Quad 2912 vs Martin Logan ESL 11a
I am seriously considering electrostatic speakers although living in a part of the world where dealership for both brands do not have all models on hand for audition. While the 2912's were unavailable, a Quad 2812 was available a month ago for audition. It was in an all Quad setup, with a solid state and a 40 watts tube amp for comparison. In a 4 x 4m room, the music was very engaging playing Miles, Coltrane, and Heifetz. Transparency and speed were plenty evident, and there was a warmth and solidity ( coherence ?) that was a pleasant surprise.
Last weekend, audition of the Martin Logan's esl X was arranged . This is a few step down from the 11a's. Although it was in a totally different system, the ML seemed to be of a different sound signature. Brighter, more air? Ultimately I was not impressed with the X's, the woofer seemed not to integrate well with the panels. And the salesperson admitted as mush. He said an audition could be arranged in a week or two for the 11a.
While I wait for a proper audition of the ML 11a, I would appreciate any comment specific to these two speaker models. Not all electrostatic speakers are created equal, as I have found out. If the choice came down to the two, what are the issues that needs to be considered?