MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A Floorstanding Speaker Pair Cordoba Red

ESPRESSION ESL 13A

Audio is both real and imagined. There is sound, and there is the feeling that sound evokes within us.

This feeling is the inspiration behind the new Expression ESL 13A. Like the Expressionist masterpieces, the sound of these speakers is focused solely on intensifying your emotional experience. It is a virtually transparent audio performance that transports you to a new landscape of the senses.

The art of emotion

The Expression ESL 13A is part of the Masterpiece Series. It features a dual 10-inch woofer with ARC correction for seamless low-frequency response. The innovative integration of this woofer array with the wide 13-inch XStat CLS transducer, combined with a powerful dual amplifier section, delivers an expressive and dynamic audio experience, without coloration. Restoring the maximum emotion of your music.

Many familiar elements of the classic MartinLogan electrostatic loudspeaker: the advanced MicroPerf stator technology, which allows for nearly twice the electrostatic diaphragm surface area of a traditional electrostatic panel of the same size; rigid ClearSpar™ spacers, which maintain the same level of tension on the vacuum-bonded diaphragm at all times; all without sacrificing the beautiful transparent design typical of Martin Logan panels. The sleek design of the new AirFrame™ Blade construction is stunning, for a powerfully evocative design that seamlessly connects the panel and the woofer cabinet.

There are radical changes, too: we’ve reinvented the Expression ESL 13A’s woofer section, now powered by new 300-watt Class-D amplifiers and controlled by a 24-bit Vojtko™ DSP engine and ARC™ (Anthem Room Correction).

Using two 10-inch low-distortion aluminum woofers arranged in independent, compact chambers, and exclusive PoweredForce Forward™ bass alignment technology, we’re able to control the interaction between the rear-mounted woofer and the wall behind the speaker. With intelligent phase-shift logic, we’ve been able to minimize the effect the rear wall has on low frequencies that could bounce back into the listening room. This results in a flat frequency response for truly lifelike bass. It's just one more way MartinLogan innovation elevates your listening experience in any room.

Achieving the lab standard in your own room

In the lab, MartinLogan engineers are committed to transparency. Outside the lab, there's one wild card our engineers can never account for: your listening room. The unique size and shape of your listening space (and the size and shape of its contents) can make bass waves do unpredictable things, dramatically impacting a speaker's overall performance.

The Expression ESL 13A features exclusive Anthem Room Correction (ARC) technology. By engaging ARC to control the low-frequency curve in relation to the ESL panel output (as seen in this graph), you'll experience performance on par with MartinLogan's in-house audio testing lab.

ARC measures the low-frequency sound output in your room and compares it to optimal response curves that account for spatial anomalies. ARC's advanced algorithms then effectively remove the anomalies, leaving only the ideal standard: lifelike, natural-sounding bass performance in your listening space.

By minimizing room interactions with ARC's PoweredForce Forward bass technology and advanced room correction capabilities, along with its unique synthesis of the ESL and bass sections, the Expression ESL 13A produces perfectly etched imaging and focus; optimal natural sound reproduction at lifelike listening levels; and agile, full-range operation in open air.

Clearly, it is this level of ultimate performance that separates the merely excellent from a true masterpiece.

New Ultra-Rigid AirFrame Blade Design

Expression ESL 13A XStat panels are secured to the woofer unit using MartinLogan's redesigned AirFrame Blade structure, constructed from aerospace-grade extruded aluminum alloy. This material and proprietary manufacturing process yield extremely rigid panels.

The bold styling of the AirFrame Blade rail system—narrow and strong in front, broad and purposeful on the sides—is a testament to the modern design language of these speakers. Technically speaking, this structure never obstructs the emitting surface or interferes with the panel's dipolar radiation pattern. It also provides electrical and acoustical isolation, minimizing intermodulation distortion caused by vibration and resonance. The flowing lines highlight the innovative integration of the panel itself with the compact woofer and amplifier section. 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 gentle horizontal curvature of the panel. 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 speaker 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 details and stereo imaging or enhance the natural impression of depth and openness.

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

New PoweredForce Forward™ Bass Technology

PoweredForce Forward bass technology combines two MartinLogan audio innovations: PoweredForce, which enables small enclosures to accurately produce massive amounts of bass, and ForceForward, which significantly reduces front-wall bass reflections.

PoweredForce Forward bass technology utilizes an advanced crossover topology with phase-timed woofers to minimize destructive reflected energy. By virtually eliminating front-wall bass reflections and working in tandem with the panel, PoweredForce Forward Bass technology offers greater placement flexibility and enhances the true audio realism of your sound source.

Utilize all the space possible for better bass - Masterpiece Series Cabinet Cut-away

The depth of Masterpiece Series speaker cabinets has been carefully chosen to maximize the benefits of PoweredForce and ForceForward technologies, providing powerful bass with extreme detail. Combined with Anthem Room Correction (ARC™), these advanced bass technologies provide a truly unique level of low-frequency accuracy.

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

With ForceForward bass technology, the farther apart the woofers are placed from each other, the more beneficial low-frequency bass becomes extended. MartinLogan's ForceForward technology has solved a problem (found in nearly all loudspeakers) where low-frequency bass sound waves reflect off the wall behind the drivers and interact with waves traveling toward the listener. These interactions create nonlinearities in those frequencies as they arrive at your ears, and the bass information suffers from either cancellation or excess that is not accurate to the original sound. By selectively adjusting the phasing of the output from their opposing woofers, powered Masterpiece Series speakers eliminate problematic bass energy from behind the speakers.

ForceForward also simplifies the task of speaker placement by removing bass energy from behind the speaker and creating an even bass throw. This allows Masterpiece Series speaker cabinets to sit closer to the wall than previous generations of MartinLogan speakers. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend placing the back of the speaker cabinet no closer to the wall than the diameter of its woofer (Renaissance ESL 15A: 12 inches, Expression ESL 13A: 10 inches, and Impression ESL 11A and Classic ESL 9: 8 inches). For an added level of control-powered Masterpiece Series speakers, incorporate two level controls (at 75Hz and 200Hz) to allow fine-tuning of bass integration.

Additionally, due to their dipole nature, electrostatic panels perform best when positioned at least 2.5 feet or more from the wall, an ideal distance for the front of almost any high-end speaker, regardless of driver technology. The depth of Masterpiece Series cabinets lends itself to providing electrostatic panels with adequate clearance from the wall, ensuring a detailed, three-dimensional soundstage.

New Performance, Versatility and Safety, with WBT Binding Posts

Connect your electronics safely and securely using WBT Audiophile 5-Way Binding Posts. Their pure copper connection plate is highly conductive and free from “eddy” effects. These posts are insulated for shock protection and fully dampened against vibration. They give you plenty of room for big-bore professional speaker connections.

Powerful New 300-Watt Class-D Amplification with 24-Bit Vojtko™ DSP Engine

The performance of the Expression ESL 13A has been reconsidered from the ground up. Taking full advantage of innovations like PoweredForce Forward and ARC Technology, and the integration of the electrostatic panel with the woofer array, required bold thinking about power and efficiency. Our new two 300-watt amplifiers produce clean power, in a small space, more efficiently than ever before. They enable the effortless delivery of thrilling dynamic impact, with plenty of overhead. Superior, reliable Class-D technology means there is virtually no energy lost between the amplifiers and the woofers.

MartinLogan's dedicated in-house design and engineering team created an extremely precise 24-bit Vojtko Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engine to work with these powerful new amplifiers. It gives these speakers the ability to deliver detailed low-frequency performance down to 22Hz. Advanced DSP allows complete control and performance optimization over the low-pass filters, woofer EQ, and limiting functions, all of which are mathematically mapped in the digital domain. Complete control of the signal, coupled with instant response, massive amounts of clean power, and efficient, integrated performance paint a unique picture of lifelike audio performance.

The Vojtko Crossover, the Ultimate

The advanced Vojtko crossover and electronics inside the Impression ESL 11A add great midrange clarity to this loudspeaker. Painstakingly hand-built using only premium polypropylene capacitors and air coils, the crossover utilizes MartinLogan's proprietary Vojtko topology for extremely low distortion and seamless driver/ESL integration. This precision-tuned crossover preserves even the most microscopic sonic nuances and is capable of drawing the panel to reproduce the dynamics of any source.

We also took into consideration the signal you'll be feeding your speakers and designed the Impression ESL 11A to work well with virtually any type of electronics. MartinLogan's state-of-the-art toroidal transformer and electrical interface engineering ensure an absolutely transparent connection from amplifier to electrostatic panel and woofer. This produces a sound of unparalleled purity, precision, clarity and openness – the best thing you can do for any speaker.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Pair of 3-way electrostatic/hybrid floorstanders with amplified bass section and ARC™ ready.

Twin 254mm aluminium cone woofers in air suspension, driven by a dual 300W Class D amplifier with the possibility of Anthem Room Correction calibration (optional).

1120x330mm CLS XStat™ controlled dispersion curved electrostatic ribbon midrange/tweeter.

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

Power 50-600W.

Efficiency 91dB.

Impedance 4 ohm.

24bit Vojtko™ crossover.

Bass and mid/high adjustment.

WBT connectors.

ETC™ decoupling tips included.

Available finishes: Gloss Black - Walnut - Dark Cherry - Cordoba Red Fire Red - Deep Sea Blue DX - Basalt Black - Arctic Silver - Desert Silver - Meteor Gray - Gloss White

Matt Black electrostatic panel.