MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A Basalt Black Floorstanding Speaker Pair

RENAISSANCE ESL 15A

What makes a masterpiece? Is the "Mona Lisa" just a photo of a woman smiling, or is there more to it?

We consider something a masterpiece when uncommon skill shapes familiar elements in unexpected ways, revealing an essential truth.

At MartinLogan, the essential truth that our craftsmanship reveals is absolute realism in audio reproduction. Our new electrostatic loudspeaker line culminates in the new Renaissance ESL 15A. Three decades of audio design expertise and cutting-edge engineering innovation come together in a speaker like no other.

A Masterpiece of Design and Engineering

Befitting a speaker bearing the name, MartinLogan has combined decades of research and development to definitively reimagine the electrostatic loudspeaker. This is an absolute success and one of the finest audio products of the 21st century.

The pièce de résistance is the integration of the award-winning 15-inch curvilinear XStat™ (ESL) transducer with a robust woofer section: the revolutionary fusion of design and engineering.

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 transducer of the same size. The panel is reinforced with rigid ClearSpar™ spacers, which maintain an exact level of tension across the entire diaphragm, which is vacuum-bonded so as not to obscure the beautiful transparent design. Then there is the sleek, arrowhead design of the new AirFrame™ Blade construction; a powerfully evocative shape that creates a harmonious connection between the panel and the woofer cabinet.

Some firsts: We've reimagined the Renaissance ESL 15A's woofer section, now powered by new 500-watt Class-D amplifiers and controlled by a 24-bit Vojtko™ DSP engine and ARC™ (Anthem Room Correction).

Using two 12-inch low-distortion aluminum cone woofers operating in independent chambers, and using exclusive PoweredForce Forward™ bass alignment technology to control the interaction between the rear woofer and the rear wall, we've minimized the effect the wall has on the output of low frequencies that could otherwise bounce back into the listening room. This smooth frequency response allows for lifelike bass. It's yet another way MartinLogan innovation elevates the listening experience in any room.

Achieving the lab standard in your own room

In the lab, MartinLogan engineers strive to design loudspeakers that are as transparent as possible. Outside the lab, however, there is one variable our engineers can never predict: the listening room. The unique size and shape of the room (and its contents) can create unpredictable bass characteristics, dramatically impacting a loudspeaker's overall performance.

For the first time in electrostatic loudspeakers, we are introducing exclusive Anthem Room Correction (ARC) technology. Using ARC to control the bass output in relation to the ESL panel (as seen in this graph), you'll experience performance equal to that achieved in the MartinLogan lab.

ARC measures the room's low-frequency response and compares it to optimal response curves that account for spatial anomalies. ARC's advanced algorithms effectively remove any room issues, correcting the output of the woofers for lifelike, natural-sounding performance.

By minimizing room interactions with ARC's PoweredForce Forward technology and advanced room correction features, the Impression ESL 11A delivers unmatched musical focus. The reproduction is extremely natural at any listening level with an extremely rich and detailed soundstage.

They express a definitive level of quality, in short, the difference between excellence and a true masterpiece.

New Ultra-Rigid AirFrame Blade Design

Expression ESL 15A XStat panels are joined to their diffusers using MartinLogan's redesigned AirFrame Blade construction, precision-crafted from an aerospace-grade extruded aluminum alloy. This material and this exclusive manufacturing process make the panels extremely rigid.

The bold, forward-facing styling of this AirFrame Blade rail system—narrow and sturdy at the front, broad and purposeful from the side—is a modern design statement. It never obstructs the playing surface or interferes with the panel's dipole sound 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 baffle, PoweredForce Forward Bass technology offers greater placement flexibility and enhances the true audio realism of your source material.

Utilizing All the Space for Better Bass - Masterpiece Series Cabinet Cutaway

The depth of the Masterpiece Series cabinets has been carefully chosen to maximize the benefits of PoweredForce and ForceForward technologies, providing powerful, highly detailed bass. Combined with Anthem Room Correction (ARC™), this delivers a level of low-frequency precision that is truly unique.

The Masterpiece Series cabinet dimensions create an ideal relationship between the woofers, the volume of the enclosure 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 all high-end speakers, regardless of driver technology. The depth of the Masterpiece Series enclosures allows for proper positioning of the electrostatic panels, 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 vibrations. They give you plenty of room for big-bore professional speaker connections.

Powerful New 500-Watt Class-D Amplification with 24-Bit Vojtko™ DSP Engine

The Renaissance ESL 15A performance has been redesigned 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 500-watt amplifiers pack a lot of punch, into a small space, and more efficiently than ever before. They deliver 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.

ESL 15A Renaissance

MartinLogan's dedicated in-house design and engineering team created a hyper-precise 24-bit Vojtko Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engine to work in conjunction 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.

Renaissance ESL 15A - The Vojtko Crossover, the Ultimate Possible

The advanced Vojtko crossover and electronics inside the Impression ESL 11A add incredible 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 maximum driver/ESL integration. This precision-tuned crossover preserves even the most microscopic nuances of sound and is capable of making the panel reproduce the dynamics of any source.

We also took into consideration the signal you will 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 a completely 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

3-way floorstanding electrostatic/hybrid speaker pair with amplified bass section and ARC™ ready.

Twin 305mm (12") aluminum cone woofers in air suspension, driven by a dual 500W Class D amplifier with optional Anthem Room Correction calibration.

1169x381mm (46"x15") CLS XStat™ controlled-dispersion curved electrostatic ribbon midrange/tweeter.

Electrostatic panel bonded to the bass module with ultra-rigid AirFrame Blade Design technology. Power 50-700W. Efficiency 92dB. Impedance 4 ohm. 24bit Vojtko™ crossover. Bass and mid/high adjustment. WBT connectors. ETC™ decoupling tips included. Available finishes: Gloss Black - Walnut - Dark Cherry - Fire Red - Cordoba Red - Deep Sea Blue DX - Basalt Black - Arctic Silver - Desert Silver - Meteor Gray - Gloss White Matt Black electrostatic panel. Technical features Frequency response: 22-21,000 Hz ± 3dB Amplifier power recommended: 20-700 watts per channel

Sensitivity: 92dB / 2.83 volts/meter

Impedance: 4 Ohms, 0.7 at 20kHz Compatible with 4, 6 or 8 Ohm amplifiers.

Crossover Frequency: 300Hz

High Frequency Transducer: XStat™ CLS™ Electrostatic Transducer »Panel Dimensions: 46″ x 15″ (117 x 38 cm). »Radiating Area: 690 in² (4,446 cm²).

Low Frequency Transducer: Two 12” (30.5 cm) Powered Force Forward™ woofers with cast basket, high excursion, rigid aluminum cone and extended throw drive assembly, non-resonant asymmetrical chamber format.

Amplifier: Woofers: 2 x 500 watts/channel (4 ohms), 2 x 1000 watts peak.

Room Correction (Bass Section): Anthem Room Correction (ARC™) ready (sold separately)

Components: Custom-wound audio transformer, air-core coils, polypropylene capacitors. 24-bit DSP preamp (used with woofer amplifier).

Audio Controls: Bass: ±10dB below 75Hz Mid Bass: -2dB, 0dB, +2dB Light: On, Dim, Off ARC™ Room EQ: On, Off

Signal Inputs: Nextgen™ WBT-0703Cu 5-way binding posts feature a filigree signal conductor made of gold-plated, nickel-free, non-ferromagnetic, highly conductive and fully insulated pure copper. Free from eddy current effects.

Inputs: AC Power, RJ45 (for ARC), mini USB (for ARC)

Illumination: LED Intensity Control: On, Dim, Off

Dimensions: 177.3cm x 40cm x 63.3cm

Weight: 140 lbs (63.5 kg)