Transparent. Hugh soundstage

Difficult to find optimal placement. An inch makes a hugh difference

I disagree with the last reviewer!! The SL3 is excellent on jazz, all forms including big band.They handle rock as well as long as it isn't at MEGA volumes. Need at least 200 Watts into 4 ohms. YOU need high end source components and cables/interconnectspower cords to make the SL3 shine.Is it better than most products in the same price range... YEP!! Is it dynamic and punchy...YEP!! You need crucial placement and GREAT source components to get the best out of them.I have no complaints.Are they better than my Cornwalls? Unfortunately... YEP!! Will I keep them another 20 years... Probably!!

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch cornwall

The sound!

Nothing unexpected (these aren't full range afterall).

I can sum it all up like this: a friend comes over for a visit, we sit around for a half hour or so and friend eventually says 'Where's that music coming from?', I point to the Martin Logans and friend says 'No way!', promptly gets up and puts his/her ear next to one of the SL-3's and says (with a look of astonishment on his her face) 'Wow, I can't believe it!' These are the only stereo gear I have owned which actually stun people with their sound. Place these properly and they become sonically invisible. I will never give these up, except to move on to another pair of Martin Logans.

Right now using a Muse amp-preamp setup with Sony DVP 7700 and MSB LINK DAC, Goertz cables, Brickwall line filter.

These speakers truly are unbelievable for the price. I would spend the money you save on these speakers and buy an extremely high power amp, ie, one that is at least the 200 watt maximum. I am using these with a 600 watt/channel Krell and the sound is amazing. If there is a weak point it is the woofer unit. However, I am using these speakers in a 30 foot by 20 foot room with 14 foot ceilings. An added subwoofer corrects the lack of deep lows. However, they fill the room with sound. And what a sweet sound it is. One CD I have found to be particularly brilliant on these speakers is Wynton Marsalis's In this House, On this Morning. The soundstage of the horns is incredible. The one song with vocals is crystal clear--you can hear the lips smacking between verses. I can't wait to upgrade to Monolith's, but one thing is certain, I'm keeping the SL-3's and putting them in another room. I would rate 10 if possible.

I fell in love with ML sound in the late 80's, but wasn't ready to upgrade from my Dahlquist DQ 10's until Fall. I went expecting to focus on the Aerius, but was really impressed with the SL-3's. They had tremendous realism and energy. They simply melted away and let you enjoy the music, or gripe about the quality of the CD. They are quite sensitive to room placement, but once you find the spot, they're precise and transparent. Unfortunately, my Adcoms left the SL-3's a little harsh. Upon taking my Adcoms to the dealer to do an extensive A-B, I really made a commitment and went with the Krell KAV 250 p/a ( my Adcom GCD still sound pretty good, plus I was out of money. I now have a system that sounds fantastic - tremendous realism, energy and detail All told, this is truly a system to die for! The SL-3's and the KAV 250 a/p are all 5's in my book.

Excellent mid range and detailed high's.

Positioning is difficult. Small sweet spot.

With properly matched front end components and cabling these speakers throw out a hugh soundstage, have great depth, and a seamless mid range.The bass is good but not overwhelming. I do not use a sub and am content for the most part with the bass output.Again, cabling can really make a difference in this department!! Vocals shine on a good audiphile cd such as Patricia Barber,Janis Ian, or Cassandra Wilson. When the music flows effortlessly with no boxiness, and a smile comes over your face as a result...The cost of all this is worth it!

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch Cornwalls, Advents

the best in mid and high great range

hard to place right

for years i have listen to conventional speakers but after listen to the SL3 never ever a conventional any more
i think its a musician-speaker if you like jazz or classical buy a sl3 the rachmaninov-concerts sounds like if you are in a concerthall but also recordings from jazz ..turn it loud
and here the trumpet from chet baker its great!!! what can i say just listen

Similar Products Used:

classe cp35-ca150 meridian 506-20 mitcable

Clarity, Clarity, Clarity

Took a while to adjust to room size and configuration.

As a music educator and conductor, I auditioned speakers for about 6 months. Each time I had my list of favorite recordings and took time to listen to each speaker. My list included: solo piano, orchestral, wind ensemble, vocal, pipe organ, jazz band, woodwind and brass quintet. I immediately fell in love with the Martin Logan speakers for clarity, especially in orchestral and wind band recordings. Woodwinds, percussion, strings, you name it, came across so pure and clean. I love these speakers. I highly recommend these speakers, especially if you like clarity.

Wonderful sound, great clarity, and pleasing to look at.

Need to spend plenty of time finding the right position for your room

An incredible speaker - especially the middle and higher notes. A good sub is needed to round out the package. It took a while to get these speakers positioned for optimal sound, but it's worth the effort.

Speaker preferences are very personal, but at least give these a try before buying anything else.

Similar Products Used:

Vienna Acoustics, Definitive Audio, Mission

great immaging, transparency and sound " alive"

must be biamping

I love these speakers because throught them I listen only the music and no my hi-fi components.
In my dedicated room ( 7 meters x 5 meters x 2.80 meters )
with one 100w amplifer ( mc cormack ) the sound was good but the bass was blooming!
I have opportunity to bring im my room an other amplifer
( Classe' 151 ) and i've biamping my Sl 3 :

Classe' 151 on bass
Mc cormack dna 0.5 on pannel

Wow! It's another world!!!
Sound is more musical, more powerfull, mo distorsion at very high level , high clear, midrange natural, bass absolutely deep and very very very tight. Immaging is really!

In my system biamping Martin Logan sl 3 is fantastic.

Try to biamping yours before change your others
components!!!


Associates components:

About 4000 lp e 400 cd

cd player: linn mimik
turnatable: linn lp 12, cirkus, ekos, arkiv a
pre-pre phono: linn lintoo
pramp mccormack ald1 + eps
1) ampl: classe' ca 151 on bass by balance outpout
2) ampl: mc cormack dna 0.5 de luxe on pannel

cable : pre- amplif. : xlo type 1, kimber kcag,

cable: M.L. : xlo ultra 0.6 on high
kimber 8 tc on bass

These are the best speakers I have ever owned (ML Aerius, Magnepan MG I, MG II, MG 3.3, DQ-10, etc.). They are truely full-range, and have very good dynamics for a planar, which is usually a big shortcoming. Because they are hybrids,they are easier to place then full range planar speakers, because you don't have
to worry about the bass null. I run them in a very small room (10' 10" x 10' 4" x 8' w/ an open walk in closet mostly full of records on one side wall) w/ what
most people would consider not enough power (Pass Aleph 3). According to my
SPL meter, at my close listening position, they put out 105.5 db before amp clip, which is far in excess of what I typically run at (92 db peak). While the
Aerius are very good for the money, these are wonderfull full-range speakers which can hold thier own against even 6-7K speakers. There is now a fairly active used market which is set at about US $1900 currently, which is really very cheap for what these are. IMO they would work best in a room about 14 x 18 with about 150 wpc, high current amp, capable of driving difficult loads (they are not to be driven by amps which are not stable to under 4 ohms). While they
shine on classical, vocals, etc. they have enough pace, and dynamic 'snap' to do
a fine job on rock. While easier to place then full range planars, they are not
easy to place, when auditioning, be sure the salesman has them placed away from
other speakers, equipment, and that they are angled symetrically, and you are
sitting in the sweet spot, otherwise they will not sound all that special, and
they are.