Upper end

Muddy lower end

The Quest Z tuned out to be a disappointment, even after weeks of experiementation on placement.

The electrostatic element produces a very nice upper end.

The bass response is largely non-existent unless the pre-amp's tone controls are used. But using the tone control to boost the bass produces a muddy effect. The lack of clarity in the lower end is a killer for me.

After reading so many positive reviews I thought so many cannot go wrong. This is crap ! I believe some posting in this site is by the manufacturers themselves !!!

Way Too Bassy, difficult to place properly expecially with speakers needing power source

When I first got the Quest playing it in my living room sucks !! compared to my Monitor Audio Gold Reference Speakers. The reason I bought these speakers is because I wanted a bigger soundstage sound in my living room. However, I was greatly dissappointed. Althought the highs and mid-range we great... the bass was muddy and too boomy. I was then told that my room was too live and need more damping material. After spending 4,000 on carpets and professional damping materials, this still did not work. I then move the speakers to my room and in a more controlled environment and still it did not work. I was about give up trying to solve the bass problem. Then someone recommended me the BBE Sonic Maximiser to be introduced into my system and now the sound sounds great. The BBE Sonic Maximiser is truly the professional sound processor that can make any speaker sound great. When I say any... I mean especially the Martin Logans !!!

As for the Martin Logans.... they are more hype than anything. Martin Logan should look into giving people more options than just a -3db switch. I know the Request is an upgrade from the Quest because of this problem of bass. They are great for their highs and mid range but they can't get their time bass alignment right and therefore the bass is out of control. I would not recommend Martin Logan to first time buyers... you will regret buying them as they require specific placing and alot of experimentation before they sound great. You are better off with conventional speakers.

Similar Products Used:

First and last time to use such a product

sonic clarity, purity of sound, subtlety

works best with ample power, finicky on placement, not small speakers (6 ft)

I bought these 5 year old used speakers at my local audiphile store. They were a tradein. I reserved them the day after they came in. A real steal! Deal locally! They were in pristine condition, and I got to play for as long as I wanted to before I bought them. These speakers will show through the strength of every component. Some have criticized the powered sub built that's built in on rock recordings, but they rock on remastered CBS gold Boston. Joe Stariani's MFSL Surfing with the Alien has guitar licks that are nasty and melodic; these speakers give it. Earl Klugh on Blue Note recordings sits in your room and plays just for you. Symphonic music is so precise and subtle that you can pick out instruments, and hear the intake of the musician's breath. With electrostatics speakers, they are so pure that it's garbage in garbage out. They really shine with high quality components and recorded material. They expose lousy recordings and second rate equipment. I recommend amps with at least 100 watts per channel with lots of dynamic headroom. Placement is very important. Take your time and tweak. Once you get the placement right, the speakers disappear and all you get is pure audio pleasure. Highly recommended!

Equipment used:

Harmonic Technologies Melody Line speaker cable
Harmonic Technologies Precision Link interconnects
Rotel RCD 971 cd player
Classe CP40 preamp
Cinepro 1k2 amplifier
Martin Logan Quest speakers

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Martin Logan Aerius

sonic clarity, purity of sound, subtlety, oh Yes!!!!

none

Up to now my best speaker I had so far - no need to give you all the attributes you may have read in other reviews and on the same time the upmost in size which is acceptable by my wife.

I have had these martin-logan "Quest" speakers for about 4 years. The ability for these speakers to reproduce the female singing voice is like no other speaker i have ever heard. For my money there is no better speaker for jazz or vocals.

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Other Martin Logan speeakers