Will excessive smoke or dust cause any problems with my electrostatic speakers?
Exposure to excessive contaminants such as smoke or dust may potentially affect the performance of the electrostatic membrane, and may cause discoloration of the diaphragm membrane. When not in use for extended periods, you should unplug the speakers and cover them with the plastic bags in which the speakers were originally packed.
It is a good idea to vacuum the electrostatic portion of each speaker once or twice a year. This will be most effective if the speaker has been unplugged for six hours or overnight. You need not worry about the vacuum pressure damaging the "delicate" membrane. It is extraordinarily durable.
A problem has recently developed with my MartinLogan speakers. The right speaker seems to be hissing even when the amplifier and such are not connected. I was wondering if this sounds like any problem you have encountered previously and have a simple solution for or might it be something which will need to be looked into more carefully.
Your speakers are dusty. The electrostatic charge on the element has attracted some airborne dust or pollen. First unplug the speakers for six hours or overnight. This will allow the charge to dissipate. Now vacuum the front of the panel with a very strong vacuum. Don’t worry about damaging the membrane. You won’t. This should take care of your problem
By the way, since 1993, all of our speakers have been built with a charging circuit board that only charges the electrostatic element when music plays. At other times they are not charged, and cannot collect dust. You can get the same benefit by simply unplugging them whenever they are not in use. An easy way to do that is with a power strip that has a switch.
Could my children, pets, or myself be shocked by the
No. High voltage with low current is not dangerous. As a matter of fact, the voltage in our speakers is 10 times less than the static electricity that builds up on the surface of your television screen.
How do MartinLogan speakers hold up over a long term in the humidity of tropical climates?
We should tell you that MartinLogan indeed has a very substantial number of customers in tropical regions of the world. Our speakers have been serving them nicely for many years. This concern may have come from our earlier design of speakers, which were charged continuously. Since 1993, all of our speakers have been designed so that they only charge the panel while music is being played. This improvement has made a tremendous difference in the consistent performance of our product. There may be a little more maintenance involved in humid regions when not in an air conditioned environment. Simply enough, the concern is to keep the electrostatic panels dust free. Humidity will combine with any dust on the panel to make it slightly conductive. This will result in a slight pathway for the charge to leave the membrane of the speaker. The solution is simple. They only require occasional vacuuming with a strong vacuum hose. You will have best results when the speakers have been unplugged for six hours or overnight. We are confident that they will serve you very well.
Should I unplug my speakers during a thunderstorm? Yes, or before. It’s a good idea to disconnect all of your audio/video components during stormy weather.