Hi Swanand,

The system should not lose any color but I would think placing the pucks and cones on top of another isolation platform should help. Try a nice wooden platform anchored to the floor (if on carpet- use psikes- on hardwood use spikes and couplers). Then place the combination of BDR pucks and cones on top before resting the speakers on this configuration. Currently I am using TAOC Tite pins (Japanese made cast iron isolators) under the speakers and the sound is very precise without sounding clinical, bland or even bright. Putting granite slabs would brighten the sound- which is not something you would like to do with ML speakers since they tend to fall that way of the spectrum. Instead, getting nice wooden boards (a combination of maple and mahagony or pine) will help give the speakers a richer sound without losing any of the detail.

zenaissance January 06, 2007 04:22

Hi Zen

Awesome system. I have the same aeriusi coulpled with a Krell FPB and mckintosh preamp. I tried using the BDR MV4 and MK3 pucks under the aerius's but was surpised as the speakers lost all color. Is there something else I should do? Should I put the granite slab under the speakekers and

swanand January 05, 2007 14:29

Hey Jason,

This is Joey_V from the MLO forum... just wanted to say you have a very clean and nice system! BTW, how come I never see you around the MLO forums?

Just curious.

Joey

joey_v October 09, 2006 17:09

Thanks for the comments everyone. I really loved these speakers so much that I am going to keep them for as long as possible.

Chadnliz- thanks for your comments. I guess the best is to have both electrostatics and regular cone speakers- you never get tired of listening- whichever preference you have.

Amperidian- these speakers really do benefit from a lot of tweaking (position adjusting-wise). I now have three large TAOC tite 64 pin cones (Cast iron- made in Japan) under each of the speakers. I am really surprised that most ML owners never bother to raise their speakers or put any substantial platform underneath them. The difference is really there.

Lvr- Yes, I have thought about adding a sub many times before and may just do that (an ML Descent perhaps). If I were to add a sub it would have to be 2. Basically a lack of strong mid-bass is usually the Achilles Heel of these smaller ML speakers. At this stage I find the bass sufficient but not exemplary. I believe I am one of the very few Aerius owners whose source and components are worth many times more than the speakers themselves. Most Aerius owners use a lot of entry-level high-end components to drive them or use them in a HT set-up for rear channel.

I believe that they can be be viable in a 2 channel main set-up. I have proven it. People who have come over to my place for a listen could not believe that these Aerius can have that much bass, dynamics etc. It has taken me many years to find a correct balance to making them sound their best- there is still a little way to go (an ugrade in speaker wire, and power amp will be foreseeable).

zenaissance August 26, 2006 14:59

Hi Zen,

Nice man. I have a set of Aerius I's myself and just wanted to confirm your findings that these speakers seem to just shine more and more as the front-end is improved. I've never owned speakers that identified the differences in performance so clearly every time something at the front is changed.

Ever considered a sub?

Regards
LvR

lvr August 23, 2006 16:20

Hi Zen,

Great system you've put together, one that I've always admired and respected. I just sold off my last Martin Logans (Aeon i's) and I miss some things they did very well. I always loved the BDR/granite block combo you use under them ... it looks awesome. I only tried the granite blocks and the improvement was easily discernible. Anyways, just wanted to express my admiration for your system ... it was one of the ones after which I modeled my electrostatic approach to music ... but now I'm back to cones.

amperidian July 31, 2006 05:36

Wow great gear, I know how great stats can sound, I owned Innsersound Eros......maybe if they had a logan sweetspot I would still have them.

chadnliz July 19, 2006 03:46

Hi from Italy. What's a kind of rectangular adsorbing treatment on the wall (and brand)? Bye.

tophase July 18, 2006 06:45

System edited: Moved system to another location. Upgraded transport to the now discontinued Audio Note CDT-2. Sonics much improved-the ML Aerius i's are now really reaching the potential that they were meant to deliver.

zenaissance May 06, 2006 01:12

Hi Love2channel,

The acoustical panels are from Acoustics First (http://www.acousticsfirst.com/wall.htm) a reputable company that has a lot of inexpensive treatments for sound absorption. I use two of their panels side by side- a heck of a lot better than egg cartons!

Best

zenaissance February 22, 2006 04:23

hello
i like to know the name of your acoustical foam on your front wall the black foam,,?what is the name of it or its company?
regards

love2channel February 21, 2006 00:02

In the picture, under the speakers..............that's not granite, it's a factory made base.

What is it?

Link to question:

http://www.martinloganowners.com/~tdacquis/forum/showthread.php?p=8684#post8684

kach22i October 14, 2005 18:24

I see that you are using the Nakamichi 682 ZX. Very excellent cassette deck. Clearly cassette still works very well. In my opinion it blows many digtal formats
(such as iPod,MP3, and music downloads) out of the water.

Like the turntable, the cassette (such as Nakamichi) follows the music to a fault. I find the analog formats to be very natural.

May you get many years of service from your Nakamichi and the rest of your system.

sdar1200 March 11, 2005 20:38

Sorry "bigpoppa"! Yes...it's sometimes hard to know when someone is serious or just being lightheartedly sarcastic. Trust me I do indeed understand as I had an ex wife who loved to be brutally sarcastic. (ouch) :( I quickly realized your wit after viewing your superb system and seeing your Logans! (Very Nice BTW.) No doubt indeed, you are well versed regarding "hybrids". Id say you have it covered pretty well. I almost want to go out and find me another pair! Enjoy! :)

kehut January 28, 2005 20:03

Zenaissance, obviously you like the HCA2 on your Ascents...have you compared it to other amps in your system?

I'm currently biamping a pair of ML Odysseys with the HCA2 on the woofers and a Pass X150.5 on the panels. I've been toying with the idea of getting a single larger amp to simplify the system a bit, but I don't want to lose out on sound quality, and it might be hard to find something that sounds as good as the HCA2/Pass combo within budget.

calanctus January 28, 2005 02:33

Apparently "Kehut" you don't know a touch of sarcasm when you see it. Relax guy.. I was being being a sarcastic old fart.
I'm well aware of the definition of "Hybrid ESL" as applied to the Aerius. I used to own a pair. I also own a pair of ML Ascents' and drive them with a true "hybrid" amp.
Cheers !

bigpoppakrell January 27, 2005 18:13

Hybrid doesn't necessarily have to mean tube with SS. Speaker manufacturer's have been building their so called hybrid designs usually incorporating dynamic drivers with either a ribbon,ESL, or something other than a conventional cone dynamic driver. The ae. aerius is a qualified hybrid speaker and a very good one at that..:)

kehut January 05, 2005 22:37

Hybrid ??? where's the tubes ? unless you refer to the Aerius's... that hardly qualifies..

bigpoppakrell January 05, 2005 21:00

Thanks Kehut for your comments. A subwoofer would help of course but I am so used to the sound without the extra bass that it is growing on me. Believe it or not, the system is actually in my bedroom. The Aerius is actually a magical speaker IMHO; I find it is more intimate and revealing than even the larger models with single instruments, small ensembles (chamber music etc).

An expensive but effective subwoofer I had in mind was the NHT model which would integrate quite nicely- getting two would bring a more balanced sound.

zenaissance January 02, 2005 00:29

Sweet looking set up and nice choices of components! Its funny to me.....Of the 3 different pairs of Logans Iv'e owned over the years each had their nice qualities and of course their drawbacks. My Aerius i's were easliy the best to sound right in my rooms, and the easiest speaker of the 3 to blend with a sub. My room was about 15x20 and they were wonderful. I wish I hadn't felt the need to "upgrade" to the bigger panels, as they were harder to integrate and need much more power.A High quality sub for the Aerius is a good move and I wish you the best with your set up. Take it from me, You have a great little speaker that will give you much enjoyment! :) ken

kehut December 31, 2004 19:32

After the tinkering awhile with the idea of adding an external DAC, I decided to take the plunge and added the Orpheus Labs DAC which utilizes the best digital design from Anagram Technologies. The CDP-10 was an excellent player but was just a bit behind in speed and a little dullness in the mid-transients. After adding the DAC, and using the CDP-10 as a transport (it makes an excellent one)the soundstage has opened up dramatically with much better clarity- making my CDP-10 sound a little sluggish. In addition, there is far better pace and rhythm.

Well, within my limited budget, it has been about 2 years now and the sound is getting a lot closer to audio nirvana. Of course I can make additional improvements (perhaps upgrading my cables etc) but there has to be time when I am just going to have to sit back and enjoy more music rather than falling into upgraditus mode again.

zenaissance December 30, 2004 23:17

Each speaker is carefully placed on a combination of 3 Black Diamond Racing Cones (MK3) and Pucks (MK4) and then mounted on a 1/2 inch Granite Slab. Speakers are bi-wired by VDH "Revelation" cables with WBT plugs and attached with PS Audio Microlab Power Cords. There is a slight toe-in of 10 degrees. Speakers are about 6 FT apart between outer panels and 4.5 FT from the front wall. Listening spot is 10 FT from speakers. Listening room size is 18 FT by 15 FT with 8 FT ceiling (Heavy Roman Blinds on one side, Thick Broadloom Floor, 5 Tiered Oak Floor to Ceiling Bookshelves).
Overall the presentation is very musical- the Aerius i's are just the size for the room. I call this system "Hybrid Legato" because speakers are ESL/Hybrid, cables/interconnects are Hybrid, and the Power Amp is a Digital Class A Hybrid model. Very transparent, warm, non-fatiguing, smooth, quick sound with a holographic presentation. The soundstage is quite realistic (good seperation) with pinpoint accuracy- thanks to the Pass Labs pre-amp (very quiet and neutral) which adds both detail and depth. With New Age, Baroque and Jazz this system really sings. Will probably add a subwoofer later.

www.martinloganowners.com

zenaissance July 21, 2003 22:34

System edited:

zenaissance October 31, 2002 05:34