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Martin Logan Panel Speakers Extraordinare

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Old 09-09-2012, 11:56 PM
Dafos Dafos is offline
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Default ML Summit X vs Magnepan 3.6r

Any comments on how these two stack up against each other? The ML is more than 3x the cost so what do you get for that additional cost, aside form the powered bass modules?
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Old 09-10-2012, 12:14 AM
bzr bzr is offline
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The r&r that went into the design for the cross-overs, 2 subs that are supposed to be there that you can tune to certain degrees, aesthetics are totally different depending on your tastes, smaller foot-print, a slightly more forward/brighter sound for the ML's, easy to move on your own, Wife Acceptance Factor, 2 class d amps & on & on. I'm sure someone could do something the same in the 3.6's favour, I listen to both & bought the Summit X's. By the way, the ML's are also Absolute Sounds 2012 Golden Air award
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Old 09-10-2012, 05:49 AM
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Myles B. Astor Myles B. Astor is offline
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I'd be cautious in ascribing a "sound" to the Martin Logans. Their sound is largely determined by what's upstream, esp. the front-end.

What you get is that exquisite, to die for, electrostatic midrange, transparency and low level resolution. I've yet to hear a dynamic speaker that can match the low level resolution of the Summit-X (now that doesn't mean that dynamic drivers don't do other things well!).
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Old 09-10-2012, 08:46 AM
trponhunter trponhunter is offline
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you get an electrostat with no crossover in the entire stat panel - simply put - more transparency, resolution and coherence. The Logan is more dough - but for a reason. Also, yu will be surprised at the dynamic heft a summit has with 2 10" woofers per channel.
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Old 09-10-2012, 09:30 AM
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I never owned the Summit X, but I did own the original Summit, and also owned the Magnepan 3.6r, and I'd say that both have strengths and weaknesses. Both are great speakers and if initial cost is a factor, the Maggies would probably not disappoint you.

A more realistic and better comparison would be the latest generation of each of the speakers - The Summit X and the Magnepan 3.7 rather than the 3.6.

The Magnepan is still a lot less cash outlay than the Martin Logan and it is extraordinary sounding. To me a fuller sound, bigger soundstage while the M.L. is more transparent - you can see through the image and you can see through the speaker itself - which may be a benefit in some cases.

As witness by my pictures below of a pair of Magnepan 20.1's that I once owned - and the Summits that I also owned.




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Old 09-10-2012, 09:56 AM
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I haven't had Maggies in my system, but I have heard the 3.6s in two other systems and the 20.1s in yet another system. I think the Maggies have similar tranparency to the source as MLs, but not quite as resolving and, correspondingly, more forgiving. As I told a musician friend of mine who records his own music (not an audiophile, but respects our, ahem, 'enthusiasm'), "If you don't want me to hear it, make sure it doesn't get recorded."
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Old 09-10-2012, 11:16 AM
Dafos Dafos is offline
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Thanks for all the inputs. I'm actually thinking of these as an alternative (not to replace) my Magico Mini 2's. Julian, I noticed you've moved on to dynamic speakers, and I'm specially familiar and love the Guarneris. Why did you make the move away from these planar/stats? Just like you, I. Running JL Audio F 112's with my Magico.

Btw, I 've heard the Summit x's and it's smaller brother, the Montis and was quite impressed. OTOH, Ive heard the both the 3.6 and 3.7 at dealer showrooms and was disappointed, sound was artificially detailed and thin. I know there must have been something wrong with the set up considering how Maggies have been touted to rival speakers several times there cost in all aspects save for the lowest frequencies. The reason I mention the 3.6 as a candidate is cuz the former local magnepan dealer here still has a brand new unit in stock at a substantial discount.
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Old 09-10-2012, 11:38 AM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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I owned the 3.6s for many years prior to purchasing the 3.7s (delivered 3/11). Frankly I have not experienced the 3.7s to be a major improvement over the 3.6s w/ the ARC electronics in my system (admittedly not latest/greatest). I found the 3.7s to be incrementally more coherent w/ incrementally deeper bass and most noticably a "throttled back" ribbon better integrated into the midrange likely thanks to the new first order crossover. The 3.6s ribbon could be a little hot, but when I changed out my ARC LS16MkI for the Ref 3 in 2008 the ribbon mellowed considerably, so yes Maggies are sensitive to what they are fed. Neither speaker could be called "thin" in my experience and they are notoriously sensitive to proper placement so I'd strongly advise a demo in your own home if possible. Had I done that I likely would have passed on the 3.7s and kept the 3.6s.
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Old 09-10-2012, 11:52 AM
Dafos Dafos is offline
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Thanks djcxxx, I'm currently driving the mini's with ARC ref 40 and the ref 250. Im quite familiar with the ARC VT series and the pre Kt 120 tubed reference amps and if you want more "meat to the bones" I suggest you give the new Ref Amps an audition. It may have been you who posted elsewhere of the incremental improvement if the 3.7 over the 3.6. If not, that makes two of you with a similar experience.
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Old 09-10-2012, 12:02 PM
djcxxx djcxxx is offline
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I've given some serious consideration to auditioning the Ref 250, a logical upgrade to my VT200MkI. Certainly would be interesting to hear what the Ref 250 does for the 3.7s. If you audition the 3.7s w/ your system I'd be interested in your impressions.
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