MartinLogan CLX user manual Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How .do .I .clean .my .speakers?

Use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to remove the dust from your speakers. We also recommend a specialty cloth (available at the Xtatic shop at www.martinlogan. com) that cleans your speakers better than anything else we have tried. For the wood surfaces it is accept- able to slightly dampen the cloth. The EcoSound material on the CLX requires special care—see the next FAQ. Do .not .spray .any .kind .of .cleaning .agent . on .or .in .close .proximity .to .the .electrostatic .element. . Avoid .the .use .of .ammonia .based .products .or .sili- cone .oil .on .any .wood .parts..

How .do .I .care .for .the .EcoSound .material?

Your CLX loudspeaker was packaged for shipment in a protective fabric bag. The bag is made of a soft material which may absorb some of the natural oil used to finish the EcoSound. After removing the fabric bag you may notice that the EcoSound surface appears un-even or blotchy in some places. This is very simple to correct.

Using a soft, lint-free cloth, you simply hand rub furni- ture grade finishing oil onto the EcoSound surface. We recommend natural orange or lemon fine furniture oil for best results. This easily repeatable process will always return your EcoSound to its original uniform luster.

We encourage you to occasionally reapply finishing oil to maintain the EcoSound’s rich dark color and keep your CLX loudspeakers looking their very best.

What .is .the .advantage .of .ESL? .

Since the diaphragm is uniformly driven over its entire surface—unlike a tweeter that is only driven at its edges—it is the only technology that can be made large enough to play bass, yet is still light enough for high frequencies. This unique property allows for the elimination of high frequency crossover points and their associated distortions.

What .size .amplifier .should .I .use? .

We recommend an amplifier with 100 to 200 watts per channel for most applications. Probably less would be adequate when used in home theater where a subwoofer is employed. Our designs will perform well with either a tube or transistorized amplifier, and will

reveal the sonic character of either type. However, it is important that the amplifier be stable operating into varying impedance loads: an ideally stable amplifier will typically be able to deliver nearly twice its rated wattage into 4 Ohms and should again increase into 2 Ohms.

Could .you .suggest .a .list .of .suitable .electronics .and . cables .that .would .be .ideal .for .MartinLogan .speakers? .

The area of electronics and cable choice is probably the most common type of question that we receive. It is also the most subjective. We have repeatedly found that brands that work well in one setup will drive someone else nuts in another. We use many brands with great success. Again, we have no favorites; we use electronics and cables quite interchangeably. We would suggest listening to a number of brands—and above all else— trust your ears. Dealers are always the best source for information when purchasing additional audio equipment.

Is .there .likely .to .be .any .interaction .between .my .speak- ers .and .the .television .in .my .Audio/Video .system? .

Actually, there is less interaction between a television and an electrostatic speaker than between a television and a conventional system.

Will .my .electric .bill .go .‘sky .high’ .by .leaving .my .speak- ers .plugged .in .all .the .time? .

No. A pair of MartinLogan’s will draw approximately 1 watt maximum (in standby mode). There is circuitry to turn off the static charge when not in use, to prevent dust collection on the electrostatic element.

If .the .diaphragm .is .punctured .with .a .pencil .or .similar . item,.how.extensive.would.the.damage.to.the.speaker.be? .

Our research department has literally punctured hundreds of holes in a diaphragm, neither affecting the quality of the sound nor causing the diaphragm to rip. However, you will be able to see the actual puncture and it can be a physical nuisance. If this is the case, replacing the electrostatic transducer will be the only solution.

Will .exposure .to .sunlight .affect .the .life .or .performance . of .my .speakers? .

We recommend that you not place any loudspeaker in direct sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV) rays from the

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