have had a chance to live with my new used Martin Logan Odyssey’s for a month now. Here is my review. I have always wanted electro stats so I decided to jump on them and I am so glad I did. These are without a doubt the best speakers I have ever heard.

Reading reviews I was hesitating to get them because of some things I kept reading. First, I like lots of music and I really like hard rock and heavy metal. Every review I ever read made it sound like rock music would sound bad on these speakers, well let me tell you that is just not true. Metal music sounds great on these! Second, I thought I would have to only listen to direct to disk HiFi recordings, again not true, these speakers make 128K bps MP3s sound good even acoustically recorded phonograph music, but will really shine on high quality recordings and LPs. These really make drums sound realistic.
I kept reading that you needed your own nuclear reactor to run these; although I have them hooked up to an ADCOM GTA 7400 amp now, they run fine hooked up to my Dynaco 70 35 watt X 2 amp (just not loud). I would highly recommend matching these with a good sub though.

Finally, the small sweet spot. Although they sound even better in the sweet spot, the off axis response is still great.

If you are thinking of getting Martin Logans and were worried about the same things I was, no need to fear, buy a pair!

I really want to joun the ML Owners club but cannot get it to join.

Amazing clarity, no box sound, great tonal balance, sounds good with any type of music. Wide open sound stage, focus imaging. The speakers seem to disappear. I rate these speaker of a very high value because there are speakers out there costing three time as much that don't deliver anywhere close to the same performance.

Will reveal the flaws in poor recordings but still sounds ok. Takes a little extra time and patience to set up.

Aside from the Prodigy, the Martin Logan Odysseys are the most transparent and detailed speakers I have ever heard. I use them for both home theater and music and they do incredible justice to both. Tonal balance is very accurate, bass is tight, and very well defined. They do an excellent job of reaching even the lowest organ and kick drum passages (although not quite as well as Martin Logan's Prodigys). In my sytem they seemed to take longer to reach their full potential. Even though they are on all day everyday at normal listening levels it took about 6 months for full break in, at which point the bass really blossomed, becoming very deep and impactfull. Imaging is incredible and very well focused. As many before me have mentioned they will do sound best with high quality electronicsand cables, and they do require patient and carefull set up. They do very well in medium to large rooms, and five feet into the room and three feet from any side walls seems to be the best way to start with set up, (they seem to require very little toe in). Biwiring is the best way to connect them to your amp, but they will perform at their best when bi-amped. The Odysseys are hard to beat for the money, if you want better you'll have to step up to the Prodigys. (Which I fully intend to do)! My system: THETA CASABLANCA II (w/extreme dacs) THETA DREADNAUGHT II (5 channel) will add Citidel Monoblocks. MARK LEVINSON 31.5 CD transport MARANTZ DVD PLAYER (will upgrade to THETA DAVID II) MARTIN LOGAN ODYSSEYS (fronts)will move to rear after upgrade to prodigys. MARTIN LOGAN THEATER i (center) MARTIN LOGAN AEON i (rears) will be side surrounds. MARTIN LOGAN DECENT (subwoofer) will add a second and third ML sub.

Similar Products Used:

MARTIN LOGAN: Ascents, Aeons, and Theater.

* Flawless sound from 30hz (in my room) to 20khz * The speaker wire binding posts on the Odyssey should be standard on all speakers.

* Should be 4-5 inches taller * Not flat to 20hz (this is not a flaw, just a limit of the design based on price * Expensive

The Odysseys perform better than any other speaker I have owned to date overall (Thiel, older ML's, NHT, etc.). I had the opportunity to compare them against ML Sequel IIs I owned at the time the Odysseys arrived. The Odysseys proved to be more transparent in the midrange and treble (if you can believe that), with better bass control/stat panel integration. It also had better micro and marco dynamics than the Sequel II. In short, when it comes to the aggregate sound of the Odysseys, I can't find a problem with them. My only complaints are minor and relate to cosmetics, not performance: * I wish the stat panels were a few inches taller so they would sound the same if I listen to them standing up or sitting down. * The front woofer grill could benefit from some styling improvements

Similar Products Used:

ML Sequel II, ML CLS-IIZ, Thiel CS2.2, NHT 1.5/Sub Two I combination

You really need to audition these before purchasing new speakers. Resolution and dynamics galore!

Size, requires careful placement,really should be bi-amped, and very revealing of flaws in the sound of your source components.

After almost a 2 month break-in period, I continue to be amazed at this speakers broad and accurate soundstage, resolution of detail, dynamics, and presentation of the musical performance at realistic sound levels. I highly recommend horizontal biamping, this made a tremendous difference, as well as spending the time to "dial in" the speakers in your room(get out the measuring tape!)

Similar Products Used:

Quad USA 63 monitors(they are now my bedroom speakers!,Accoustat,Magnapan, Quad ESL

Clarity and presentation in both audio and Home Theater.

The only weakness I could think of is the price. But when you analyze the performance/price ratio compared to speakers that cost double. You then realize that they are worth every penny.

The reviewer before me hit it right on the head. These are truely remarkable sounding speakers if you match them up with high end eqipment. The ML's clarity and distinct sound separates them IMHO from other manufacturers. They are very hard to drive, for those who have a 100watt receiver you may want to look for another speaker in the ML family (Ascent).

Similar Products Used:

Snell XA 90, Revel F series, Vienna Acoustics Beethovan

-unbeatable transparency and air -beautiful to look at (new logo and blue lighted logo behind panel is very cool) -great value,though not an inexpensive speaker

-front woofer grill attachment is a little cheap -these are big speakers, so can be a challenge to integrate with decor and smaller rooms -once you hear these, you will never be happy with anything less!

owned SL-3''s for two years and just traded in for the Odyssey''s. Well worth it if you own older ML''s. Major differences include: -bass is clearly deeper and tighter -sweetspot is larger and soundstage is deeper and wider -highs have improved, mid frequencies even more transparent and transients are quicker. In summary, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and they just sound much better Some important considerations: -i am driving with a 15-year old Nakamichi PA7 Power amp and CA7 pre with the OMS 7II CD Player - old technology, but sounds great - you need good electronics and plenty of power -good speaker cables make a difference -placement is important - away from front and side walls and you may need to use the -3db bass switch if your room is a little boomy -bad recordings sound worse, good recordings are absolutely breathtaking - audio nirvana

Similar Products Used:

SL-3

Lack of deepest bass

I replaced my SL3s after 5 years of great service. I waited too long to do that, given what I found in the Odysseys. This is a truly world-class speaker and a bargain at the price. Admittedly, I am using a REL Stadium III sub with it, just like the SL3s, and it needs it. I have been astonished by the dynamics, soundstage depth and width, and its incredible resolving power - traits missing from the SL3s. This speaker leaves nothing to be desired from the Eidolon, which I wouldn''t buy even if I could afford it. The Odysseys are still breaking in, and so far they have mated well with the sub. In fact, in my room the sub is required, as it reduces a major hump at 50Hz w/o it, for a truly "flat" response +- 3dB. The speakers work well in my 400SF room, and am impressed by the lack of bass response behind the speakers - the bass is best at the listening position. The speakers are driven by Spectral electronics and Classe DAC-1/CDT-1 digital front end. And as much as I am having a love affair with the speakers, I am having a blast with the DAC which I didn''t know can be that incredibly resolving and true in timbre (and the Spectrals are flawless as usual). My best impressions of the Odysseys were best summarized three days after they replaced the SL3s, with the memory of the SL3s still very vivid. Here''s how I best described their sound against the SL3s: - Immense resolving power @ high volumes & peaks - Big time dynamics - Coherent - Taught and fast bass - Deep and very wide soundstage - Perfect sibilance with vocals - Nuance - Incredible highs - Excellent integration with sub - Excellent truth of timbre At $9500 for the combo (Odysseys + Stadium) they are a better speaker than the Prodigies to my ears, and truly a reference system. I am extremely ecstatic for finally entering the true high end of sound reproduction. To all SL3 owners: w/o a sub, the Odysseys are more than twice as good as the SL3s, at twice the price. With it, here''s how I described the sound of the system after listening to the first three reference CDs in my collection: F_CK!

Similar Products Used:

ML SL3s. Auditioned the Prodigies, Avalon Opus and Eidolon before purchase

base,soundstage

none

Just replace my SL3 with the odysseys. WOW, worth every penny! have to hear to belief.

Similar Products Used:

ML sl3

Amazing detail! , very open and deep soundstage. Much more dynamic than older Martin Logan speaker systems. Seamless integration of panel and bass driver. Bass is fast, tight, and deep!

Still breaking in, not at it's full potential yet! No weaknesses found yet.

Okay a little background before the review. These speakers are replacing 11 year old Sequel II's that were used in my 2 channel system that evolved into a 5:1 channel Home theater set up. I primarily listen to 2 channel audio, but also will watch movies.

ROOM 20'x 15'x 8' LxWxH
with Sonex panels in first reflective points in room.


EQUIPMENT,

Speakers,
ODYSSEY'S front left and right.
LOGOS center channel
SEQUEL II'S rear channels

REL storm subwoofer

Electronics,

B&K Reference 20 pre pro
and 7250 series 2 power amp.

Pioneer DV-37 dvd player/transport with modified power supply.

Audio Power power wedge for filtering and suppression.

Cables,

All cabling with the exception of the rear channels is
Cardas Golden cross/Golden reference Biwired as neeeded.
Rears are Hexlink 5 power cords and Twinlink speaker cables


As noted above these speakers replaced old Sequels. The first thing that we noticed, (The Dealer who helped set up in my room), and myself was the amazing detail and resolution that the speakers revealed. Now remember this is right out of the box! Initially sounded thin in the bass and lower mids but sounded better as the night went on! The "Force foward" design does work. The speakers are in a dedicated room so the panels are out about 60" from the rear wall, and approx 41" from the sides. The Speaker itself is the same height as the Prodigy, but about 3" thinner in width. Yes the rear portion does still protrude out! I'm able to hear imaging on some songs that I never heard before, for instance On Stanley Clarke's disc "Vertu" track five, the bass guitar when plucked now hovers in space near the inner right portion of the speaker. With the Sequel's it always came directly from the right speaker. As with all Martin Logans with the exception of the smaller ones there is this wonderful full midrange and highs that is lightning fast and with the ability to hear the instruments tonal quality. This is increased even more with the Odyssey. Percussion is superbly detailed and rendered with an accuracy that I did not hear before. For those of you reading that own Martin Logans this is a completely different speaker from their previous efforts, with the exception of the Prodigy. You can tell by the sound and design that this is a smaller version of the Prodigy! Of course this will probably not be your typical Rock and Roll lovers cup of tea, but man, they can play at high SPL's The biggest improvment I've noticed is that the panel and woofer blend so well. I must note that My previous fronts were also biwired but always had that non blended woofer/panel hump. Not evident with these speakers. For those that have heard the Ascents just imagine a more dynamic, deeper more power in the bass speaker with even better imaging,(different panel)! and you'll get some idea. They are still breaking in so I will report more as it happens! Also I discovered that the Red Violin CD, Track 4 (birth of the violin) is also a very revealing track that was amazing to hear on these speakers. The electronics noted above are temporary, and will be replaced this Summer with an EAD Ovation, and BEL 1001 MK 5 or Theta Casa Nova and Dreadnaught, which should reveal even more potential that this speaker is capable of. Go out and give these a listen.


Vern

Similar Products Used:

Sequel II's, SL3's' Requests

You can't compare much to a Logan.

I don't think so.

DAMN!