortan ever made... jet.
The size is not that big and i should be easy to place in the living room for being a speaker in this league.
I'm very impressed by this speaker. It should make the other contenders in this price range frightened.


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