It's taken quite awhile to get to this point... one which I feel is a synergy that is and will be giving long term MUSICAL satisfaction.
Unfortunately there is no "one way" to get that synergy. The best advice out there (obvious but not always followed)... absolutely, positively, one must audition equipment before spending a single cent.
The Escalante Fremont's are new and beyond expectation. First heard them at CES '06. I listened and compared every day I was at the show. Did 6 more months of listening and comparing, then I decided to purchase them.
A match made in Heaven with the Claytons... or at least until the Clayton pre becomes available.
Clayton Audio M-200's
200 watts of SS Class A love...
Jorma Design No. 2
Copper cables with the natural organic warmth one would expect and the added bonus of refined, fatigue free hi-resolution.
Marten Design Birds
89db @ 6ohms. The diamond tweeter is a revelation.
Purist Audio Designs and Isoclean.. Auditioning all models of both.
Purist to the line conditioner and amplifiers, Isoclean everywhere else.
Isoclean Model 80A3
I'm in a condo complex with 183 other units. Line conditioning is an absolute necessity. The Isoclean has given me what I've been searching for... finally.
Finite Elemente Pagode
Set it and forget it. Easy to adjust the heighth of each shelf. Fit and finish is top-notch.
Isoclean fuses and outlets
These 2 accessories build upon what the line conditioner does so well. The music flows with a natural organic quality that is quite beguiling, BUT never euphonic or slow. Nothing about the music is sacrificed to create an absolutely fatigue-free sound.
Rhirsh - great system...I think Marten has the right idea with sound and looks. Too many speakers these days look terrible...my system has to be where I live and therefore must look pleasing to the eye. I love the Accuton woofer in other speakers so I look forward to hearing it in the Marten some day...I hope. Cheers on a great look!
Definitely the Miles for small listening rooms. Although I've heard the Birds work in smaller rooms, and because I know how they can sound in a larger room, there was always a sense of they were holding back. A bit like owning a Ferrari and only using it to go to the grocery on weekends.
The Miles is easy to integrate, especially now that they have switched to downward firing ports. Plenty of bass that's solid, transparent and free of boom.
Any recommendation on a cd player, I plan on upgrading my marantz Sa8260 To either Esoteric SA60, PLinius cd 101, Cary 303/300 or maybe even the Wadia player, not New of course, I been trying to built my system over time, by upgrading pieces after pieces, Im looking to sound, details, mid, bass, you know the WOW thing, so suggestions are welcome Regards Jean
As Rhirsch has said, it doesn't make sense to judge a component by what you hear at a hi-fi show. I would like to add that it also doesn't make sense to compare two components heard at different times and in different places, even under controlled conditions.
As for the Coltranes versus the Birds, I have had both in my system - the Coltranes for the past two years and the Birds for the past few months - and I can say that both are excellent speakers. I have heard very few speakers that are as open, fast, and dynamic as either of the Martens, yet both are extremely musical. Both allow you to hear everything that is on the recording, yet do not add or take away anything. Presuming that the rest of the system is carefully chosen (something that is true of every world-class loudspeaker), the music is as wonderful as that of any audio system Ive heard, and I can't say that about many of the systems I hear. These days, way too many give you every detail, but no music.
Do the Coltranes and the Birds sound the same? No. While both speakers share a strong family resemblance, each has slightly different strengths. As one person commented, the Birds are better in some respects, but that is equally true of the Coltranes. The Coltranes are a tiny bit more extended and open, the Birds a tiny bit more relaxed. Both speakers have given me tremendous musical enjoyment. If I had all the money in the world, I would probably have kept the Coltranes, but I am certainly not suffering with the Birds.
Once again... as I said before, judging a speaker under show conditions is pointless. Especially when comparing bass response which is very much room dependent. I've schleped Marten speakers to many homes and in every case I've gotten a different bass response. I've since learned conclusively that the room is THE most important element in putting together a hi-end system. I tell customers that when considering speakers or any other component in this price range that home demo is an absolute must.
Unless your room is of the same dimensions and constructed of the same materials as the one your demoing in (such as one finds at Munich's Show) making a final judgement is an exercise in futility. I can safely say that the sound you hear at almost any Show will bear little if any resemblance to what you will hear in your own room.
I'm always amazed how some manufacturers quickly set up a room at Shows with very little time spent optimizing. I've been to many late night sessions at CES where we fiddled with the room after hours and produced a major improvement in the overall sound.
Why do you think reviewers stress one should always try to hear the product in their own environment before purchasing. The reveiws are always in the context of the reviewer's room and his or her's particular components. The more resolute the speaker, the more important this becomes.
BTW, overblown mid-bass is usually more a function of the room and placement, not the speaker.
Bob, I am sorry but, I will add some comments here... First, I was also in Munich and I also found Bird to be not so good sounding in Einstein Audio room(BTW, Einstein is Marten distributor for Germany). Isophon Arabba was indeed better sounding but, far from excellent IMHO. Mid bass was overblown IMO and Arabba should really go deeper in bass for its price. Ispohon Arabba(with Diamond tweeter) price is 33K Euro in EU and $50K in USA so, it is not in the same price class as Marten Bird... So, all in all I do not agree with Schwinnindia regarding Isophon Arabba's. For example new Sonics Spirit sounded much better IMHO then Arabba's. And would any of us pay $50K for a speaker that is not capable to reach till say 25hz(-3db) in room? I would not and this is the reason that I excluded Coltrane from my list(but, it is pretty good speaker). I asked Bob to compare Fremont and Bird bacause I do not belive in presentation at Munich Show. I heard that Bird is in fact better then Coltrane in some regards...
Oh, just as a info for me the best speaker that I audition is Avalon Isis, with Krell LAT-1000 close second...
Your picture of the Birds set-up probably explains why you did not like them... the walls and floor are marble and some other stone, even the baseboards. No other acoustic treatment is visible.. What you heard was the room not the speakers. In a properly set-up room the Birds (when compared to the Coltranes) present a denser and more visceral sound. Also a bit warmer with a slightly more forgiving top end.
One should never reach a final conclusion under the influence of only show conditions.
You should try and give this speaker a listen. It is from Isophone - Germany. Same price [I think] as the Bird. Exponentially better souding. Picture is attached :-
I used to like Lief's designs. His Coltrane is still a 'reference' in my opinion. However, this 'Bird' really disappointed me. Heard them in Munich - Germany in 2007 - May. This is a link to that picture :-
Excellent system! BTW, I have few questions for you if possible... 1. Your description of sonic difference between Escalante Fremont's and Marten Bird's. Both are on my short list as possible replacement for my Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario's... 2. How big is your room? How far is your listening seat from speakers(usually-tweeters)? 3. Size of sweet spot on both Fremont and Bird? Thanks in advance!
When I decided to become a dealer I wanted to have my system represent the products I will be selling. GPA was not an option as my area of SoCal is covered. The Finite is a temporary compromise as I have it on display for another regional dealer. Visually it works with my floors and speakers and sonically, compared to the GPA, it's a different flavor.
If I had to pick one main difference between the two, it would be that I'm hearing more of a difference between recordings with the Finite Elemente. The GPA, in my system, imparts a certain quality to every cd. To my ear I would call it a refined or burnished textural quality that puts a slight patina on voices and instruments. This isn't a bad thing and would probably benefit some systems. I just prefer what I'm hearing now.
System edited: Many changes to my system this year. Last pic shows the new equipment in the new rack next to the new speakers. The Marten Design Birds are on another level... one I never thought I would be able to attain in my less than acoustically perfect living space. And combined with the Clayton Audio amplifiers it's been quite a ride. Eveything listed in my system is new, from the wall outlet to the speakers and everything inbetween. So taken was I by my new system that I have become a dealer and am more than happy to extend an open invitation to those interested in auditioning any of the components listed.
hi Rhirsch , very nice system. i interest fremont speakers. i look fremont tehnical specifications and it is wonderfool bass response, minimum rms watt requirments and high sensitivity. i use audionote quest 300b set amp 9 w rms with reference3a mm decapo-i speakers. i think upgrade my speakers next times. i think good match set 300b with fremont speakers. may you comment about it? best regards
Thank you for the nice comments! I'm now a dealer for several of the products pictured, but have also taken on a couple more... so new pics are coming in a few days. Everything has morphed into another system with only the Audio Aero cdp still in use. Even changed the outlets, rack and all cables.
I'll post an update with new pics this weekend.
And congrats on the Merlins... one of the most musically satisfying monitors I've ever heard.
System edited: Felt a bit of nostalgia tonight and posted a pic of the speakers I replaced. And thanks to all re. the nice comments. It's strange when I look at the system pics... it appears somewhat minimalistic, but man, what I went through to get there!!!
Wow! That's one of the coolest, most original systems I've ever seen!! I love the looks of everything, especially the speakers. I've read some great things about Mactone gear, but you just never seem to see it. Well done!
Though our systems share no common components, I have nothing but respect for all of the choices you have made (with the exception of the Nanotech stuff which I'm totally unfamiliar with, albeit, thanks to Jack Bybee, I am somewhat up-to-date on nanotechnology in general terms).
Being an OTL guy I'd love to hear the Mactone OTL amps, but then again, I'd truly like to hear any of their gear.
You have put together a no-nonsense rig that addresses all of the major issue without going off the deep end of tweakiness. Good job! This one I'd gett off on the exit ramp and make the detour to audition.
I love systems like yours. The Mactones are on the list of "must audition" gear, and the rest of the room seems like a great place to relax. Thanks for sharing.
