New speakers inbound!! Updated to Arrived!!
 

Just pulled the trigger on a new pair of Martin Logan Expression 13A speakers in cherry. I have been tossing this idea around for over a year and was actually thinking about the larger 15A but I feared it to be too big and really more money than I was ultimately willing to part with. With any luck they should arrive in 3 weeks!!!

Congrats! Look forward to your thoughts when they arrive.

Steve.......Great looking speakers. The unique powered two woofer cabinet in each speaker with DSP should produce excellent bass. Looking forward to your review and photos.

https://www.martinlogan.com/expression-esl-13a/


https://www.martinlogan.com/images/e...darkcherry.jpg

Congratulations. I have been a Martin Logan fan for years. I am interested in how these new models sound.

Congratulations on some fantastic new speakers.

Congrats, nice Xmas present !

Having listened to these in a very well set up system I feel pretty sure you will be one happy camper. I left the 'Logan World' last year for the first time in a long time but if / when I go back they would be my choice as well.

Exciting Steve, Rock on [emoji869]

Congrats Steve! I hope they bring you many years of joy! Very exciting times! How great is this hobby?!

Thanks guys. I’m going to climb the walls waiting on them.

Steve... Big Congrats! :banana:

Congrats and Enjoy!!!

Congrats Steve!

YAH BABY YAH!!!!

Congrats. You will love them I'm sure.

Congratulations! Merry Christmas!!!

Congrats Steve! My dad just added a pair of the 11’s, and I was so impressed I’m now questioning my next move! No doubt you’ll have a Merry Christmas!

Congrats Steve! I know we've talked about it some and glad you pulled the trigger! As a fellow owner of 13a's I can say with confidence you will LOVE them.

Happy for you Steve!

Brought home my new speakers yesterday. A few pics from the ride home to the setup and a size comparison to my older Summit X speakers.

https://i.imgur.com/zW7WMzn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/pczJdIB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/syNmf5C.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/f2QLyUh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6gLgMIf.jpg

Looking good, I really think the 13a's are the sweet spot in the Logan lineup !

BTW, good looking truck as well !

Wow, fantastic speakers and great setup!

Might you comment on the differences between the summit x and these? Curious about what the extra cabinet size does to the bass.

New speakers inbound!!
 

Martin Logan recommends 72 hours of break in so keep in mind I’m a long ways from that number.

But......the bass of this new design is much cleaner and deeper than the Summit X, shockingly so, and that’s without implementing ARC. I’m letting them break in before I really tweak their position. First impression is an improvement across the board but it’s the bass quality that first got my attention.

agreed, I picked up on that as I remember when I auditioned them last year along with what I believe was a further improvement in panel / bass driver integration. Further crossover improvement I suspect.

Agreed. The panel to woofer integration is improved.

I was really expecting this. I just thought the deeper cabinet might really help out. Keep us posted!!

Steve - congrats on your new speakers. Enjoy!

New speakers for Christmas - how good is that?

One year ago just before Christmas I lived it and let me tell you,...it is "WAY COOL", "Merry Friggin' Christmas" and "All That"!!! :yes::yes::yes:

Steve: Congratulations on your new speakers,...very happy for you!

Thanks guys. Four years ago, just before Christmas, was when I got my first Martin Logan’s, might as well be a tradition.

Ok Steve...we need your impressions! Give us the scoop! :) :)

Yep - two months, no report??

Oh man I love Martin Logan. The little Dynamo sub was the first piece of hi-fi I bought myself and didn't acquire from my dad or the shop.

It was always fun in college to take my EE buddies to the Hi-Fi shop and watch their faces when listening to and checking out Martin Logan speakers!

Sorry for the delay in posting my opinion of the 13a's, I've been busy listening and upgrading other aspects of my system. Of course everything said is in comparison to my previous Summit X speakers.

Good looks can go along ways towards our purchasing decisions. At first I had a few reservations with the styling of the 13a's, mostly the lack of curvature of the grill in front of the woofer. The Summit X speakers have curved woofer grills matching to the curve of the esl panel. The 13a does not have the same curve, just a flat grill in front of the woofer. I guess I have gotten over it with a little time. But the rest of the speaker is much better looking to me, just a more substantial look.

Build quality. The 13a is definitely a better built speaker, from both a physical standpoint and a ease of manufacturing standpoint. As for manufacturing I'm surprised it has taken this long to put all of the electronics of the speaker into a "bottom tray" so that it can be attached to the bottom of the speaker apposed to being inside the woofer cavity, far better system if you ask me. Also the aluminum framework of the esl panel is a much stronger assembly than before giving far greater rigidity to the speaker. Also the weight has been increased substantially making the speaker more stable.

Now for the sound!! The first quality that struck me was the bass. With the Summit X I always used a sub so for the last week of using that speaker if ran it full range so I could really compare the virtues of the new speakers vs the old without the added output of a sub. The bass response of the 13a is vastly better than the Summit X, tight clean and much deeper, enough so that I have not used my sub since and debating if it's needed anymore. The rest of the sound spectrum has that classic ML sound,.....open, big, wide and spooky real. Comparing the new vs old again, the 13a has better top end response, not as rolled off as the Summit X. The 13a also has the ability to play louder with greater clarity and ease, the Summit X can get congested at high volumes.

Am I happy with the change, yes I am. If I had a larger listening room I would have gone for the 15a but giving my room size I feel the 13a is a better fit. If you're in the market for Logans I can't recommend these enough. I have heard and owned many other speakers but few are this good.

New speakers inbound!!
 

Steve,
Glad you are enjoying your new speakers! Bass integration is the big bugaboo for these panel/cone loudspeakers, so I’m happy to see ML did such a good job with it. Congrats!

Tom

Hi Steve,

Congrats on the 13a's...i have had mine since last march and i have upgraded the electronics along the way. to say that i am pleased is an understatement.

judging by the high quality of your stuff your speakers are well served.

the ARC is most appreciated and although i might have given the 15a a thought ,i feel they also would be too large for my listening room. (15 ft by 16 ft ....9ft ceiling)

i am totally enjoying my setup . the only thing that would interfere would be the dreaded "trade-up flu"
---they say it's extra severe this year----lol

some of my electronics: audio research ref6, krell duo 300, meridian 808.2 and pro-ject 12 xtension TT w/palo santos cartridge.--parasound jc3+ phono----mit wiring

all the best

mike

Nice gear Mike!

Sounds like a great system Mike.

thank you gentlemen!

Steve - it's great to hear that you are enjoying your new 13a's so much. You're now making me want to upgrade my Summit X! I love the look of your dual MC275's beside each speaker. That is great looking setup and must sound magical. I'm curious if you are using the 4 ohm or 8 ohm output taps?

Thanks, I’m using the 4 ohm tap

When I had my MC452 and 13's I actually preferred the 8ohm tap. But with the CLX I am using the 4ohm. Didn't even try the 8ohm. Thinking the CLX drop pretty low...