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Monolith III User's Manual

Introduction

Congratulations, you have invested in
one of the world’s premier loudspeaker
systems!

The Martin-Logan 

MONOLITH III 

repre-

sents the culmination of an intensive,
dedicated group research program
directed toward establishing a world
class reference monitor utilizing
leading-edge technology, without
compromising durability, reliability,
craftsmanship, or aesthetic design.

The original Monolith made its official
debut in June of 1982 at the Interna-
tional Consumer Electronics Show
where it was selected for the prestigous
Design and Engineering Exhibition as
one of the most innovative consumer
electronics products of that year. Since
then, the Monolith has become the
speaker of choice by the most demand-
ing musicians, electronics manufactur-
ers, and recording studios, as well as
the most discerning critical listeners.

As a result of our continuous research
and development program here at
Martin-Logan, we decided that it was
time to incorporate some of our latest
technologies into the already outstand-
ing Monolith. So, in January of 1990 we
introduced the 

MONOLITH III 

to the

marketplace.

With the 

MONOLITH III, 

we have ad-

vanced the current state of the art in

many areas of loudspeaker design.
Bass response has better extension,
superior impact and improved defini-
tion, high frequency response also has
better extension and is much more
natural in character. Much effort was
spent on minimizing all diffractive or
reflective surfaces. This has improved
overall transparency and image quality.

In addition, a great amount of energy
was spent on the interface between the
electrostatic element and the woofer,
with astonishing results. The fruit of this
labor has brought us the passive 

IIIp

INTERFACE 

and the superior electronic

IIIx CROSSOVER

. With either of these two

devices, the transition from the electro-
static element to the woofer becomes
invisible and an unbelieveable continu-
ity of sound prevails. With the 

IIIx

CROSSOVER     

another veil is lifted and

you are brought even closer to the
musical truth. Dynamic information
suddenly becomes frightening. Power
handling and system efficiency are
enhanced as well.

Like the original Monoliths, all materials
in your new 

MONOLITH III 

speakers are

of the highest quality to provide years of
enduring enjoyment and deepening
respect. All trim pieces are constructed
from selected hardwoods. They are
then grain and color matched and finally
hand finished. The cabinetry is con-
structed from a special high-density

hardwood powderboard for structural
integrity and is finished with a durable
and attractive leatherette.

Through rigorous testing, the curvilinear
electrostatic panel manufactured and
used by Martin-Logan has proven itself
to be one of the most durable and
reliable transducers available today.
Fabricated from a specially tooled, high-
grade steel, the panel is then coated
with a special high dielectric nylon/
Delrin based polymer that is applied via
a proprietary electrostatic deposition
process. This panel assembly houses
a membrane 0.0005 of an inch thick!
Ruggedly constructed and insulated, as
much as 200 watts of continuous
power has driven the 

MONOLITH III

's

energized diaphragm into massive
excursions with no deleterious effects.

We again thank you for purchasing the

MONOLITH III

. By following the 

Installa-

tion in Brief 

instructions you may

connect them to your system, sit back,
relax, and enjoy this most exacting
transducer. It has been designed and
constructed to give you years of trouble-
free listening enjoyment.

Happy Listening!

Summary of Contents for Monolith III

Page 1: ...The Monolith III Speaker System User s Manual...

Page 2: ...stration with your speakers you cannot be assured of having received new units If this is the case please contact Martin Logan We know you are anxious to listen to your new speakers So to speed you al...

Page 3: ...ults The fruit of this labor has brought us the passive IIIp INTERFACE and the superior electronic IIIx CROSSOVER With either of these two devices the transition from the electro static element to the...

Page 4: ...l of the speaker and then to the wall outlet Extension cords may be used if necessary since the AC power requirement of the Monolith is extremely small Step 3 Signal Connection Step 3 Signal Connectio...

Page 5: ...olts meter Weight Weight Weight Weight Weight 120 lbs speaker 54 4 kg speaker Size Size Size Size Size HWD 73 75 x 26 75 x 11 75 187 3cm x 67 9cm x 29 8cm Components Components Components Components C...

Page 6: ...rrowed the field of contestants down to the cone and the electrostat The outcome would dictate the way that future generations would refer to loudspeakers as being either conven tional or exotic Bell...

Page 7: ...s performance it presented a difficult load that some amplifiers did not like its dispersion was very directional and its power handling was limited to around 70 watts As a result many people continue...

Page 8: ...ng and operating the speakers Substantially impaired perform ance or severe damage may occur to a Martin Logan speaker if operation is attempted from an incorrect AC power source If your home is not e...

Page 9: ...one set of wires to the HI HI HI HI HI and HI HI HI HI HI binding posts of the IIIp INTERFACE Then connect a second set of wires to the LO LO LO LO LO and LO LO LO LO LO binding posts Next connect bot...

Page 10: ...o amplifiers or two mono amplifiers and one stereo amplifier Get the idea here With either form of passive bi amplification your pre amplifier must have dual outputs If your pre amplifier is not so eq...

Page 11: ...ropriate left and right inputs of both amplifiers See Figure 3a With vertical bi amping vertical bi amping vertical bi amping vertical bi amping vertical bi amping each of the stereo amplifiers is ded...

Page 12: ...er because all frequency division of the signal is done at line level at very low power millivolts with active components transistors This configuration has several advan tages With the frequency divi...

Page 13: ...ter all signal connections have been signal connections have been signal connections have been signal connections have been signal connections have been made and you have verified that made and you ha...

Page 14: ...is labeled frequency and the right control is labeled boost cut See Figure 6 These are a very accurate and precise pair of controls that allow you to adjust your speakers output in the most problemat...

Page 15: ...ame frequency as that of the worst offender and adjust the boost cut control to its appropriate position either up to cancel a void or down to cancel a peak you should begin to establish a smooth prog...

Page 16: ...ave a much higher output impedance In addition many cables can change the preamplifiers output characteristics In order to assure a high level of performance with all types of preamps and cables the M...

Page 17: ...namic cone drive a high Q driver in a large tuned usually ported box is required The trade off with this approach is poor speed acceleration and damping of the woofer driver The superior performance o...

Page 18: ...s phenomenon Reflective Surfaces Reflective Surfaces Reflective Surfaces Reflective Surfaces Reflective Surfaces The hard surfaces of your room particularly if close to your speaker system will reflec...

Page 19: ...in Logan electrostatic loudspeakers are known as bipolar radiators This means that they produce sound from both their fronts and their backs Consequently musical information is reflected by the wall b...

Page 20: ...g with a wide listeningarea Eventhoughtheysufferfrom venetian blind effect angled multiple panel speakers can deliver good imaging but only to specific spots in the listen ing area Ascanbeseen pointso...

Page 21: ...y with deeper bass and more spacious highs resulting After a few days of listening you can begin to make refine ments and hear the differences of those refinements The Back Wall The Back Wall The Back...

Page 22: ...imaging is more open and spacious and the bass response tightened that is a superior position Move the speakers back six inches from the initial set up position Again listen to the imaging and bass r...

Page 23: ...they sound for years to come Do not spray any cleaning solutions on the electrostatic element as this could impair the speakers performance Dust may be removed with a brush attachment on a vacuum cle...

Page 24: ...e then applied to the stators The resulting electrostatic field created by the opposing high voltage on the stators works simultane ously with and against the diaphragm consequently moving it back and...

Page 25: ...d damped and close to massless Unfortunately these condi tions are not available in our world today To make these cones and domes move all electromagnetic drivers must use voice coils wound on formers...

Page 26: ...in imaging and staging performance due to the minutely accurate phase relationship of the full range panel wave launch Critical Zone Critical Zone Critical Zone Critical Zone Critical Zone 250 20kHz...

Page 27: ...er with the inherent speed and accuracy of an electrostatic panel Since then refinements in the actual driver assemblies crossover compo nents and materials used in the construction of our hybrid spea...

Page 28: ...o be any interaction Is there likely to be any interaction Is there likely to be any interaction Is there likely to be any interaction Is there likely to be any interaction between the Monoliths and t...

Page 29: ...y be vacuumed off with a brush attachment connected to your vacuum cleaner or you may blow them off with compressed air DO NOT SPRAY ANY KIND OF CLEANING AGENT ON OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEM No Outp...

Page 30: ...el A numerical expression of the relative loudness of a sound The difference in decibels between two sounds is ten times the common logarithm of the ratio of their power levels DC DC DC DC DC Abbrevia...

Page 31: ...by which it opposes the flow of electric current resulting in the generation of heat in the conducting material usually expressed in ohms Resistor Resistor Resistor Resistor Resistor A device used in...

Page 32: ...3 00 2001 delaware street p o box 741 lawrence kansas 66044 phone 913 749 0133 fax 913 749 5320 1989 Martin Logan Ltd All rights reserved...

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