MartinLogan classic ESL 9 pair of 3-way floorstanding speakers in walnut wood

Classic ESL 9

A masterpiece does more than just inspire emotion. It changes your mood and stays with you long after you leave the art gallery or concert hall. A masterpiece is considered a masterpiece because of its ability to change you inside. Once you experience that emotion, you will never be the same again. Enjoying a masterpiece in your own home is something that is only right to inspire.

Consider the Classic ESL 9 your chance to have a life-changing experience, a true masterpiece of sound reproduction. You will never be the same again.

A Masterpiece of Sound Reproduction

MartinLogan presents the Classic ESL 9, its newest modern masterpiece. It features all the elements of the flagship ESL series, but with some revolutionary refinements. The heart of this exceptional loudspeaker is its 9.2-inch-wide XStat Curvilinear Line Source (CLS) vacuum-bonded electrostatic transducer. Advanced MicroPerf stator technology provides more diaphragm surface area than any other electrostatic panel of this size, increasing the panel's efficiency. The ultra-rigid AirFrame Blade structure reduces vibration, and its shape contributes to this speaker's unique design by providing a seamless connection to the woofer unit. Deep bass is rendered with impeccable precision and authority by two 8-inch, high-excursion, low-distortion aluminum cone woofers housed in an exceptionally sturdy cabinet.

Note the familiar elements of the classic MartinLogan electrostatic loudspeaker: Advanced MicroPerf stator technology provides nearly twice the electrostatic diaphragm surface area of a traditional panel of the same size. It is then reinforced with rigid ClearSpar™ spacers, which maintain the exact same level of tension across the entire vacuum-bonded diaphragm without obscuring the beautiful transparent design. Add the sleek, arrowhead design of the new AirFrame™ Blade construction and the result is a powerfully evocative aesthetic that creates a harmonious connection between the panel and the woofer cabinet.

Classic elements, experienced in a new way: the advanced MicroPerf stator technology, which allows for nearly twice the electrostatic diaphragm surface area of a traditional electrostatic panel of the same size. An electrostatic panel reinforced with rigid ClearSpar™ spacers, which maintain the exact same level of tension across the entire vacuum-bonded diaphragm without obscuring the beautiful transparent design. Add to this the sleek, arrowhead design of the new AirFrame™ Blade construction, and the result is a powerfully evocative whole that creates a harmonious connection between the panel and the woofer cabinet.

Now note some refinements: We’ve reinvented the Classic ESL 9’s woofer section. We now use two 8-inch, low-distortion aluminum cone drivers, balanced in separate volumes—one front and one rear. This design significantly reduces cabinet vibration compared to paired woofer configurations, especially in the 34Hz to 100Hz range, for a smooth frequency response that delivers lifelike bass.

New Ultra-Rigid AirFrame Blade Design

ESL 9 XStat panels are joined to their enclosures using MartinLogan’s new AirFrame Blade construction with the precision afforded by aerospace-grade extruded aluminum alloy. This material and unique manufacturing process make the panels extremely rigid.

The bold styling of this AirFrame Blade rail system - narrow and strong at the front, wide and bold at the sides - is a hallmark of modern speaker design. The structure never obstructs the playing surface or interferes with the panel's dipole sound radiation pattern. It also provides electrical and acoustic isolation, minimizing intermodulation distortion caused by vibration and resonance. The flowing lines highlight the innovative integration of the panel itself with the woofers, and the breathtaking AirFrame Blade design improves imaging, low-level sonic detail, accuracy and speaker efficiency.

Curvilinear Line Source (CLS) Electrostatic Panel

CLS technology is an essential ingredient in every electrostatic speaker we produce. Through our proprietary manufacturing method, we have incorporated the panel's gentle horizontal curvature. This unique design enhances the high-frequency detail produced by the large radiating surface, without compromising overall sound quality. Notice how the gentle modern curve and perforation pattern gives way to the flat grille of the woofer section.

Controlled Dispersion Sound Radiation

The sound we hear from a loudspeaker is a combination of direct radiation from it to our ears and reflections from the surfaces of the room: walls, floor and ceiling. How our brains integrate this information is far from simple. Depending on the angle of incidence at the ears and the difference in arrival times between direct and reflected sound, reflections can blur detail and stereo imaging or enhance the natural impression of depth and openness.

Electrostatic panels, which are true dipole speakers, produce a nearly ideal controlled dispersion radiation pattern. They send very little sound to the sides, thus minimizing side wall reflections, whose short arrival times tend to interfere with the perception of direct sound. Their strong rear radiation, however, yields a generous amount of room-enriching upper-midrange and upper-bass information.

Big, Well-Blended Bass Performance

Complementing the dynamic performance of this masterpiece is a passive pair of 8-inch, high-excursion aluminum cone woofers custom-designed by MartinLogan's in-house engineering team. This efficient cast-bass woofer design enhances cone suspension and magnetic flux field, maximizing response time, to produce truly deep bass (down to 34Hz) with incredibly low distortion.

The woofers are balanced in an opposed array, one front and one rear. This design greatly reduces cabinet vibrations inherent in same-sense woofer placement, particularly in the 34Hz to 100Hz range. The roll-off characteristics for this opposed woofer array are further optimized for a lifelike, consistent bass waveform. Additionally, we tuned the rear-firing woofer to minimize near-wall interactions, perfectly complementing the dipolar nature of the electrostatic panel. Bass performance from this configuration is accurate, musical, and utterly lifelike.

A low-turbulence, angled, low-firing, ultra-low-aperture port is integral to the enclosure design, providing an extra layer of rigid internal bracing and increasing deep bass output without any additional noise.

Easy-Tightening Binding Posts and Low-Voltage Power Supply

MartinLogan's proprietary binding posts simplify connection and cable management. They feature two pairs, one attached to the electrostatic panel and the other feeding the woofers. Enthusiasts can choose to vertically/horizontally bi-amp the Classic ESL 9 or use the jumper clips between the binding posts for a single connection. To further simplify setup and cable management, the Classic ESL 9 features a low-voltage DC power supply that eliminates the need for a traditional, heavy IEC power cord.

Most Advanced, Precision-Made Vojtko Crossover

Control is critical in producing a masterpiece. (Just ask Michelangelo.) Control in the Classic ESL 9 is provided by the advanced Vojtko crossover. Painstakingly hand-built using only the finest metal-film capacitors and DCR steel-laminated air-core or wire-wound coils, the crossover utilizes MartinLogan's proprietary Vojtko topology for extremely low distortion and the finest integration between the dynamic drivers and the ESL panels. This precision-tuned network preserves even the most microscopic sonic nuances, while deftly handling the full dynamics of any source. The Classic ESL 9 is designed to work well with virtually any type of electronics. MartinLogan's cutting-edge electrical interface engineering ensures an absolutely transparent connection from amplifier to electrostatic panel and woofer. This produces sound of unmatched purity, precision, clarity, and openness.

As with all Masterpiece Series loudspeakers, and as with any masterpiece, once you experience the truly lifelike performance of the Classic ESL 9, there's no going back.

Utilizing as much space as possible for better bass

Masterpiece Series cabinet depths were carefully chosen to maximize the benefits of PoweredForce and ForceForward technologies, delivering powerful, incredibly detailed bass. Combined with Anthem Room Correction (ARC™), the result is a level of low-frequency accuracy that is truly unique.

Masterpiece Series cabinet dimensions create an ideal relationship between the woofers, the enclosure volume, and the PoweredForce amplifiers. By providing large internal woofer volumes (two sealed enclosures, one per woofer) and powerful amplification, Masterpiece Series loudspeakers are able to reach the lowest registers with authority while preserving detail.

As a general rule, the further apart the woofers are positioned, the better they will deliver sound. MartinLogan’s ForceForward technology solves the problem (common to nearly all loudspeakers) of bass reflections off the rear wall, which interact with the bass waves as they reach the listener. These reciprocal influences create increasingly high-level nonlinearities as the bass reaches the listener, resulting in both cancellation and enhancement of the low frequencies, which distance the reproduction from the original sound. By selectively adjusting the phasing of the woofers, Masterpiece Series speakers virtually eliminate harmful low-frequency emissions.

ForceForward also simplifies the task of speaker placement by removing bass energy from behind the driver and creating an even bass output. This allows Masterpiece Series speakers to be placed much closer to the rear wall than previous generations of MartinLogan speakers. As a general rule, we recommend placing the back of the speaker cabinet at least one woofer diameter away (Renaissance ESL 15A: 12 inches, Expression ESL 13A: 10 inches, and Impression ESL 11A and Classic ESL 9: 8 inches). To further enhance the speaker's in-room integration, Masterpiece Series speakers with internal amplifiers incorporate two level controls (at 75Hz and 200Hz) to allow fine-tuning of bass output.

Furthermore, due to their dipole nature, electrostatic panels perform best when positioned at least 7cm or more from the wall, an ideal distance for the front of almost any high-end speaker, regardless of driver technology. The depth of the Masterpiece series enclosures allows for the correct positioning of the electrostatic panels, ensuring a detailed, three-dimensional soundstage.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Quantity: 2 speakers

3-way electrostatic/hybrid floorstanding speakers, rear bass reflex, double woofer with 203mm aluminium cone, 1120x234mm CLS XStat™ curvilinear electrostatic ribbon midrange/tweeter with controlled dispersion.

Union of the electrostatic panel to the bass module with ultra-rigid AirFrame Blade Design technology.

Power 50-400W.

Efficiency 90dB.

Impedance 4 ohm. Vojtko™ air-wired crossover.

Bi-wire connectors.

ETCTM decoupling tips included.

Matt Black electrostatic panel.