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$10K Budget for Speakers: Martin Logan Masterpiece vs Tannoy

For much under $10K I can get a pair of Martin Logan Masterpiece’s Classic ESL 9 (the new ones retail for $6.5). Alternatively, I might go ahead and get a used pair of the top-of-the-line ESL 13 with all the bolts and whistles the modern electrostatic speakers offer: an unbelievable 3D-almost-surround-like staging and very detailed, life-like sound. Those Martin Logans speakers do have a huge speaker emission surface (the sound radiating "panel") emitting the sound bi-directionally and these speakers are almost the human hight tall.
The same $10K would also get me a top-of-the-line Tannoy Arden speakers (8K per pair). On the used market, if I am lucky, I could get a pair of Turnberries. Tannoy, while does have some unmatched style and a "company history-story" factor, apparently doesn’t even come close to be able to give the same sound experience Martin Logan speakers do. Tannoy speakers radiate sound from a single 10", 12" or at best 15" driver. The speaker themselves are significantly smaller than Martin Logan ones. They are barely hip height.
The esthetics and design is a huge factor for me, I do love Tannoy speakers. But, from a practical standpoint, and because the main reason I am getting the speakers is still the SOUND, and not the speakers design, I am heavily inclined to get a less-by-my-opinion-styled speakers made by Martin Logan. Because MLs, regardless of the price, offer a wider, cleaner, more life-like sound than Tannoy speakers do.
If the sound reproduction is the only concern, why would I choose a smaller, a single driver Tannoy over state-of-the art technology implemented in Martin Logan?

esputnix
nordicnorm
313 posts
 
Both ML and Tannoy make very good speakers. What sounds best to you, only you can determine.

I own a pair of ML Spires.

ML speakers require both space and power to sound their best. They are capable of going down to 1Ω which can blow up a lot of amps. They are rated for 20 - 500W.

I drive mine with a pair of 900W monoblocks, fed by a tube preamp. I couldn't imagine trying to drive them with a 50W amp even though, technically, ML says they are rated for that..

I also have tube monoblocks that produce 75W. The ML's sound more musical than the SS amps on some types of music (e.g. jazz, big band, instrumental) but the tube amps definitely lack the slam of the SS amps.

This audio obsession of ours is a funny business. We can discuss measurements obtained from different audio components and systems, but in the end, we cannot measure how we process that stimuli in our heads.

In the end, as long as YOU enjoy the music, that's all that really matters. 

Stay safe.
 
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puntobasta
16 posts
 
the only opinion that matters is yours. if you’re going to listen listen to the speakers and make your own mind up. 
clhs04
62 posts
 
Please allow me to chime in with my opinion.
I won’t distract you with other speaker brand options like the others, instead I’ll focus on your two options.
Allow me to say that all of the mesmerizing attributes of the Martin Logan’s will wear on you over time and you will tire of them as ML fatigue sets in.
And you’ll finalize that what you were once drawn to now sounds “too much of a good thing artificial”
Others in this thread have alluded to this prior to me.
         Conversely .....I as many others...could gush forever about how great the Tannoy are.

in closing, in all fairness I’d like to acknowledge that you have many other options as others have hinted at.


saffranbruce
11 posts
 
Firstly, aesthetics matter, unless you live alone. The WAF keeps a lot of great speakers out of people’s homes. 
Second, 10k is a lot of money. You can get a whole range of excellent speakers on the used market that will blow the MLs and the Tannoys away. 
Be patient. Take your time. 
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