These are not for rockers but if you like acoustic, densely orchestrated, vocal, or classical music they will create an amazing, detailed,realistic soundstage. I now have them hooked up to a Krell KAV300 and they complement each other nicely. You need a good quality powerful amp to bring the warmth out. My old ESS AMT1b's are still my favorites for rock/pop, and their Heil Air-Motion mid/tweeter unit spoiled me forever for conventional tweeters. The ML's are the only thing I've heard that I like as well. Larger sweet spot than the ribbon speakers I had listened to.

Wonderful clarity, and sweet sound in the midrange and treble.

Weak bass for my taste.

I listened to all the speakers available in Amarillo. Ok so it isn't an audiophille paradise. I have built many speaker cabinets in my life. When listening to the other speakers, I kept thinking "I could build something close to that for less money." I kept going back to the Martin Logans. Great sound, great build quality, cool looking. Poor bass response. I added a Velodyne UDL 15 subwoofer and now I can rock out when I want to. Classical is amazing with the combination. I have to say the Carver ALS are up there in the same league. I found the Carvers after buying the Martin Logans. I bought them too, but later sold the Carvers to my brother. Expensive but unique. You hear things you have never heard before on your CD's.

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Carver ALS

Transparent, detailed, broad soundstage.

Brings out flaws in upstream components, lacks deep bass.

Incredibly transparent, you forget they're even there.
Wonderful mids and detailed highs.
This product is indicitive of Martin Logan.

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Maggies.

Tight high end, deep soundstage, detailed mids.

Thin bass with some amps.

Initially I was using a Parasound 2200 amp when I first had them with a Adcom pre. I then moved up to an Aragon 4004 II which gave them much more bottom end punch and the more current, which they definitely need. I also switched to a VTL TL-2 pre which helped smooth them out with it's tubes. Currently I am running them with a VTL 2.5 pre and a McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe with MIT cables, which really makes them sing. The DNA is a tighter and faster amp that coupled with the VTL pre is a very nice combo for these speakers. They take all the current you feed them when playing rock and jazz to high levels. I've tried some different amps and cables with them, but always seem to enjoy the VTL/McCormack/MIT combo for my tastes. The tubes in the pre seems to make them seem much more musical and almost magical when listening to female vocalists, acoustic rock, or anything or that nature. My wife and I spend hours upon hours listening to these and don't seem to get ear fatigue. For the money, one of the best used deals I've ever found. You'll spend a lot more to get the same sound you'd get if you can pick them up for 1k or less. I think they're a better sound then maggies until you get to 3.5 or 3.6's, but then we're talking 15 year old technology here, right? I had this pair since 1990, and think they've more than paid me back for my investment. Gayle Sanders makes an outstanding product for my money.

Similar Products Used:

Magnepan 2.5, DCM Timeframe 700

Mid range. Great for Classical and Jazz.

Lacks Bass. Not for rock or home theater.

I’ve had these speakers for over nine years, and they’re like best friends. But be aware, they're not for everyone. First of all, optimal placement is essential to sound of these speakers. Make sure, at the very least, that each speaker is two to three feet away from a wall. Secondly, finding the right speaker cable is going to be important. I started out with MIT Terminator IIs and have gone to Cardas Cross. The difference in the sound has been amazing. Nothing against MIT but for some reason the Cardas Cable has really brought out the transparent richness of the incredible mid range that these speakers offer. I also recommend bi-amping these speakers if your budget or equipment allow it. Lastly, if the majority of your listening revolves around Metallica, Judas Priest or even the occasional Rolling Stone, these speakers aren’t for you. Admittedly, the bass just isn’t there for heavy rock. However, if you like to listen to jazz, classical, even country, then you’ll more than love the Sequel IIs. There's nothing like these speaker to bring out the beauty of an old Ella Fitzgerald recording.

For what the Sequel IIs are designed for they're fantastic. In my opinion it comes down to a matter of taste in music. These are perfect for me, but they won't be for others.

There’s one other thing. It’s difficult to find a company that cares about its customers the way Martin Logan does. For five of the ten years that I’ve owned these speakers, they were not near but almost on the ocean. There’s nothing like salty sea air to corrode and rust out electronics. After nine years one of my Sequel IIs finally gave up the ghost, which was long after my amp and pre-amp did. Thinking that I’d have to buy new speakers anyway, I contacted Martin Logan to find out what they’d charge to replace to the cross-overs and wiring. The service manager at Martin Logan was happy to do it FREE OF CHARGE for not one but both speakers.

Everyone knows that Martin Logan makes one of the best audio products on the market but their service is not to be believed. There’s no other company, selling audio products or anything else, that I can recommend more than Martin Logan.

Ed Wilson
Etwilson@home.com

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Hales Design Rev 3s. Thiel 2.2s

Beautiful Vocals and Instruments.
Highs and Mid range.

NONE.

These speakers are so excellent. If you follow the placement instructions they sound great!

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Maggies.

Incredible mid range response

Don't expect much when you first set fire them up!

I recently purchased these speakers at what I considered a bargain price. When I got them home, I quickly bi-wired them up. At first I was disappointed - probably because all my experience so far has been with cone only speakers.

Now I have them properly placed and driven by two SONY N9000ES amplifiers and the E9000ES a/v control centre they are nothing short of incredible. I spend hours listening to music now just to hear the sheer clarity. Their bass while good isn't great - but with a powered sub this problem is overcome. The amazing high and mid range response more than makes up for it anyway!

Don't delay, buy today!