Posted on the Stereophile website by some one who goes by the handle of Michigan J Frog (confirmed Beltist, if that means anything, never heard the term myself). Quoted below: Just goes to show how subjective this whole hobby is.
La chambre Son Idéal: Another local dealer, this room featured the largest speakers of the show that I'd seen: the "brand new" Martin Logan CLX electrostatics. The back of the room was surrounded with Bryston amps, exposed without their covers, and naked for all the audio geeks in the world to drool over. I don't recall exactly what the rest of the system included, apart from the Logans, but I remember the electronics looked substantial enough that you could get a hernia just thinking of moving them. In fact, it appears this system was so fancy and all-equipped, that it came with its own remote-control operator. All you had to do was yell "Track 14!", as the exhibitor demonstrated, and this young dude that comes with the system would change the track for you on his remote control. Sometimes I just can't keep up with all these technerlogical advances. When we heard this system play music, well, both my partner and I looked at each other in stunned silence. We just couldn't believe what we were hearing. I mean, it wasn't just your usual run-of-the-mill shit sound. No, this was shit warmed over, and served on a bed of rice. Stale crunchy rice, at that.
Ok, maybe not exactly as I just described it.... but not far from it, either. I remember yawning, to give the internationally recognized gesture that means "This system is boring. Let's leave.". But before even saying anything myself, I had solicited an opinion from my guest on the room's sound, who was as unimpressed as I was. And we both couldn't get out of the room fast enough. I never did like Bryston, and now I remember why. I remember they were rare in offering lifetime warranties but really, who would want to be subjected to analytical renditions of music for the rest of their lives? Still, I would recommend this system to any nouveau-riche Hong Kong businessman that needs to impress their wealthy friends... and fast. To anyone who's looking to be moved by the musical experience though... keep looking. Although it has your typical ES quickness on transients, the Martin Logan/Bryston system was about as fun to listen to as a dissertation on macroeconomics... in Wolof. And presented an image larger than actual life. Maybe the problem originates with the design goal... And I quote:
Martin Logan CLX:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3417225184/
"Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Son Idéal has put together a system that can blow out candles on a birthday cake: the brand new Martin Logan CLX electrostatic speakers and the Bryston’s 1000 Watt 28B SST2 monoblock amplifiers. "
Great. Now if only it could convey music as well, you might have a reason to have a party.
La chambre Son Idéal: Another local dealer, this room featured the largest speakers of the show that I'd seen: the "brand new" Martin Logan CLX electrostatics. The back of the room was surrounded with Bryston amps, exposed without their covers, and naked for all the audio geeks in the world to drool over. I don't recall exactly what the rest of the system included, apart from the Logans, but I remember the electronics looked substantial enough that you could get a hernia just thinking of moving them. In fact, it appears this system was so fancy and all-equipped, that it came with its own remote-control operator. All you had to do was yell "Track 14!", as the exhibitor demonstrated, and this young dude that comes with the system would change the track for you on his remote control. Sometimes I just can't keep up with all these technerlogical advances. When we heard this system play music, well, both my partner and I looked at each other in stunned silence. We just couldn't believe what we were hearing. I mean, it wasn't just your usual run-of-the-mill shit sound. No, this was shit warmed over, and served on a bed of rice. Stale crunchy rice, at that.
Ok, maybe not exactly as I just described it.... but not far from it, either. I remember yawning, to give the internationally recognized gesture that means "This system is boring. Let's leave.". But before even saying anything myself, I had solicited an opinion from my guest on the room's sound, who was as unimpressed as I was. And we both couldn't get out of the room fast enough. I never did like Bryston, and now I remember why. I remember they were rare in offering lifetime warranties but really, who would want to be subjected to analytical renditions of music for the rest of their lives? Still, I would recommend this system to any nouveau-riche Hong Kong businessman that needs to impress their wealthy friends... and fast. To anyone who's looking to be moved by the musical experience though... keep looking. Although it has your typical ES quickness on transients, the Martin Logan/Bryston system was about as fun to listen to as a dissertation on macroeconomics... in Wolof. And presented an image larger than actual life. Maybe the problem originates with the design goal... And I quote:
Martin Logan CLX:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21180446@N05/3417225184/
"Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Son Idéal has put together a system that can blow out candles on a birthday cake: the brand new Martin Logan CLX electrostatic speakers and the Bryston’s 1000 Watt 28B SST2 monoblock amplifiers. "
Great. Now if only it could convey music as well, you might have a reason to have a party.
