my dream speakers marten: COLTRANE QUINTET EXTREME

[springson]

yes, it's a dream!

• 1″ pure diamond tweeters
• 3″ pure diamond high midrange
• 7″ pure beryllium midrange (largest ever built)
• Four 8″ Crystalid mid-bass drivers
• Five 10″ aluminium sandwich bass drivers
• Ten 10″ aluminium sandwich passive radiators
• Proprietary first-order crossover
• Jorma Paragon internal wiring
• Carbon fibre faceplate
• Bespoke Marten terminals
• Mirror-polished stainless steel stands with new upgraded Marten Isolators
• Finishes: Matte Walnut, Matte Cherry,
  Matte Maple, Matte Oak
• Dimensions: Main – 30 × 182.2 × 63.5 cm
  (140 kg) Bass – 70 x 182.2 x 63.5 cm (270 kg)
• Retail price: €950,000/set

 

[cloudhead]

I heard them in Munich last month. They sounded good to say the least.

 

[LL21]

I heard them in Munich last month. They sounded good to say the least.

Any more listening notes? Most intrigued! Martens are known for ease, clarity and nuance. Where some have critiqued most often from my recollection is around the bass...articulate, but if you like mountain-granite-solid slab bass...probably not for you.

But here, there clearly has been some attention in the design to air displacement...significant air displacement in bass.

Thanks for any listening notes!

 

[cloudhead]

Of course! I sat through "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" as well as a song by Bowie I hadn't heard before. My impression was that they were perfectly balanced speakers through the entire frequency range, with a big sound, but not overwhelming or forward. Not layed back either; somewhere in the middle. They seem to be able to play at high volume without being tiring. This was pretty impressive. They are a touch warmer than Wilson speakers and two touches warmer than Magico speakers. They were also quite "chunky" sounding compared to the Wilson/Magico that sound a bit leaner to me. They are definitely fuller body than some other highly resolving speakers; it seems like they are optimized for musicality rather than perfect transparency.

It was hard to get an impression of sound stage from where I was sitting (a little further than ideal). The thing is I can't really say the system had any faults, it really was incredibly balanced, dynamic, clean, etc. It didn't really have a particular sound signature I haven't heard before, I think this is the type of sound that wouldn't displease anyone. I don't think I can say that of many other systems I heard at Munich.

 

[LL21]

Of course! I sat through "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" as well as a song by Bowie I hadn't heard before. My impression was that they were perfectly balanced speakers through the entire frequency range, with a big sound, but not overwhelming or forward. Not layed back either; somewhere in the middle. They seem to be able to play at high volume without being tiring. This was pretty impressive. They are a touch warmer than Wilson speakers and two touches warmer than Magico speakers. They were also quite "chunky" sounding compared to the Wilson/Magico that sound a bit leaner to me. They are definitely fuller body than some other highly resolving speakers; it seems like they are optimized for musicality rather than perfect transparency.

It was hard to get an impression of sound stage from where I was sitting (a little further than ideal). The thing is I can't really say the system had any faults, it really was incredibly balanced, dynamic, clean, etc. It didn't really have a particular sound signature I haven't heard before, I think this is the type of sound that wouldn't displease anyone. I don't think I can say that of many other systems I heard at Munich.

Fantastic descriptions with some comparisons! Super super helpful. Thank you very much! I am particularly intrigued by the chunky comment which sounds good. Solidity of music is a big leap in believability. To get to the next level of scale, 'chunkiness/solidity', effortlessness (all combined in one speaker) is not always so easy. The Genesis Ones do it. The Rockport Arrakis does it though not to the scale of the Genesis Ones. And the AG Trio G3s with dualhorns do it as well. It appears the Marten Extremes may be in that next category class as well.

Most intriguing! Do you remember the electronics driving the Martens? Dartzeel 468 monos perhaps?

 

[Gary Lee]

Just attended the Tokyo International Audio Show 2025 (17-19Oct2025) and very much impressed by the Marten Coltrane Supreme Extreme setup in the show, which paired with CH Precision Flaghsip 10 Series Full Gears (L10, M10, C10, D10) and the new Crystal Cable Flagship Series - Infinite Dream - Interconnects, Power Cords and Speaker Cables.

I did not have ant professional recording devices with me during the audio show but managed to record some video clips with my iPhone ProMax for sharing with members in this forum, they are certainly not intended for serious SQ assessment purposes : D.

 

[LL21]

Just attended the Tokyo International Audio Show 2025 (17-19Oct2025) and very much impressed by the Marten Coltrane Supreme Extreme setup in the show, which paired with CH Precision Flaghsip 10 Series Full Gears (L10, M10, C10, D10) and the new Crystal Cable Flagship Series - Infinite Dream - Interconnects, Power Cords and Speaker Cables.

I did not have ant professional recording devices with me during the audio show but managed to record some video clips with my iPhone ProMax for sharing with members in this forum, they are certainly not intended for serious SQ assessment purposes : D.

Great stuff...were they also using the Riviera Labs?

 

[Gary Lee]

Great stuff...were they also using the Riviera Labs?

In the session I attended and recorded, CH M10 were being used, along with other CH 10 Series gears such as L10, C10 and D10. The local distributor has arranged alternative demo sessions using Riviera Labs to drive Marten during the show.

 

[LL21]

Thank you. For “simple recordings” as you describe them, there is quite a lot of depth, effortless power in the mids and upper on the piano which is impressive and if it sounds that way in real life then also rare where many speakers just don’t have that depth and power in those upper keys. Articulation, a bit of nuance yes, but effortless power very rare.

 

[Rob181]

The piano reproduction is impressive...

 

[JackD201]

Hi springson

Shouldn't the title of the thread by Coltrane Supreme Extreme?

The Quintet extreme is limited range topper of the Coltrane Quintet series, Quintet, Quintet SE and Quintet Extreme.

 

[Arif_in_Japan]

Great stuff...were they also using the Riviera Labs?

Yes they did and I felt the Riviera Labs sounded more musical. Overall a very impressive display and was great to see the Marten brothers in person.

 

[LL21]

Thank you. I am intrigued by these recordings and the basic construct of the speaker, having not felt (for not any particular reason) inspired to investigate Marten much. I think historically I had been told and read that they have historically been wonderfully revealing but not necessarily the most fulsome in sound and certainly not in bass. That is probably why.

But these seem cut from a different cloth with 15 x 10" cones and effectively a full sub tower from 120hz upwards. Plus the recordings give a sense of scale and depth of note that seems consistently very promising.