Martin-Logan Headphones

[Dusty Chalk]

link

On-ear.

(Largely) closed.

(Largely) black.

Leather (& aluminum).

Detachable, non-microphonic cord with mic and remote for, e.g., Apple products.

Not electrostatic.

$300.

No, I'm not getting them, I have enough headphones, I'm not getting them, I have enough headphones, I'm not getting them, I have enough headphones, I'm not getting them, I have enough headphones...

But, dang, I'm curious.

[morphsci]

For some inexplicable reason these also interest me. Tyll?

[aardvark baguette]

that must be the least sonically neutral earpad i've ever seen

[Dusty Chalk]

But it probably complements the driver/housing.

[aardvark baguette]

could be. i just can't imagine the transmission of sound through so many holes sounding good.

thats got to do all kinds of bad things.

if it does sound good, in my mind it will be due to tuning the sound to a severe physical limitation.

[Tyll Hertsens]

Cool. Got the contact for PR, will call tomorrow for sample.

God I love this job. You just call someone and have them send you the headphones. What a deal.

[spritzer]

So these might actually be worse than the ML speakers? How is that even possible? I suspect sorcery might be at work here....

[Dusty Chalk]

Pfff -- don't be a hater until you've heard it.

I suspect the Stax mafia might be at work here...and yes, I realize that as a card-carrying founder of the Stax mafia, you are legally obliged to post the above post...I just had to say that, as well.

[acidbasement]

They look like a lot of thought went into how expensive they ought to look. I'm skeptical, but interested.

edit: Sort of.

Edited November 1, 2012 by acidbasement

[Dusty Chalk]

i just can't imagine the transmission of sound through so many holes sounding good.

You mean, like all PA speakers everywhere?

It prevents the beer from getting to the drivers, although I doubt that's the intention on these.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Well, I'm going to an ML event tonight at the Sound Shop in Colorado Springs, and see if I can win a pair of their new IEM. I didn't know they had a headphone as well.

I listened to the Martin Logan CLX full size electrostatic speakers and thought they sounded very nice with some Bryston gear. I plan to listen to them again tonight with my own music.

[aardvark baguette]

You mean, like all PA speakers everywhere?

It prevents the beer from getting to the drivers, although I doubt that's the intention on these.

but the headphones are worse. the space between holes seems too big.

actually, my comment was retarded, i guess I really meant the exact opposite of what i said.

too much sound goes through (what I speculate) to be too few holes

[The Monkey]

They look a bit like the B&W phones.

[Voltron]

They look like a lot of thought went into how expensive they ought to look.

Executive Styling comes before Legendary Sound

[cobra_kai]

How will the bass fit through such small holes?

[deepak]

So these might actually be worse than the ML speakers? How is that even possible? I suspect sorcery might be at work here....

Added thread tag for you

[Dusty Chalk]

^ Lollers.

They look like a lot of thought went into how expensive they ought to look.

I'm not going to argue with this -- that was actually one of my first thoughts as well -- right up there with the Phiatons.

[catscratch]

I find it massively dissappointing that a company that is synonymous with electrostatic speakers would choose to not make electrostatic headphones. They had an opportunity to stand out and they chose to play it safe. Stylewise, yes they look good but it makes you wonder how much money was left to spend on sound.

[roadtonowhere08]

I know that style is a personal preference kind of thing, but those are hilariously ugly!

[naamanf]

Not sold on the Executive styling. Would prefer Bad Ass Motherfucker styling.

[The Monkey]

JH is making those for you.

[Dusty Chalk]

Not sold on the Executive styling. Would prefer Bad Ass Motherfucker styling.

I think you want a Fostex:

No snarky remark here, sometimes the jokes just write themselves.

[arnaud]

that must be the least sonically neutral earpad i've ever seen

Yes however... Not 90. Not 91. Not 92, but yes, you've read it right: replaceable ear pads that provide a snug fit which isolates up to 92.05% of ambient noise.

Off to a good start!

[spritzer]

Thread tag is teh funneh!!

The Stax mafia should really be renamed the ES mafia as that's what we are about, regardless of who makes them. That said, ML speakers were never good but the new ones are just terrible, taking away all rigidity in the panel to make it look cool and the bass/panel integration is a joke. Things are apparently even worse with the newest stuff and the recent sale of ML and moving of the production to Canada hasn't improved things.

Still, some of the old ones are ok and I was just asked to refurb and old set for my neighbor. I'm thinking complete rebuild with extensive mods to the bass but I doubt he'll like the cost...

[HeadphoneAddict]

I heard the Martin Logan CLX yesterday, and it sounded pretty good. They had the room set up just right, and the sound was pretty transparent and balanced, with good bass for an all electrostatic speaker and no separate subwoofer. It was better than most of the crap I hear at RMAF each year, but I wouldn't pay $24,000 for it.

The little ML stats didn't fare as well, with a rolled off treble and boomy bass. It made me wonder if the cheaper version without the built-in amp for the woofers might be better. I prefer my AV123 X-Static speakers (under $1000) or even my $800 PSB Imagine Mini + Velodyne to the $6,700 ML stats.