Martin Logan Forte Amp Review


I have been using a system of primarily active speakers but need to use passive speakers for my rear surrounds and height channels because of the size of my room. I got a Martin Logan Forte amp for my rear surrounds because I know Martin Logan is owned by Paradigm so the amp would have Anthem components. It has ARC room correction, and most importantly for my use, it has a sub out. The amp can also be used for streaming but I don’t use that feature, just the RCA inputs for my HT system. I wanted the sub out so I could run an independent sub to the back of my room with content for the rear surround channels.
Before running ARC I just wanted to hear what it sounded like and was very surprised. If you have ever heard Martin Logan electrostatic speakers you know they throw a massive soundstage and sound very open and unconstrained. I don’t know how they got that quality into this amp, but somehow they did. My rear surrounds just filled the room, before connecting a sub or running ARC. Next I connected the sub and ran ARC and instead of just sounding like surround speakers it sounded like a nicely balanced system. The sub blends wonderfully and I haven’t even broken in the amp yet. It sounds like a lot more than the 50w a channel of listed power into 8 ohms. These amps are on close out right now marked down from $599 to $249. I would have no hesitation using it for larger speakers or in a second system like a desktop or bedroom. It worked perfect for my needs as an amp for my surrounds.

 

kota1

@gosta 

I use the Forte to power my rear surrounds and the Paradigm PW amp to power my height channels for immersive audio. I also use the Paradigm Link streamer connected to my DAC. They are all amazing and ARC is really good too.

Martin Logan also has a version of the Link called the Unison. I thought the Paradigm and Martin Logan amps would be the same amp but just rebadged. Not true, the Martin Logan amp is bigger and also has airplay. I believe the power output and the inputs are the same though. They both sound great and I scored all of these items on closeouts at deep discounts. The Link streamer works with Playfi. I have playfi on my computer enabled so anything I play on the PC goes right to the Link, I don't need any wires and can play anything, very handy.

Cory Wong featuring Victor Wooten // Live at the Fillmore Philadelphia

New on YouTube! 

With your system I hope you will find this really enjoyable. Cory and his friends knows how to make it live on the tube. There’s plenty of videos to watch.