A Notion to Martin Logan’s Motion Series
Please Give A Warm Welcome To…
Martin Logan has long been a brand I have known about. Synonymous with exotic and outright bizarre designs and a very wide range of speakers, Martin Logan is a staple in the consortium that is HiFi.
Most widely known for their ESLs – That’s ElectroStatic Loudspeakers – Martin Logan have also launched into the Motion Series. A physically much smaller speaker than most, the motion series really emanates the classic sales pitch ‘big sound from a small speaker’.
Big Sound From a Small Speaker
We’ve had the Motion 15, their smallest standmount speaker and the Motion 20, their smallest floorstanding speaker in store for about 2 weeks now. A fairly consistent resident in Demo Lounge 1, the motion 15 have done nothing short of amazing me.
A few words from the craftsmen themselves..
The Motion series gets it’s name from it’s tweeter, using a very different mantra to your traditional silk, metal or beryllium dome tweeter. Martin Logan, unsurprisingly puts it best on their website describing the technology;
“The Folded Motion Tweeter works by moving air (which creates sound) perpendicular to the folded ridges of the diaphragm, similar to how an accordion works. This extremely low mass diaphragm “squeezes” air and requires almost 90% less excursion than the typical 1-inch dome tweeter, which drastically minimizes distortion while providing a lightning fast response time. The increased surface area also provides a wide, yet controlled sound dispersion to create a realistic and carefully etched sound stage.”
Taut, Refined And Has Real Extension.
This, in practice, has given a phenomenal presence. These little speakers don’t have nearly a scent of boxiness, and manage to throw a wide, accurate and atmospheric soundstage. Surprisingly, despite them being a fraction the size of Motorolla’s early mobile phone offerings, bass is very nice. Taut, refined and has real extension. I love these things.
It’s bigger brother, the Motion 20 seems to exude the same great top end, while providing this monstrously weighty, yet balanced bottom end. I can’t wait to hear what the 40s can do, let alone the 60XTs.
Burial to Beethoven, Daft Punk to Dire Straits, The Martin Logan Motions have definitely earned themselves a spot on the Listening Post Wellington’s showroom floor.
Bring on the ESLs!
William
