Upgrading from Martin Logan SL3s



I am thinking of maybe replacing my Martin Logan SL3s. I have had them since 1997 and wondering if it is time to upgrade. If you had Martin Logan speakers and upgraded, to what did you upgrade? Maggie's and Vandersteen's are not really an option for me. The rest of my system is

ARC Ref 110
ARC LS25 mk2
ARC Ref CD7

128x128lostbears
I went from ReQuests to Summits.

It was a nice step up with improved and deeper bass as well improved intergration. The Summits will still give you that wonderful stat stage and detail.

At some of the used prices I feel they would be a real score.
Having owned virtually every ML speaker during the time frame you've owned the SL3's, 1995-present, I'd suggest you're so accustomed to the ML signature sound it's tough leaving ML and finding pleasing performance in a traditional 3 way design. I've tried it for years, and the closest I've come to that lush electrostatic heaven was delivered via a single driver design matched to a small 300 B SET amp.

I'd heartily 2nd the earlier suggestion of moving on to newer Logans. Vista's, Vantages, and Summits will bring you a fresh performance and be a step up from the SL3's.

To those who've not experienced integrated bass with ML's that's never been an issue with my CLS's, Requests, or SL3's. Any decent sub properly dialed in at the right crossover point has never had me longing for something different from a traditional speaker design...in fact the trade off to be had by leaving the ML sound completely is too large a trade off, for as I suggested, once electrostatic never back...although I always have several different types of speakers and amplifiers on hand, therefore I choose not to have to live without them...bottom line, once that lush midrange is in your ears it's an uphill battle for a traditional speaker to compete with...but certainly if one has enough money they can in theory perhaps find something better...but at the price point for a pair of SL3's upgraded w/fresh new panels, or used Vantages commonly found now at $2500, I don't personally know of anything that will deliver the sonic goods at that price point that will be nearly as satisfying.
Actually Coltrane's post was well articulated and should be read by Lostbears with interest.

Hey if you like your Merlin box speakers more power to you, but Coltrane and I think alike. good luck leaving stats after living with them.

Steelhead, The Sl3s are about the perfect size for my room. I have thought about getting a newer Martin Logan speaker of similar size. I have now also thought about replacing the panels of My SL3s. But I was also looking for suggestions on other speakers to audition. So far I have borrowed a couple of dealer demo's and not found anything that I thought was worth upgrading too.

Coltrane1, I know what you mean about finding it hard to go from an electrostat to a regular box type speaker. Before the SL3s I owned both Apogee and Soundlab speakers. I have so far not really found any 3 way box speaker that I could live with long term. Maybe just rebuilding the SL3s is the way to go. I have also thought about upgrading to a newer pair of Martin Logan's. The problem with that though is that I really don't like the way the newer ones look. So maybe it is a fools errand. I should just redo the SL3s and maybe look into getting a sub.