Summary
The MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A is a true luxury speaker that delivers a stunning audio performance. Its larger electrostatic panel will fill your room with a lifelike stereo image, while the dual 10” active bass drivers will provide the depth and control required for true full-range listening.
In detail
High-end audio is about extracting every last detail from your favourite recordings. It’s about giving you new insights every time you listen, making your favourite songs sound as thrilling as they did the first time you heard them.
The Expression ESL 13A from MartinLogan has all of the ingredients to bring this experience into your home. The electrostatic panel is magic, and its large surface area not only projects a larger soundstage but also reveals slight details you’d never noticed before.
As famous as MartinLogan is for their electrostatic transducers, they also have built a reputation, after decades of research and development, for their incredible bass performance. An electrostat is fast and detailed and if the bass can’t keep up then the whole thing falls apart. Fortunately there is no such problem here: the dual 10” woofers in the Expression ESL 13A can move a lot of air but also do so with a deft touch, thanks to the 300 watt Class-D amplifiers built-in as well as MartinLogan’s famous Vojtko DSP engine. Anthem Room Correction (ARC) provides the final touch, tailoring the bass response perfectly to the idiosyncrasies of your listening room.
Key Features
13” CLS XStat electrostatic panel.
Dual 10” PoweredForce Forward woofers with 300 watt Class-D amplification.
24-bit Vojtko DSP Engine and Anthem Room Correction (ARC) for the bass drivers.
Technology
The Curvilinear Line Source (CLS) XStat electrostatic panel is at the heart of every MartinLogan electrostatic design. The gentle curve of the panel allows for a wider dispersion of sound. MartinLogan’s Advanced MicroPerf stator technology exposes almost twice the diaphragm area of the electrostatic panel when compared to a traditional panel of the same size. The panels are joined to the speaker cabinet with MartinLogan’s ultra-rigid AirFrame Blade construction using aerospace-grade extruded aluminum alloy. Without obstructing the radiating area of the electrostatic speaker, it ensures rigid mounting the bass cabinet of the speaker.
It took a lot of clever engineering to develop a bass driver system that could keep up with the speed of the electrostatic panel on the Expression ESL 13A and also offer the same high-resolution detail. Here, MartinLogan uses two 10-inch laser-engineered, low-distortion aluminum cone woofers. Each is placed in its own independent, enclosed chamber. MartinLogan’s unique PoweredForce Forward bass alignment technology controls the interaction between the forward-facing and rear-facing woofers, and the latter’s interaction with the wall behind the speaker. The end result is bass performance with stunning speed, accuracy, and detail.
By incorporating Anthem Room Correction (ARC) into the design of the Expression ESL 13A, it is possible to optimize the bass performance of the speaker to the unique characteristics of your room. ARC measures the low-frequency performance of the speaker in your room and compares it to the optimal response curves MartinLogan developed in their labs. By applying advanced alogorithms to the DSP circuitry in the speaker, any anomalies that come as a result of the speaker’s interaction with your room are effectively eliminated. The end result is realistically blended, natural-sounding bass in any room.
Specifications
Frequency Response:
24 - 23,000 Hz (+/- 3 dB)
Sensitivity:
91 dB
Impedance:
4 ohms, 0.7 ohms at 20 kHz
Compatible with 4, 6, or 8 ohm rated amplifiers
Recommended Amplifier Power:
20 - 600 watts per channel
Crossover Frequency:
300 Hz
High Frequency Transducer:
XStat CLS electrostatic panel
44” x 13” (572 square inch radiating area)
Low Freqency Transducer:
2x 10” PoweredForce Forward woofers with cast basket, high excursion, rigid aluminum cone, extended throw drive assembly
Amplifier:
2x 300 watts Class-D (continuous), 600 watts (peak)
Room Correction (bass section):
Anthem Room Correction (ARC)
Audio Controls:
Bass: +/- 10 dB under 75 Hz
Mid-bass: -2 dB / 0 / +2 dB
Dimensions (HxWxD):
61.5” x 13.4” x 27.5”
Weight (each):
103 lbs.
Finish Options:
Walnut, Dark Cherry, Gloss Black, Gloss White, Arctic Silver, Basalt Black, Cordoba Red, Deep Sea Blue, Desert Silver, Meteor Grey, Rosso Fuoco Red, Custom (premium)
Sound Advice
The MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A will sound great right out of the box, but will sound its best after 200 hours of use when the drivers and electronics have had the opportunity to break in.
It is recommended that the back of the bass cabinet be no closer than 10” to the wall behind it. For best results, we recommend 15-24”.
