Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

REVIEW: Martin-Logan Odyssey Speakers

Model: Odyssey
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $6000.
Description: Electrostatic hybrid.
Manufacturer URL: Martin-Logan
Manufacturer URL: Martin-Logan

Review by chillysalsa on April 11, 2003 at 18:03:03
IP Address: 64.231.248.80
Add Your Review
for the Odyssey


It's the last day of lectures in my undergraduate carreer, and I decided to celebrate by getting an XRCD I’ve been after. On my way out of snooty Yorkville street in Toronto where I bought it, I was drawn to investigate this ritzy looking high-end audio store (north of BayBloor, I forgot the name).

Anyway, as an excuse to go in, I asked about B&W because I had always wanted to compare the 602's with my PSB 2B speakers. Unfortunately, they're not a B&W dealer...

But, after complimenting me on the Grado SR-125's around my neck, the sales guy realized I had 'cred', and we began talking about equipment. I mentioned I had never heard planar speakers, and he invited me to listen to some in a dedicated room.

It was only a brief session, so observations are very superficial. Overall, I admit that sound was exceptionally good, better than anything I had ever heard before (a couple systems in the <$3000 range).

The first thing that struck me, was the SIZE of the sound. Speakers that are 6’ tall, are obviously going to sound big. Instruments sounded ‘full-sized’ as they say. The soundstage was not only tall, but wide and deep. The sweet spot was really big too, as I moved around the room for a minute.

There were several times where music seemed to be coming from BELOW the floor - as though you were in a balcony seat at the hall... a really magical effect. Instruments were so well spaced from left to right, it was easy to imagine where the musicians were.

The speakers were so smooth, and (maybe) faster than my Grados! The strings actually had richness, AND detail - two qualities I had previously believed were mutually exclusive. When I come back to my speakers, I began to think that the metallic sound in the upper frequencies is NOT part of the music after all (but my ignorance was bliss!). The Logans were fluid and tame from the midrange upward.

I’ve heard people complain about the lack dynamic range of some planar designs, but the built-in 8” and 10” woofers provided a lot of impact, so I didn’t notice that.

I have to confess that for the price, I was really expecting (hoping?) to be floored by the sound, but I wasn’t amazed right off the bat. Maybe my expectations are too high/unrealistic. Maybe the price is beyond some point of ‘incremental returns’. Maybe both...

Considering this was my first taste of real hi-end, the experience hasn’t left me seduced. I'm not left wanting to save up (for years!) and buy them ASAP. I can honestly say I’m still enjoying the disc on my current system… but I now understand what it takes to get closer to reproducing a live performance.

Thanks for reading my first review.

In the words of Monty Python: "If you've enjoyed reading this just half as much as I've enjoyed writing it, then I've enjoyed it twice as much as you."


Product Weakness: -Probably would benefit from a larger room.

Too little time to find major flaws...

Product Strengths: -Speed

-Transperancy

-Soundstage


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Krell TAS (Theatre Amplifier Standard)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Krell HTS-2 (Home Theater Standard)
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Pioneer Elite DV-45
Speakers: Martin Logan Odyssey
Cables/Interconnects: ?
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (XRCD)
Room Size (LxWxH): 15 x 15 x 7.5
Time Period/Length of Audition: 20 min
Type of Audition/Review: Dealer Demo
Your System (if other than home audition): (see inmate systems)





This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  VH Audio  


Topic - REVIEW: Martin-Logan Odyssey Speakers - chillysalsa 18:03:03 04/11/03 (5)


You can not post to an archived thread.