18 Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I clean my speakers?
Just use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to remove the
dust from your speakers. We recommend a specialty cloth
(available through the XStatic shop at www.martinlogan.com)
that cleans your speakers better than anything else we
have ever tried.
Do not spray any kind of cleaning
agent on or in close proximity to the electrostatic
element.
What is the advantage of ESL?
Since the polyester film diaphragm is uniformly driven
over its entire surface—unlike a tweeter that is only driven
at its edges—it is the only technology that can be made
large enough to play bass, yet is still light enough for
high frequencies. This unique property allows for the
elimination of high frequency crossover points and
their associated distortions.
What size of an amplifier should I use?
We recommend an amplifier with 100 to 200 watts per
channel for most applications. Probably less would be
adequate for our smaller hybrids or when used in home
theater where a subwoofer is employed. Our hybrid
designs will perform well with either a tube or transistorized
amplifier, and will reveal the sonic character of either
type. However, it is important that the amplifier be stable
operating into varying impedance loads: a stable amplifier
will be able to deliver twice its rated wattage into 4 Ohms
and should again double into 2 Ohms.
Could you suggest a list of suitable electronics and
cables that would be ideal for MartinLogan speakers?
The area of electronics and cable choice is probably
the most common type of question that we receive. It is
also the most subjective. We have repeatedly found
that brands that work well in one setup will drive someone
else nuts in another. We use many brands with great
success. Again, we have no favorites; we use electronics
and cables quite interchangeably. We would suggest
listening to a number of brands—and above all else,
trust your ears. Dealers are always the best source for
information when purchasing additional audio equipment.
Is there likely to be any interaction between my speakers
and the television in my Audio/Video system?
Actually, there is less interaction between a television
and an electrostatic speaker than between a television
and a conventional system. However, we do recommend
that you keep your speakers at least one foot away from
the television because of the dynamic woofer they
employ. In the case of our center channel speakers, however,
they are fully shielded and can go anywhere.
Will my electric bill go ‘sky high’ by leaving my speak-
ers plugged in all the time?
No. A pair of MartinLogans will draw about 5 watts
maximum. There is some circuitry to turn off the static
charge when not in use; however, the actual consumption
will remain close to the same. The primary purpose of
the sensing circuitry is to prevent dust collection on the
electrostatic element.
If the diaphragm is punctured with a pencil, stick, or
similar item, how extensive would the damage to the
speaker be?
Our research department has literally punctured hundreds
of holes in a diaphragm, neither affecting the quality of
the sound nor causing the diaphragm to rip. However,
you will be able to see the actual puncture and it can
be a physical nuisance. If this is the case, replacing the
electrostatic transducer will be the only solution.
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or performance
of my speakers?
We recommend that you not place any loudspeaker in
direct sunlight, as the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun
can cause deterioration of grill cloth, speaker cones,
etc. Small exposures to UV will not cause a problem.
In general, the filtering of UV rays through glass will
greatly reduce the negative effects on the electrostatic
membrane itself.