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 05, 2007 23:22

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 10:59

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 05, 2006 21:12

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 21, 2006 23:23

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 01, 2005 19:29

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 18:17

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 18:34

System edited:

zenaissance October 31, 2002 00:34