MartinLogan Neolith Masterpiece Floorstanding Speaker Pair - Blue

Truth in sound, incarnate

For those who value accuracy and realism in their audio, the electrostatic transducer is the grail. For those who understand this truth in sound, we have created a flagship loudspeaker: Neolith. Made to order, hand delivered and professionally installed; in a world of same, Neolith proclaims different. In a world of artifice, Neolith delivers truth in sound.

Electrostatic Truth

MartinLogan did not invent electrostatic transducer technology. But by eliminating the perceived shortcomings of electrostatic technology, such as poor power handling, lack of bass response, and narrow soundstage (beaming), MartinLogan has reinforced the advantage of electrostatic technology: incredible audio accuracy.

Parts of an Electrostatic Transducer

An electrostatic transducer has three components—stators, a diaphragm, and spars (non-conductive spacers that hold the tall assembly in place)—assembled like a sandwich. The diaphragm is an ultra-lightweight film impregnated with an electrically conductive material and stretched in tension between two stators, which are perforated steel sheets coated with an insulator.

Electrostatic Forces at Work

When the speaker is operating, the diaphragm is charged with an electrostatic field of fixed positive voltage. The two stators, between which the diaphragm is stretched, are charged with voltages of equal strength but opposite polarity. These charges occur in instantaneously alternating pulses based on the signal received from the audio equipment. When the charge on one stator is positive, the charge on the other is negative. Since like charges repel and opposite charges attract, the diaphragm's constantly positive charge will force it to move forward or backward depending on the stator's charges. With this movement, an electrostatic transducer translates an electrical audio signal into the movement of the diaphragm that produces the sound waves in the room.

Since traditional cone speakers produce sound in response to the separate movements of many small parts (voice coil, ex, diaphragm), they cannot help but suffer from distortion-inducing distortion as the signal travels through these parts and through the cone. But an electrostatic transducer has only one moving part: the diaphragm. Its movement is instantaneous, with no delay, allowing the diaphragm to track even the most delicate sonic details with absolute precision. The surface area of the diaphragm is much larger than any cone driver, giving the electrostatic transducer the ability to perform over an exceptionally wide frequency range without having to switch to another driver.

MartinLogan engineers have improved on these core electrostatic technologies with their own unique innovations.

The components of every MartinLogan electrostatic panel are fused in our proprietary vacuum bonding process using an aerospace-grade adhesive whose holding strength exceeds that of welding. Vacuum bonding ensures uniform tensioning of the diaphragm and facilitates the extremely tight tolerances required for precision transducer construction.

The stators that “pack” the diaphragm must be rigid enough to remain absolutely still despite the strong electrostatic forces pushing and pulling during operation. They must also be perforated to allow sound to pass through. MartinLogan's MicroPerf design optimizes this tradeoff by reducing the size of the individual stator holes, increasing the effective radiating area of the diaphragm without compromising the structural integrity of the panel. MartinLogan's ClearSpar spacers reinforce the assembly across its width, ensuring consistent vacuum bonded diaphragm tension between stators without visual or audible obstruction.

MartinLogan's innovative Curvilinear Line Source (CLS) electrostatic panel design is an elegant solution to the impression of "beaming" sound from an electrostatic panel. MartinLogan CLS electrostatic panels feature a subtle horizontal curve. This ingeniously simple innovation radically alters the speaker's dispersion pattern, radiating a wide, enveloping soundstage rich in detail; truly unlike any other loudspeaker experience.

Another key attribute of an electrostatic loudspeaker is its dipole radiation pattern. A true dipole driver radiates equally from the front and back of its diaphragm, with the outputs in opposite phase. As a result, sound waves traveling to the sides meet at the edge of the speaker and cancel, minimizing side wall reflections with short relative arrival times. This reduction in lateral output minimizes side wall reflections that can disturb imaging. It frees up the dipole radiation pattern to produce a generous amount of room-enriching late reflections from the wall behind the speakers. At the same time, electrostatic panels maintain relatively narrow vertical dispersion, which minimizes floor and ceiling reflections.

Neolith is the pinnacle of electrostatic performance, combining these innovations in a new design. Delivering an undiluted soundstage with excellent separation, Neolith brings music and film scores to astonishingly accurate three-dimensional life.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Quantity: 2 Speakers

Finish: Deep Sea Blue SX - DX

Frequency Response: 23-22,000 Hz ± 3dB

Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-1300 watts per channel

Horizontal Dispersion: 30°

Vertical Dispersion: 122cm Line Source

Sensitivity: 90dB / 2.83 volts / meter

Impedance: Nominal: 4 ohms, 0.43 ohms @ 20kHz. Compatible with 4, 6 or 8 Ohm amplifiers

Crossover Frequency: 60, 250-400 Hz

High Frequency Transducer: XStat™ CLS™ electrostatic transducer. Panel Dimensions 122 x 56 cm. Radiating Area 6,832 cm²

Low Frequency Transducer: Rear: 15-inch basket, high excursion, rigid aluminum cone with extended throw drive assembly. Extensively vented triple short-loop motor and 4-layer voice coil to eliminate compression and distortion. Front: 12" die-cast aluminum alloy chassis, high excursion, rigid carbon fiber sandwich cone with long throw design, 3" diameter copper-clad aluminum flat wire voice coil and vented pole piece and under-spider aperture to reduce power compression

Cabinet: Phenolic resin polymer: Dense substrate with superb mechanical strength to minimize cabinet vibration caused by woofer cone counter forces to provide an ideal baffle for the electrostatic panel and woofers.

Components: High-pass Crossover: Heatsink-mounted 1% resistors, polypropylene capacitors, air core inductors, Dual toroidal audio transformer to drive the electrostatic element Cross-Pass Crossover: Heatsink-mounted 1% resistors, toroidal inductors, Supports user options to modify the sound output via jumper.

Controls Audio: Bass Control: 0dB, -4dB, -8dB Distance Control: 3 meters (or less), 4 meters, 5 meters (or greater)

Inputs: WBT-0705Ag Nextgen™ 5-way bi-hole terminal blocks featuring high conductivity fine silver filigree signal conductor. Fully insulated to CE and IEC compliance providing protection from electrical shock. Free from eddy current effects. Max constant current 30A, peak current allowable 200A. Outer metal shell with palladium plated finish

Power Consumption: Standby: 1W each Max: 15W each

Illumination: LED Intensity Control: On, Dim, Off

Weight: 175kg

Dimensions: 189.9x76. 9x87cm