Martin Logan Summit

Objective1, you made the following statement (below):

"I do like to listen loud, and these speakers are very transparent. You will end up driving them very loud before you get the same kind of 'full' feeling you get from traditional drivers."

Correct me if I have mis-interpreted your comment. Are you saying that the Martin Logans need to be played fairly loud (in comparison to cone speakers) to get the same full performance? Without playing the MLs loud, do you find that they lack the luster and excitement and sound somewhat dull at the lower volume levels?

Reason for my question is that I recently purchased a pair of ML Quest Zs and find them dull unless I really crank them up louder than I like to listen. I have suspected that they may need new panels as the existing panels are aging and "wearing out" or "tiring".

Thanks if you don't mind elaborating on your statement (I am not challenging you, just seeking your input and clarification).

Well tks guys for your feedback, i have never encountered speakers with low ohm before, so probably i have to try them with a high current amp first before a final judgment is made.

ckoffend i wouldnt say they are dull when played low, but probably its an electrostatic feature, as i have tried beside these pair the quad electrostatic and a couple of other MLs, and i found there performance at higher volume levels is very different from lower levels, that some times it gives me the impression that its a completly different speaker, however their transaprency when played at low level is enjoyable as well except for the bass reproduction which i would say is less exciting IMHO...

FWIW, I put new panels in over the weekend. They have livened up at lower, but not low listening levels. I typically run Wilson W/P and the two speakers are very different in many regards. This fact (with mine) just being one of them. The MLs have a great, large sound stage and other attributes, as well.

Gosh, I run my Summits with a vintage Yamaha MX-2000. Plenty of power and no clipping, ever.

Very satisfying. I understand the Summits are not as difficult to drive as some of their earlier models...

Hey Tdacquisto, what pre-amp are you using with your Pass Labs x250? I have a matching x-1 pre and x250 driving BW N802's, which are power hungry and they do the job. I have been thinking about trying the Pass combo with the ML Summits. I've only heard the Summits driven with a set of Mac tubes and they sounded wonderful, very similar, imho, to the BW 802's but definitely a different "footprint". I wonder how many other ML Summit owners here use SS vs Tubes?
jb