I have recent bought the ML SL3 and currently driving these with an AV Amplifier (DENON AVR5600 with 170 Watts per channel in straight stereo and this same amp. also been referred to as AVC A1 marketed in other countries). While I'm appreciate it's not a good match, being an AV amp., the result is great and I am now looking for a better match and hence a replacement amp. I have narrowed to the following options and any suggestions out there will be appreciated.1. Acurus A250
2. Krell KAV 250a
3. Sunfire Sunfire Amplifier

I am using a Sony CD player XA5ES with the above setup. My rating for the SL3 is 4 out of 5 with existing combination. My taste for music is Jazz, female vocals and instrumentals.

Astonishing transparency and truth of timbre

Does not go low enough, woodwork could be improved

Let's get one thing out of the way: ESL's are not for everyone or every system. All of people's major complaints have also been my problems in the past. The fact of the matter is this speaker want ultimate electronics to truly shine. And shine they do; I am driving them with a Spectral DMC-20 and DMA-150 pre/amp and the sound is simply spectacular with stunning transarency, from jazz to big orchestral pieces.

The key is power and control; they need to be driven by amps that are manufacturer-rated at least down to 2 ohms, as their impedance drops to 1.7 ohms. Being ESLs, they will reveal every little problem upstream. ESLs are like electron microscopes; you *will* hear (or see) the nitty gritty.

You may find it hard to believe, but I have done a significant number of in-store auditions of various speakers up to $30,000 retail, including JM Lab Utopias, Avalon Eidolon, Wilson Watt/Puppy 5.1, Dunlavy and the like, usually driven by top of the line Spectral, Levinson or Krell gear. I have yet to go home wanting to own another system, with the exception of the Avalons -- SL3's *can* be that good.

My only problem is they do not go very low for my likes, the treble *can* be refined a bit, the overall soundstage can be made wider, and I do not particularly like the woodwork.

Similar Products Used:

speakers up to $30,000

I agree with acf. Martin Logan speakers are simply amazing. They sound greaton any kind of music. There is no reason to look any further unless you're
going to look at even better Martin Logans.

The only speaker better than a Martin Logan is a bigger Martin Logan. I
couldn't find a speaker that came close (at *any* price range). You owe it to
yourself to audition a pair of these today.

-alan

Where to begin . . . The old adage of "first impressions" applies, but does not entirely hold true. Indeed the SL3's are an aesthetic triumph and portray vocals like no other (and continue to do so). That established, I was itching to get inside.
Here's the details (pardon the randomness): Pop off the side slates, and unvelcro the stator. Checked the woofer to see if properly sealed, and to my dismay, disappointment settled in. Simple wood screws (several of which were driven in at an angle!) hold the driver in place (t-nuts and machine screws are far better). The front baffle is one sheet of 3/4 MDF (should be doubled). The woofer uses a stamped steel basket. "Monster Cable" leads feed the woofer (VERY ironic -- since most reviews specifically tell us not to use cheap speaker cables such as Monster Cable!!!!). Bracing is nil . . . simple angle braces in opposite corners. Next, I unscrewed the back panel, again wood screws . . . BIG SURPRISE follows. I found that the main black lead had been wrapped around the "outer" side of one of the screw (that hold the back panel)!!! Not only did that prevent proper sealing, but the screw actually bit into the wire!!! On to the bottom. The SL3 s are packaged with 4 (8 total) cheap "black nails" for spikes. They are threaded into brass inserts on the bottom of the enclosure. I found that these inserts were not "capped" and if the owner elects to use 3 spikes (two in front / one in back), the "open" holes in the rear will leak air.

Where do ML's funds go? Some quick math . . . ML quoted me $470 for 2 new SL3 stator panels. A good stamped steel 10" driver is less than $100. 4x8 sheet of 3/4 MDF is $22. Not sure of cost of crossover network. Nonetheless, they don't add up to $3400.

My local retailer sells them for $3400 pr. At that price, I'll give them 3 stars. Used, on the net, SL3s can be had for $1900. At that price, I'll give them 5.

Have experienced a number of high end "box" speakers,the Logans are a true delight in comparison. Using Syn Res bi-wire Ref. 2 with Aragon, Audible Illusions and Micromega gear. Found that Roomtunes Tune Pak tamed some of the brightness in my system and measurably increased the spatial detail the SL 3's are capable of producing. REQUESTS are next!

midrange purity, transparancy

limited dynamics

I owned a pair of SL-3s for a couple of years. They do have a midrange tonal purity and transparancy that is beyond reproach, but, and it is a big but, they are dynamically limited. I first realized this when I noticed that on particular types of music such as rock, blues, big band jazz, anything with high dynamic content, they seemed to polite, and laid back. I had a hard time really getting into the music. So I brought home a pair of Alon IIs, which sold at that time for $2300, hooked them up side-by-side to the SL-3s. Man, what a revelation, I mean there was really no comparison. The Alons were much more dynamic and they didn't have to take a back seat to the SL-3s in transparancy. A great all around speaker. Needless to say, I sold the SL-3s and bought the Alons. The bottom line - the SL3s are great speakers up to a point, just don't expect them to move the same amount of air as a well designed box speaker. Now here's the kicker - I just auditioned the Vandersteen 2ce signatures in my home and my first impression is that they are even better than the Alons, at $1620 for the pair. But I will be bringing them home again shortly for another round...

In a word, transparency. Good-looking and well finished, perfectly happy with a Krell KAV 300i,though more power would be possibly even better. For well recorded and particularly live music they have no equal at this price (or even close). Wasted in a small room, they need space to show their true worth.

They ruthlessly expose bad recordings (keep those Cds for the car).

The first time I auditioned them, I could not stop smiling, and the effect continues to this day. Wonderful.

Big LF. Big, tall and large.

What is so great about it? Too much bass.

I am sorry to disappoint those you like theirs very much. Saw this on sale and based on promising written reviews bought them straight away. However, at home the difficulty start. In my living room (15'x12') it does not sound good in the usual position of my other speakers. They need space at the back. Any less then 5 feet away from the wall the bass is over powering, mid range is drowning (against the wall position as in Friends, the TV series don't work). Moreover, details and musicality is nothing new. Even some small bookshelf can show the same transparency.

When playing pop music it is average. Human voice is clear and pleasant but not any better then lesser speakers like my old Templers. Big and complex orchestral music like Shostakovich symphonies are good but do not show the speed and raw excitement as I remember it should be. Look at Revel for sound that is full of dynamic and enjoyment.

For ease of placement and all the musicality for enjoying any type of music don’t forget to try the active Keilidh.

Similar Products Used:

Revel Salon, Active Linn Keilidh, Shahinian Arc Watt system 5, Ruark Talisman & Templer.

Voices are natural. Instruments are crisp. Drums sound very authentic.

Placement is not easy.

The SL3's are the finest sounding speakers I have ever owned. When I close my mind it is like the artist/group is right in my living room performing for me. I have listened to songs that I thought I hated and they sound so good on these speakers that I actually now like the songs. The voices are so natural and convincing. Every nuance of a song can be heard. I am listening to my entire CD collection just to discover all the details that I was previously missing. I can't imagine ever needing anything better than these speakers.

My system:
Proceed AVP
Proceed HPA 2 Amp
Nordost Blue Heaven Cables/Balance Interconnects
Sony S7000 DVD Player as transport

wide scene, good bass, real voices, beautiful.

none

I recently changed from Mission 753 speakers to Martin Logan SL3 and from a Cyrus 3(+PSX-R power supply) to a Classé CAP-101 because SL3 deserve more power and better bass.

I must admit the sound is, in my opinion, better than anything I hoped (and better than anything I've heard, even at prohibitive prices). I first really appreciated voices (with real presence). I then realized that the sound didn't come from the speakers but from the musicians, each one at his/her place (when the disc is well recorded; the lives are best).

Placement:
My room seems to be just good for the SL3: 5x4.5m;16.4x14.7ft, a bit bright.
I can keep the SL3 at 1m (3.2ft) from the walls, let 2m (6.5ft) between then and stay at 3m (10ft) from them.
With such a position, I can have a real concert at home (all types of music are OK). I also turned them (not too much) to the listening place.
So, I am able to move around, to have friends listening with me and keep the good position of musicians (with good recording, I can even approach the singer). I don't really understand why people tell it's so difficult to place! Just follow the manual.

Amp&level:
The CAP-101 amp seems to be a perfect companion for the SL3. I usually listen at a realistic level (not stadium concerts) and never turn the volume level after 1/4 (CAP-101 is 100w and good from the deep bass to treble). I don't really think a 200w (or more) amp is reasonable in a normal room (the SL3 are able to do terrific sound, I tried, and was scared with an organ passage at a volume level less than 1/3!).

The only bad thing with them is for bad CDs; they stay in the box because the well-recorded ones are the keys for really fabulous moments.

System:
Teac VRDS-25 CD player
Classé CAP-101 integrated amplifier
Martin Logan SL3 speakers
Monster interlink junior interconnects
Ixos 603 speaker cable