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F
A
REQUENTLY
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean my speaker?
Use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to remove the dust from
your speaker. We also recommend a specialty cloth (available
at the Xtatic shop at www.martinlogan.com) that cleans your
speaker better than anything else we have tried. For the wood
surfaces it is acceptable to slightly dampen the cloth. Do not
spray any kind of cleaning agent on or in close proxim-
ity to the electrostatic 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 sur-
face—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 frequency cross-
over points and their associated distortions.
What size amplifier should I use?
We recommend an amplifier with 100 to 250 watts per
channel for most applications. Probably less would be ade-
quate for our smaller hybrids or when used in home theater
where a subwoofer is employed. Our hybrid designs will per-
form well with either a tube or transistorized amplifier, and
will reveal the sonic character of either type. However, it is
important 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.
Could you suggest a list of suitable electronics and cables
that would be ideal for MartinLogan speakers?
The area of electronics and cable 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 electronics 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.
Is there likely to be any interaction between my speaker 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
28
Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
Q
SKED
UESTIONS AND
T
ROUBLESHOOTING
keep your speaker at least one foot away from the television
because of the dynamic woofer they employ. In the case of
our center channel speakers, however, they are fully shielded
and can go anywhere.
Will my electric bill go 'sky high' by leaving my speaker
plugged in all the time?
No. A pair of MartinLogan speakers will draw about 8 watts
maximum (idle). 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 circuit-
ry is to prevent dust collection on the electrostatic element.
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 hundreds
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 trans-
ducer will be the only solution.
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or performance of my
speaker?
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 expo-
sures to UV will not cause a problem. In general, the filtering
of UV rays through glass will greatly reduce the negative
effects on the electrostatic membrane itself.
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
electrostatic membrane, and may cause discoloration
of the diaphragm membrane. When not in use for extended
periods, you should unplug the speakers and cover them with
the plastic bags in which the speakers were originally packed.
It is a good idea to vacuum the electrostatic portion of each
speaker three or four times a year. See the vacuuming FAQ.
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 previ-
ously and have a simple solution for or might it be something
which will need to be looked into more carefully.
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