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What kind of power needed for Martin Logans?

This question has been asked in one form or another, but this time I need some specific advice. I listened to a Martin Logan home theater set-up the other day and I'm in love. I am willing to add or change anything to get these speakers into my system. Electronics right now are a B&K Ref-30 pre-pro, Sony 9000ES DVD, and 5ch Acurus 125x5. The Acurus is gone, I know that, but now I have to replace it with something. I have a Bryston 4B-ST that I use for my 2ch system. I can move that over to the home theater and add to it. My home theater room is small, so I will not be buying the gargantuan Martin Logans. A nice set of the smaller ones ($1000-5000 range) will do nicely. So let me have it. Do I go five channel amp? mix and match 2 and 3 channels? monoblocks? Brands? I'd like to keep the amp purchase down to a reasonable number ($2000-$5000). Any advice would be appreaciated, especially from people who are running Martin Logans now. Thanks.
argent
larryken
537 posts
 
I have SL3' that are powered by a BAT VK500, which is 475 watts at the speakers nominal 4 ohm impedance....these speakers need at least 200 watts to sound their best and don't do well if underpowered. The transients the panel can produce need as much power as you can afford.
Regards,
danish
30 posts
 
I very much agree that a high current aamp is required. I currently have SL3s with an Audio Refinement Multi 3 amp, it works great. I've heard MLs with all sorts of amps - I used to have Aerius with an ARC D-130 which also worked well. I've even heard the Prodigy driven by an ARC VT100 MkII - it was surprisingly powerful enough to drive the big Logans. You would be safe with any of the amps listed above, the only one I haven't heard is the older Mark Levinson.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Look for an amp that uses very high rail voltages with a BIG "high current" transformer. This type of amp tends to work best with E-stat's. The first ones that come to mind are Perreaux's and the Innersound amps. The Sunfire amps, primarily the Signature, will also work quite well with these. They may not have the "slam" that the Perreaux offers though. Audiogon member "Hotrod" works at Martin Logan and seems to LOVE the Sunfire / ML combo that he has.

For the record, there is a BIG Perreaux amp listed for $850, which is a STEAL !!!! 500+ wpc @ 8 ohms, built like a TANK ( weighs 105 lbs ) and will drive ANYTHING with the best bass you've ever heard. I am not selling or associated with the guy that has it listed. Sean
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7671
163 posts
 
Minimum of 150 watts into 8 ohms. Since these speakers are 4 ohm's the power rating will be almost doubled. I use a 200 watt into my ML SL3's. This gives me almost 400 watts into 4 ohm. I get plenty of power at no where near the half way mark on my pre-amp!! Steve
awdeeofyle
95 posts
 
How audio sensitive are you? I've heard great things about the combination of Sim Audio's W-5 & ML's. ...I'd suspect that Sim's Titan HT amp sounds very similar to the W-5. Its my understanding that the Titan (can be configured 2,3,5,6 or 7 channels). ...Not sure if one can buy channels as needed (upgrade) the other to look at would be CAL. But I'm not sure of the cost there.

Best of luck,
Mike
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