MartinLogan Center Channel speaker Martinlogan Exclusives, Curvilinear Line Source Clstm

MARTINLOGAN EXCLUSIVES

Curvilinear Line Source (CLSTM)

Since the beginning of audio, achieving smooth dispersion has been a problem for all loudspeaker designers. Large panel transducers present even more of a challenge because the larger the panel, the more directional the dispersion pattern becomes.

Full range electrostats have long been one of the most problematic transducers because they attain their full range capabilities via a large surface area. It looked as if they were in direct conflict to smooth dispersion and almost every attempt to correct this resulted in either poor dispersion or a serious compromise in sound quality.

After extensive research, MartinLogan engineers discovered an elegantly simple solution to achieve a smooth pattern of dispersion without degrading sound quality. By curving the horizontal plane of the electrostatic transducer, a controlled horizontal dispersion pattern could be achieved, yet the purity of the almost massless electrostatic diaphragm remained uncompromised. After creating this technology, MartinLogan developed the production capability to bring it out of the laboratory and into the market place.

You will find this proprietary MartinLogan technology used in all of our products. It is one of the many reasons behind our reputation for high quality sound with practical usability. This is also why you see the unique “see through” cylindrical shape of all MartinLogan products.

Transducer Integrity

All MartinLogan transducers begin with two pieces of high- grade, cold rolled steel. These steel pieces are then custom perforated and insulated with a unique composite coating. This proprietary coating insulates the stator to three times its actual needed working voltage and gives the Theater a wide margin of safe operation. In addition to the electrical insulation properties, this coating also provides the Theater with a durable, attractive finish that dampens the steel to prevent ringing. These pieces are then sandwiched with our exclusive vapor deposited diaphragm and spacers into a curved geometry, and bonded together with aerospace adhesives whose strength exceeds that of welding.

The result of these advanced technologies is a transducer that is attractive, durable, highly rigid, well dampened, and neutral.

Vapor Deposited Film

The diaphragm material used in all MartinLogan speakers employs an extremely sophisticated conductive surface that has been vapor deposited on the polymer surface at an atomic level. A proprietary compound is vaporized then electrostatically driven into the surface of the polymer film in a vacuum chamber. This process allows an optically transparent surface adding no mass to the diaphragm that is extremely uniform in its surface resistivity characteristics. This uniform surface resistivity controls the electrostatic charge on the diaphragm surface and regulates its migration. As a result, no discharging or “arcing” can occur.

Controlled Dispersion Array

Most MartinLogan speakers are designed with vertically oriented CLS transducers providing line sources from 2 to over 5 feet. This provides excellent detail and coverage of the listening area without the need for additional transducers. The Theater's horizontally oriented eight inch vertical line source requires an additional transducer to disperse high frequency information.

In order to provide a high frequency dispersion pattern that matches other MartinLogan speakers, we've added a high frequency controlled dispersion array to the Theater. The Theater Dispersion Array consists of three proprietary high frequency drivers and specially engineered electronics which maintain an expanded yet exact vertical dispersion pattern throughout the high frequency spectrum.

The Theater's Dispersion Array also eliminates lobbing. This is a non-uniform pattern which can result from closely spaced wide-dispersion transducers firing a signal in the same direction. This is addressed by configuring the center driver to play only at frequencies above 8000Hz. Above 3000Hz, the Dispersion Array also limits the output of both the upper and lower drivers and above 10,000Hz, the central driver begins to narrow it's dispersion.

This is how the Theater matches the dispersion and detail characteristics of our other CLS electrostatic speaker systems while limiting floor and ceiling reflections. The result is a seamless soundstage and perfect clarity throughout your home theater.

MartinLogan Exclusives 15