the CLX review is here....

[tonepub]

Hey all:

The new issue is up and I did the Harry Pearson-length review on the CLX...

We also did our vintage column on the CLS, so ML got a lot of ink this issue.
My thanks to Rich Kent for giving up a day of his time to let me listen to his CLS's and to all the people on the forum who answered my questions about the speaker.

I had em a long time ago, so it was a big help to get my memory refreshed.

Here's the link:

http://tonepublications.com/MAGPDF/TA_019.pdf

If you are intrigued, we have moved our Awards to the web, instead of putting them in the Dec issue. Here's the link:

http://www.tonepublications.com/ToneAudio/Awards.html

Thanks again for reading! We hope you enjoy the issue....

 

[C.A.P]

All over it . Thanks ! In Ted Knights voice "Well Were Waiting"

 

[tonepub]

Good deal. That's the longest, most in-depth review I've ever done.

We've had a few comments over the past year, claiming we can't produce
those long reviews like TAS, so I couldn't think of a better subject!

 

[mosttoysrk]

Jeff,
As always, a great job on the latest issue of Tone Audio. It was a pleasure to finally meet you and spend some time discussing varied topics of audio while you listened to my CLS's. I look forward to visiting you next month in Portland to audition your CLX's as I know I will be impressed. A small correction my subwoofer is actually a Descent. (not an i) Once again kudos on a great issue this month!:rocker:

 

[jtwrace]

Jeff-

I found it strange how the article ended...are you keeping them as your reference?

 

[Gordon]

Nice read and thanks. I'm assuming that a 16X24 room would be a minimum size room to get the most out of them?

Gordon

 

[FISH_MAN]

What can I say TonePub you do a really nice job!


After reading your review and looking the CLX over again I have defiantly changed my opinion on it and would order a pair in a second if I had the space. Although am ultra satisfied with my spires and feel no need to upgrade :^)

 

[MiTT]

Well thanks a lot Jeff. Just got the evil eye from the wife because she's busy working around the house while I'm just glued to the computer reading the latest issue. She doesn't have to say a word, I know what "the look" means.

Possibly my favorite issue of the magazine yet, not just because of the CLX review (which was great), but because of the tip of the hat to the CLS, and the review of the Lyra Scalla, and the latest Boz Scaggs (the CD was in the wifes stocking, she's a big fan), and the MoFi reissue of the Pixies "Dolittle".

Excellent effort all around!

 

[User211]

Well, I have had a quick scan and I think it looks like the best issue yet as well, Tim! No time to read today but will comment when I have had some time to digest...

As for the Pixies, if you like them Tim, you absolutely MUST check out the Live In Newport DVD, which is entirely acoustic, and absolutely fantastic, Just one of those releases that blows your mind it is so good. I have it in HD too, courtesy of Sky Arts (satellite channel). If by chance you don't have it - get it. As for the MoFi release, I'll place it on order tomoz!

Looking forward to digging into the CLS, CLX, tube rolling in HK and NIN articles. Plus the TT and cart reviews.

Top stuff, Mr Dorgay - you've hit exactly the areas a lot here will appreciate. I just hope the wider market will dig it too.

Anyway, after a long Xmas socialising, it's time for an extended, solitary, serious listening session!

 

[Gordon Gray]

Hi Jeff,

Great review of the CLX.

One question. Many equipment reviewers will cite their specific "reference" recordings to explain the strengths or weaknesses of a particular product.

I know that the citations can be helpful for those (including me) who have those CD's and albums.

I noticed that you and your staff tend not to do that.

Any particular reason?

Gordon

 

[tonepub]

Thanks guys, glad you enjoy it.

 

[amey01]

So far I've only read the contents and the last page of the CLX review, but it is certainly shaping up to be the best issue yet. Can't wait to get stuck into it!

 

[JonFo]

Hi Jeff, congrats on a very nice article. It was actually not long enough for me

I'd like to see more ink on the DualForce woofer subsystem. It is revolutionary, yet very little is said about it and how they work.

Are there NDA constraints?

Another point you made in the article bears repeating, and that's how crossovers are critical, and as ML shows with ongoing evolutions in crossovers (Summit X), they are crucial to outcomes.

I wonder why on their flagship speaker they didn't use all the modern repertoire of active crossovers? Forcing bi-amping raises overall system costs too much?


Not that I care too much, as I'll be bypassing the passives as soon as I get my pair :devil:

 

[tonepub]

Gordon:

The reason I don't go into that much depth on the recordings I used is because when I used to read reviews in Stereophile or TAS I used to think to myself "What good is this, I don't own any of those records"...

What I'm always trying to do is to describe the overall character of a piece of gear, tonality, dynamics, whether it throws a large, medium or small soundstage, etc. I'm also looking for potential system synergies and in the case of the CLX tried it with about seven different amplifiers, etc.

Jon Fo:

As to the dual force woofer, my apologies for not going further in depth with that, but I think it would be better explained by the ML people, than me. I was more interested in the results, that it worked tremendously.

With the crossover thing, that's their call, but there just aren't that many speakers with active crossovers that I can think of, so I don't see this as a mainstream technology yet.

I may be stepping over my bounds here, but that was probably one of the things that made the Statement harder to sell, because it did require more than one amplifier. Not everyone has that much rack space or power. Personally, I liked the fact that the CLX doesn't even need bi-wired speaker cables!

I also think that sometimes giving the consumer too many choices can screw up the result more than help. For every guy out there that understands this stuff and has implemented it to the level you have in your system, there are 1000 that don't. And that's when things go awry.

Considering the feedback I've gotten on the CLX review from all over the place, I think this is a trend that will continue more often next year. We can't go this in depth on everything we review, but I do feel that flagship products do deserve more coverage.

Like ML, we are always evaluating and carefully upgrading what we do and how we do it....

 

[jfm]

Good work Jeff and thanks for sharing! Your publication's distinctiveness is its consistent enthusiasm, a refreshing departure from the stuffy style of the others.

Noticed you gave the overall award to the Meridian 7200. Would be interested to hear your comments about that speaker's specific strengths & weaknesses in comparison with the CLX.

 

[Liquisonic]

":Outsiders:" POV

Hi Jeff, congrats on a very nice article. It was actually not long enough for me

Ahh... That is because you are the MASTER of Complexity, JonFo, and have one of the most studied/combed-over systems on this site (for me anyway), and crack up every time I re-visit your system #45 thread, and can only repeat kruppy's "Holy CRAP!" comment LMFAO!

Great review Jeff, makes us non ML owners that much closer to "pulling the trigger". Your entire publication is a breath of fresh air as well!

Cheers, Steve

 

[roberto]

As I said before, thanks for your time and effort!

Hola Jeff, those are the words and sentences that we need to understand the CLX and it´s complexity. It is truly a winner in the marketplace and setting new standards in the industry. ML did their homework right! Many good things in their design and sound. Thanks a lot for such a wonderful full review. Happy listening,
Roberto.

 

[JonFo]

... Jon Fo:

As to the dual force woofer, my apologies for not going further in depth with that, but I think it would be better explained by the ML people, than me. I was more interested in the results, that it worked tremendously.

With the crossover thing, that's their call, but there just aren't that many speakers with active crossovers that I can think of, so I don't see this as a mainstream technology yet.

I may be stepping over my bounds here, but that was probably one of the things that made the Statement harder to sell, because it did require more than one amplifier. Not everyone has that much rack space or power. Personally, I liked the fact that the CLX doesn't even need bi-wired speaker cables!

I also think that sometimes giving the consumer too many choices can screw up the result more than help. For every guy out there that understands this stuff and has implemented it to the level you have in your system, there are 1000 that don't. And that's when things go awry.

Considering the feedback I've gotten on the CLX review from all over the place, I think this is a trend that will continue more often next year. We can't go this in depth on everything we review, but I do feel that flagship products do deserve more coverage.

Like ML, we are always evaluating and carefully upgrading what we do and how we do it....

Thanks Jeff, agreed that too much complexity in a product can be detrimental to good deployment. I've seen people screw up HTIB system setups, so you know a bi-amp setup would be a challenge .

Actually, you just reviewed an active crossover, tri-amped speaker, the Meridian 7200

And boy, aren't they easy to setup. That's why I've loved Meridian all these years, they just know how to do digital right.

I've always been surprised more manufactures don't pursue similar strategies of highly integrated and tuned speaker systems (including active crossovers and amps as part of the system).

Sometime I think the hobby is just to focused on allowing the user too much freedom (heresy for me to say that I know, being Mr. tweak and all).

It's as if Ferrari sold their cars without an engine, and some customers would put in a Vespa motor and then complain how poorly a Ferrari performs.
It seems nuts sometimes ...

Now there's an article: should audio systems be designed by competent engineers, or should we just let the average salesperson, hobbyist or user try and assemble on their own?

Maybe do it with a focus on speaker systems more than entire chain. But even doing the entire chain has great arguments as to why it would add value (again, Meridian is the prime example).

 

[JonFo]

Hi Jeff, congrats on a very nice article. It was actually not long enough for me

Ahh... That is because you are the MASTER of Complexity, JonFo, and have one of the most studied/combed-over systems on this site (for me anyway), and crack up every time I re-visit your system #45 thread, and can only repeat kruppy's "Holy CRAP!" comment LMFAO!

Great review Jeff, makes us non ML owners that much closer to "pulling the trigger". Your entire publication is a breath of fresh air as well!

Cheers, Steve

Hi Steve, yes, the master of complexity, but it comes at a price. I spend way to much time on this and have to practically learn a second career (or two) to be able to do it.

But, the results, it's always about the results, and the recent review my system received from Fellow member Fountain, seems to validate the effort

Steve, time to jump in and join the fun with your own set of ML’s.

ToneAudio is great rag, I really enjoy the balanced reporting, and the fact that there are editions with TWO MartinLogans in them

 

[twich54]

Good read Jeff ! it's interesting that you reviewed the Musical Srrounds Phonomena II phono-pre, for I have a friend interested in a sub 1k piece and forwarded your review link to him.