Summary
The ultimate centre channel model in MartinLogan’s Masterpiece series. This floorstanding tour-de-force blurs the line between reproduction and reality with its electrostatic panel, Folded Motion tweeters, and PoweredForce Forward bass drivers. If you are shopping for a reference home theater system, you have arrived at your destination.
In detail
MartinLogan electrostatic speakers make their way into many a high-end audiophile stereo system, but their levels of clarity and stunning realism lend themselves perfectly to the home theater experience as well. MartinLogan’s Masterpiece series is your ticket to a no-compromise surround sound system.
The Illusion ESL C34A brings the most advanced technologies of the Masterpiece series models to a dedicated centre speaker design. Fulfilling the unique requirements of a centre channel speaker in a surround sound system, MartinLogan has combined their Folded Motion XT tweeter with the world-famous electrostatic panel to offer both incredible detail and extremely wide dispersion. Every seating position will be treated to the same great sound quality.
Key Features
3-way design with Folded Motion XT tweeters and XStat CLS electrostatic midrange
4x 6.5” PoweredForce Forward woofers with 250 watt Class-D amplification.
24-bit Vojtko DSP Engine and Anthem Room Correction (ARC) for the bass drivers.
Technology
Timbre-matched to their Masterpiece series electrostatic speakers, MartinLogan’s Illusion ESL C34A features a design tailored to the specific needs of a home theater system. It starts with their Folded Motion XT tweeter - two of them, in fact. This design offers incredible resolution and detail without ever sounding harsh or bright. Most importantly, however, it offers incredibly wide dispersion so that everyone can enjoy the experience.
For the midrange, the Illusion ESL C34A utilizes the Curvilinear Line Source (CLS) XStat electrostatic panel that 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 an electrostatic panel and also offer the same high-resolution detail. Here, MartinLogan uses four 6.5-inch laser-engineered, low-distortion aluminum cone woofers. PoweredForce Forward technology allows for bass extension down to 45 Hz from what is a very compact enclosure. The end result is bass performance with stunning speed, accuracy, and detail.
By incorporating Anthem Room Correction (ARC) into the design of the Illusion ESL C34A, 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:
45 - 23,000 Hz (+/- 3 dB)
Sensitivity:
90 dB
Impedance:
6 ohms
Compatible with 4, 6, or 8 ohm rated amplifiers
Recommended Amplifier Power:
20 - 600 watts per channel
Crossover Frequencies:
500, 2,000 Hz
High Frequency Transducer:
2x 1.25” x 2.4” Folded Motion XT Tweeter with 4.5” x 2.75” diaphragm
Midrange Transducer:
XStat CLS electrostatic panel
8” x 34.5” (276 square inch radiating area)
Low Freqency Transducer:
4x 6.5” PoweredForce Forward woofers with cast basket, high excursion, rigid aluminum cone, extended throw drive assembly
Amplifier:
1x 250 watts Class-D (continuous), 500 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):
23.75” x 32.35” x 23.1”
Weight (each):
90 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 Illusion ESL C34A 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 12” to the wall behind it.
