Martin Logan ESL X Speakers

It is always a great time when new products (to Vinyl Groove Audio) arrive for testing and evaluation, especially if they offer a totally unique solution to our existing portfolio.

Introducing the wonderful Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL X speakers, since arriving they have been a talking point with literally everyone who has visited the showroom. I guess it is easy to see why, as they are not your typical/conventional speaker ‘box’ design, these incorporate a ‘Hybrid Panel’ design that offers something completely different from the norm.

Each speaker comprises of two parts, first is an electrostatic transducer (panel) measuring 102cm x 22cm (with 30° Horizontal Dispersion) that provides all the high and mid frequencies and the second is a a pair of dual 8″ bass drives handling the lower frequencies.

Unique Speaker Design

This unique hybrid design provides the best of both worlds with a superb soundstage with centre image like no other. You can absolutely pin point where are the vocals and instruments are, almost like they are floating in space. This can be super difficult to convey in words but once you hear it for yourself, within a matter of seconds you get to experience this amazing sound experience.

The ESL X speakers benefit providing space around them, away from side walls and approx 60cm front to the wall behind them (in our demo room we currently have them positioned 76cm speaker front back to wall). The panel uses a true dipole design that produces a unique sound presentation.

The EM-ESL X radiates sound with equal intensity from the front and back of its diaphragm, but the outputs are in opposite phase. As a result, sound waves rippling out toward the sides meet at the speaker’s edge and cancel. That and the relatively large size of the ElectroMotion ESL X’s electrostatic panel cause output at the sides to be very low relative to that of a conventional loudspeaker, which in turn minimises side-wall reflections that tend to muddle sonic detail and stereo imaging. While the reduction in output to the sides contributes to the astonishing clarity for which electrostats are revered, the energy reflected off the wall behind the speaker opens up and deepens the sound.

One of MartinLogan’s original breakthroughs, CLS™ (Curvilinear Line Source) technology, has been an essential ingredient of every electrostatic loudspeaker they have produced—and the ElectroMotion ESL X is no exception. Proprietary manufacturing methods enable construction of electrostatic panels as cylindrical sections. Their gentle horizontal curvature solves the problem of obtaining good high-frequency dispersion from a large radiating surface without compromising overall sound quality or reliability.

Recommended System Combinations

We received a brand new pair which required a long running in period (circa 100 hours). Once they were run-in, we started experimenting with different electronics to see which brands would pair well with the ESL X’s. After early listening sessions, we have been totally blown away with both Hegel and Cyrus pairing with the ESL X’s, serving different price points £10k & £20k: