Table of Contents
Advertisement
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I clean my speakers?
Use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to remove the dust
from your speakers. For the wood surfaces it is accept-
able to slightly dampen the cloth. Do not spray any kind
of cleaning agent on or in close proximity to the electro-
static element. Avoid the use of ammonia based products
or silicone oil on the wood parts.
What is the advantage of ESL?
Since the diaphragm is uniformly driven over its entire
surface—unlike a tweeter that is only driven at its edges—
it is the only technology that can be made large enough
to play bass, yet is still light enough for high frequencies.
This unique property allows for the elimination of high fre-
quency crossover points and their associated distortions.
What size amplifier should I use?
We recommend amplifier sizes in the specifications of
each speaker. Our hybrid designs will perform well with
either a tube or transistorized amplifier, and will reveal
the sonic character of either type. However, it is impor-
tant that the amplifier be stable operating into varying
impedance loads: an ideally stable amplifier will typically
be able to deliver nearly twice its rated wattage into 4
Ohms and should again increase into 2 Ohms.
Is there likely to be any interaction between my speakers
and the television in my Audio/Video system?
Actually, there is less interaction between a television and
an electrostatic speaker than between a television and a
conventional system. However, we do recommend that
you keep your speakers at least one foot away from the
television because of the dynamic woofer they employ.
Will my electric bill go 'sky high' by leaving my speakers
plugged in all the time?
No. There is circuitry to turn off the static charge when
not in use; however, actual consumption will remain close
to the same. The primary purpose of the sensing circuitry
is to prevent dust collection on the electrostatic element.
Could you suggest a list of suitable electronics, cables, and
power cords that would be ideal for MartinLogan speakers?
The area of electronics, cable, and power cord choice
is probably the most common type of question that we
receive. It is also the most subjective. We have repeatedly
found that brands that work well in one setup will drive
someone else nuts in another. We use many brands with
great success. Again, we have no favorites; we use electron-
ics and cables quite interchangeably. We would suggest
listening to a number of brands—and above all else— trust
your ears. Dealers are always the best source for information
when purchasing additional audio equipment.
If the diaphragm is punctured with a pencil or similar
item, how extensive would the damage to the speaker be?
Our research department has literally punctured hun-
dreds of holes in a diaphragm, neither affecting the
quality of the sound nor causing the diaphragm to rip.
However, you will be able to see the actual puncture and
it can be a physical nuisance. If this is the case, replacing
the electrostatic transducer will be the only solution.
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or performance of
my speakers?
We recommend that you not place any loudspeaker in
direct sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun
can cause deterioration of grill cloth, speaker cones, etc.
Small exposures to UV will not cause a problem. In gener-
al, the filtering of UV rays through glass will greatly reduce
the negative effects on the electrostatic membrane itself.
A problem has recently developed with my MartinLogan
speakers. The right speaker seems to be hissing even
when the amplifier and such are not connected. I was
wondering if this sounds like any problem you have
encountered previously and have a simple solution for or
might it be something which will need to be looked into
more carefully.
Your speakers are dusty. See the vacuuming FAQ. The
electrostatic charge on the element has attracted air-
borne dust or pollen. Since 1993, all of our speakers have
been built with a charging circuit board that only charg-
es the electrostatic element when music plays. At other
times they are not charged and cannot collect dust.
Will excessive smoke or dust cause any problems with my
electrostatic speakers?
Exposure to excessive contaminants such as smoke
or dust may potentially affect the performance of the
17
Advertisement
Table of Contents
