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?