Just bought SL3s to replace very old Linn Isobariks in my Naim system - Naim CD2, Naim NAC32.5 pre-amp and NAP250 power amp. The difference is stunning - wonderfully clear and smooth, very detailed and powerful bass. Also the imaging is very precise. With the Naim there is still plenty of dynamics.Its the detail that's really stunning. My previous favourite tracks now seem a little bland - Ry Cooder's "Across the Borderline" for instance. But I can now hear right into more complex musics with ease whereas before I had to work at it. Opera is wonderful - Rigoletto and Lucia di Lammermoor [with Joan Sutherland and Pavarotti] have tken on a whole new life. The pin sharp imaging helps a lot here, of course. Jazz is also much more accessible; its much easier to follow the interplay between the instruments say on Mingus' "Pithecanthropus Erectus".
Don't notice quite the same level of improvement with the Grateful Dead but its still pretty wonderful.
These speakers are heartily recommended, they should be on everyones shortlist in this price range.

Just bought a pair of Martin-Logan Quests (walked into the only dealer in town who had M-L's - I wanted to hear the Aerius - Saw these! I believe they were a STEAL @ $1800) and first hooked them up to an Onkyo 110w/ch AV receiver. Sounded WAY better than the ESS PS-5's I've had for years, but knew I'd need MORE POWER.
Home theater is a remote second to traditional stereo right now (as in the past), so budget dictates that I stick with the Definitive Tech CL2000 and BPX's I've had for a while hooked to the Onkyo for home theater, but did find a good price ($650 on an Acurus 200x3 which was quickly purchased and connected to the Onkyo pre-outs and will eventually drive the center and rears.

INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE - Bass is incredibly tight, highs clearer - even with the AudioQuest Quartz interconnects and Crystal Bi-Wire I have.

Main problem is now front end - CD-wise I'm looking for something that will do justice for the right price... maybe the Rega.... and definitely work on cables although I'm afraid I've pressed my luck with the better half this holiday season already......

But eventually the Aragon 8008BB along with a GOOD AC3/DTS/MPEG Home theater Preamp. Got to feed these babys if you want'em to brawl with the best of them...

LOVE THESE 'LOGANS!!!!!

After hearing the Quad ESL-63 US Monitors, I am now going to sell my vastly inferior SL3's. There really is no comparison!!! I have owned them for about four months and thought they WERE quite good. That is, until I heard the sublime midrange of the Quads. Martin Logan has a way to go if they want to supersede these CLASSIC British Electrostats.

This is more a question than a review. I am a Sequel 2 owner. I've heard the SL3s, and I think they are superb. Enough said. Because the speakers tilt backwards, they 'beam' their sound up at angle. This seems fine if you are standing up or sitting in a high chair close enough to the speakers. But what if you sit in a low chair (as most armchairs are) or have a long, narrow room? One of the big advantages of electrostatics, which are line source speakers, is that they work well in long rooms because of their minimal interaction with the walls, floor and ceiling. With the SL3s, however,the 'beam' of sound goes over one's head, especially when seated. The sequel 2 stands perpendicular to the floor, as does the reQuest and Monolith, which makes sense to me as few people have ears lower than 2 feet or higher than 6 feet. Any opionions/suggestions for a person wanting to upgrade to an SL3? I rate it a 5 for absolute sound quality and a 2 for design and flexibility

I just completed setting up my first Reference system, and I'm proud to say that my choice of loudspeakers was not a bad one. In fact, I just love these Logans!!
FYI, associated equipment:

Meridian 508.20
Classe' CP-50
Classe' CA-100
Cardas cables and interconnect everywhere
Target racks
Panamax 1000+ powerline conditioner


As you can see, my main goals were the most transparent, neutral, and warm sound for mostly jazz and classical listening. It took me a while to set up the speakers, but once I had them correctly, it was revelation!!

For auditioning purposes, I a/b'ed with ARC VT100/LS-15 combo, but I liked Classe' components more.

Definitely 5 stars!!! These speakers are simply among the BEST in the world.

Since the magority of people rate these speakers to a high level I am beggining to think that I need to listen to these speakers again. I heard these speakers at Stereo Exchange in NY, they had a room full of logans and I remember the salseman was very upset that someone left the Amplifier OFF because it was the sort of Amp that needed to be warmed up for a while before getting any good responce. When I refer to brighter sounding speakers I mean a speaker like Magneplanar for example. The logans lacked the airyness and clarity, sharp dynamic,high smoothness other speakers had in the store like the BMW which were in a diferent room. This may be the cause of the cold Amp it was running on. I dont recall which Amp it was but the store does not carry any crappy equiptment and the Amp was very expencive. I believe I need to hear these speakers again more carefully and with an Amp like my Aragon.

I listened to these speakers while purchasing my Aragon 8008 bb and I thoughtthe sound was very crappy. I dont understand how anyone could like these
speakers they are so laid back that it seems that the sound is going through
a pillow before reaching the human ear. I prefer smooth brighter sounding speakers but not to the point where its to bright. Sound was mellow and boring with lack of dynamics, sharpness, and imaging. Ive heard allot of speakers starting from the egglestone and down to klipsch. Im surprised these speakers recieve good reviews and im beggining to think that maybe the ones I heard might not of been hooked up properly or maybe the Amp it was running on needed more time to heat up? I will try these speakers again but since I believe I heard these speakers with proper setup I have to give them 1 star considering the price and loss of sound.

Hello,(especially to trance)
I am in the process of putting my system together but I have auditioned components enough to have decided on the exact components:

CD- Arcam MCD (already had this, very nice though)
speakers- ML SL3's
amp- Aragon 8008BB (demo)
pre- BAT VK3i
wires- Synergistic research, Transparent

While I cannot claim to have years of experience I will say that I have not found anything that comes close to the above setup for the price. I have listened to Magnaplanar, ALON, B/W, Paradihn and many other speakers and I keep coming back to the SL-3s. I think the important thing here is personal preference. I have tried to like box speakers and I understand their strengths, however, I just prefer electrostats. Box speakers make my foot tap, electrostats make me grab my girlfriend and start dancing....

To trance: I would give these another good listen with the 8008bb. I find the logans sound best with a good quality tube preamp. In fact if I had first heard them with solid state first I probably would not have gone back for a second listen. Also take some good cd's; my old 80's cds dont sound as good as my remastered 90s cds

As I said before, it is all personal preference. More so than I ever thought.

Michael

Athough I am still in the shopping stage I've compared the SL3 to the Thiel 3.6 and the Alon V, all wonderful speakers and I have to say I'm leaning toward the Martin Logans. As all great high end speakers they are very revealing. Any weak link in your system will be shown without mercy. Placement is very important. Don't cram them in room corners and be sure to toe them in slighty. Because they are dipoles side reflections are not a problem but do have some rear obsorbtion behind. They will sound better. Most agree that bi-wiring is a good thing as well,but not critical. I heard them powered by a Sunfire Amp and the sound was magnificent!! Highs were crisp and clear. The mid-range was its real high point. Full range, acurate and because of the big panel the sound of instuments were more life like. A piano was large not small sounding, violins were crisp and raspy like I never heard them before. The bass is very tight. Not over powering, not sloppy or rumbly. On a new age cd what once I thought was one bas drum on the SL3 turned out to be three. Amazing!! However, if you are a bass nut and like to boom these speakers are not for you. I would recommend you shop at Circuit City instead. You are not ready for these fine speakers. One last point, do not under power these speakers. A good clean 150 watts at the minimum. I have to give the Martin Logan SL3 a 5 star rating.

Over the last few days, I have auditioned the SL3s, DynAudio 90s, Eccleston, B&W, Energy, Definitive Techs BPs, and Pardigm. Keep in mind that sound is a personal preference. All the ones listed above are great for Home Theater, but if you are looking for stereo, eliminate all but the SL3s, and DynAudio. The Dyn's at $2100 a pair are nice. However, for the extra $$ the Martin's are excellent. They do lack a little in the bass (If you are a bass head). That is not what these speakers are for. The are to represent sound as it was meant to be heard, natural. Period. These are something to look at!