MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A Review

This video is on the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A. The Renaissance ESL 15A is at the top of the MartinLogan Masterpiece series of electrostatic speakers. This video will cover all of the great features of the 15A's, discuss how they performed in our listening tests, and also briefly go over the history of MartinLogan's electrostatic speakers and why they are some of the best. Each pair of 15A's is hand built by skilled craftsman in their Lawrence, Kansas facility and are sold as matched pairs; they are truly an audio masterpiece. To read the our full article on the 15A's, click the link below to be taken to our full review on audioadvice.com. We also have an article and video going over the entire Masterpiece series if you are trying to decide which model will best suit your needs.
Read our full Renaissance 15A review: audioadvice.io/...
Watch our video on the full Masterpiece Series: audioadvice.io...
Chat with us online: audioadvice.io... | Call for sales and support: 888.899.8776
Read more product reviews & shop on our website: audioadvice.io...
Follow us on Instagram: audioadvice.io...
Raleigh, North Carolina Location: audioadvice.io...
Charlotte, North Carolina Location: audioadvice.io...

[@brazillm10]

I've had the great pleasure of touring Martin Logan in Kansas back a few years ago. You will not find a more dedicated, passionate group of engineers and craftsmen. They eat and sleep music and take great pride in building world class speakers. Once you experience their clarity and openness, it will be hard to go back to traditional box speakers.

[@garysmith8455]

I am with you TOTALLY Marty (O:

[@DougMSheppard]

I took some time to listen to these in the Raleigh showroom. They sound incredible.

[@jonday49]

I simply couldn't believe how amazing the center image was on these. Masterpiece is the perfect description for these beautiful speakers.

[@Novilicious]

Mark my words; one day, this will be my reference speakers #goals

[@garysmith8455]

Hope they will (O:

[@cigarobsession]

I spent a lot of time with these at a show. If I had the right room for them, they would be mine. Fantastic.

[@rickykhari9987]

Instablaster

[@taylorrasmus1905]

You've made this technology easy to follow - great review!

[@garysmith8455]

I JUST added to my Classic 9's the Martin Logan Dynamo 1600X subwoofer ! Also purchased the 'Perfect Bass Kit' and did the ARC setup. Wonderful melding of sound with this 2.1 for music system. Highly recommended if you want that extra bottom octave for your eStats (O:

[@michaelglenn548]

Huge fan of ML. Would love to add ESL's to my home system!

[@chadl1142]

I have always wanted a pair of Logans

[@garysmith8455]

I am SO happy with my Masterpiece 'Classic 9's . First time I have ever owned an excotic speaker and I could not be happier (O:

[@dennishill290]

Still love my SUMMITS.... want these....!

[@AudioAdvice]

You will love them! Thanks for sharing!

[@RumzDizzle]

I did not know they were made in Lawrence, KS. Went to college there and didn't even know.

[@raider3164]

My dream speaker. Wish I could afford them. I know theres more expensive ones . But these sound awsome .love the sound.

[@rickp6731]

I wonder how these ESL 15A's would compare to the new Final Audio Model 15 Electrostatic Loudspeakers, my Desert Island Electrostatic Loudspeakers !🤔😇

[@AudioAdvice]

We have not heard the Finals. Thanks for watching

[@nelsonclub7722]

Hi there - I know I am late to the ML party and regret this having spent far too much money on stuff that just wasn't right for me - would it be possible to search your memory to tell us what cable you were using - brilliant presentation and you are right on everything

[@AudioAdvice]

Hi there! Thanks for watching. Contact our team at audioadvice.com and they may be able to look into this for you. Thanks!

[@tomk7087]

Amazing speaker, great review. Thank you from Germany (where the WBT connectors come from). Are they Made in US or Canada?

[@mdr4670]

Kansas, USA.

[@tomk7087]

@@mdr4670 meanwhile I found out that they are acutally made in Canada, in the Paradigm factory Mississauga, ON.

[@daniells71]

Is it worth getting big mono-block amps it these speakers have a 90db sensitivity? I use a Marantz receiver that I can't even get to 50% output because it is just too loud.

[@AudioAdvice]

Chat or call our experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you decide!

[@benryals7475]

Thank you for a great video. Where are these made?

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks! Hand built in Mississaugua, Ontario

[@nandangopan1]

Can I use these 15a's for home theater application, as front Left and Right speakers? What is your opinion on it? Thank you.

[@AudioAdvice]

You sure can, we have done a few theaters with these and the matching center channel on a stand under the screen. It makes for a great combo of two channel music with home theater.

[@nandangopan1]

@@AudioAdvice Thank you so much for the reply. I was thinking of the EFX model which is the electrostatic surround speaker, for the center channel, behind the screen. Would that be a good option or should I get the dedicated center channel ESL C34A ?

[@AudioAdvice]

@@nandangopan1 That is a great question. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss the pros and cons of each one.

[@Oswaldbates67]

Awesome

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikewinburn]

Coool review. Soooooo….. other than size and room impact, how does the 15a sound different from the 13A?

[@AudioAdvice]

Thank you, the 15A has a bigger soundstage, goes deeper in the bottom end, and sounds more effortless. Thanks for watching

[@mikewinburn]

@@AudioAdvice - I also watched the comparison video… very nicely done. I just wanted to know what that extra $10,000 bought…Wish I’d been able to afford it. Thanks for the video

[@superheronamedfirebird]

What is the low end of just the electrostatic panel without the sub speakers attached?

[@AudioAdvice]

They cross the sub section over at 300Hz, but it probably goes much deeper, however you can not buy the panel by itself. Hope this helps.

[@xzing7]

What is the minimum power of amplification required to run these beautiful loudspeakers

[@AudioAdvice]

They do need some power but having the powered bass drivers built in takes a load off the amp. Martin Logan recommends a very wide range from 20-700. It would be best if you reached out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss your room and other equipment. Thanks for watching

[@eletrostatic]

What's the main difference between 13a and 15a. Is it the capability to fill big room or is there a difference in sound quality. I thinking about buying 15a, but I don't know the difference between 13a vs 15a. I have 13a now and I'm lacking the deep base. 30hz and below. I added a 1212 REL sub to compensate for the lower end, but it still isn't enough. So my choice is to upgrade to 15a or buying another/several REL 1212 to compensate. As for budged, price doesn't matter. My living room is only 16m2 /very small, but low frequency kinda disappear and at the same time have peak at 55 hz. I've tuned this room for 19 years now and my only problem have been getting enough deep base

[@AudioAdvice]

Great question, can you send you email address to [e-mail] and we can have one of our experts who has experienced both go over the differences. Thanks for watching

[@martinjandijkstra3205]

Did they solve resonance issues? I owned several other models but the panels suffered from resonance, actually could feel the panel rumble. Changed them for old audiostatics, with a sub.

[@garysmith8455]

Just wondering if 'several other' means earlier generations ? If so, the newest models have SO many improvements and are a departure from earlier designs ESPECIALLY the frame and stators of the ESL itself!

[@martinjandijkstra3205]

@@garysmith8455 it was the sequel2 and odyssey, yes old models.

[@garysmith8455]

@@martinjandijkstra3205 Ok, I believe you would be very impressed by the Masterpiece range. Even the lower line (ESL-X) has received very nice compliments (O: Cheers!

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

Lovely speakers, I bet they need a lot of power to run them!

[@phantumdrummer]

They're not as bad as one might think. I run a pair pf 13a's and they added about 12 watts (each) to my PS Audio P10 regenerator while playing at normal levels. Figure the 15a's would be about the same.

[@garysmith8455]

That is 'old school' thinking - not to offend, however, they all run 90 - 91 DB efficiency, they are NOT power hogs by any means!

[@user-ie2ts5ym8i]

@@garysmith8455 MLs though quite efficient they are "difficult" loads, panel resistance is usually close to 4ohm and require a lot of "good" current, they demand very good quality electronics.

[@garysmith8455]

@@user-ie2ts5ym8i Hello MA. WOW, I wrote that a year ago so it says LOL. Anyway, agree on the 4 ohm, and that is how they listed in the owner's manual. This is why I have the Parasound A-21 feeding them. Plenty of headroom /current and the suggested 400w/per ch. stated in the manual. I now have the amp all by itself at the front wall, the low profile audio rack is placed as a coffee table. There are quad wired XLR cables with a 12v. trigger that make the 20' trek straight across the room. The amp outputs now feed directly into the 1600x subwoofer and the 12v. trigger signal from the amp feeds into it to turn it on. Funny your comment comes at this time. I JUST received a very kind letter (in the mail) from Joe Vojtko - cheif engineer at Martin Logan which was a reply to a letter I sent to him and the company team. This was to let them know how happy I am with the system. They also sent me some merch which I had NO idea as coming! What a great group over there ! (O: Also as of last week, just joined MLO (Martin Logan Owners) web/online forum. Pictures of my current setup are in the 'Showcase your system' section. Take a look. Thanks for you comment.

[@x32i77]

I wish they would have active speakers with dsp . Don't wanna spend another 25k on preamp + amp + DAC + cables + media streamer + psu

[@AudioAdvice]

Martin Logan has not entered that category. They do have DSP with ARC on the woofer which is where it really matters.

[@x32i77]

@@AudioAdvice could you recommend me the setup I need for the ESL 15A 🙂 ?

[@AudioAdvice]

@@x32i77 please reach out to [e-mail] and ask for Marty to contact you. He is an ML expert and knows his stuff.

[@mortengammelgaard929]

This is not a review, it`s a sales pitch… Call it what it is 😖

[@T34X1]

Oh, man! :¬.