MartinLogan Summit X user manual MartinLogan Exclusives

MartinLogan Exclusives

XStat™ Transducer

XStat™ transducers incorporate a myriad of technological and design innovations including CLS™, MicroPerf, Generation 2 Diaphragms, ClearSpars™, and Vacuum Bonding.

AirFrame™ Technology

Ultra-rigid extruded aerospace grade aluminum alloy AirFrame™ technology rigidifies and secures the XStat™ electrostatic panel to the woofer cabinet while at the same time providing sonic and electrical isolation. Advanced AirFrame™ technology maximizes the electro- static panels playable surface area and dipole dispersion pattern while minimizing potentially acoustically destructive intermodulated distortion caused by spurious vibrations and resonance. The result? Ultimate imaging capability, low-level detail resolution, improved efficiency and overall accuracy.

MicroPerf Stator

Sleek. Compact. MicroPerf stator technology, featured in all XStat™ transducers, reveals more open playable area in each panel, offering increased performance from even more compact stat panels. It is significant to note that the XStat™ transducer in the radical new Summit X loud- speaker supports the bandwidth and dynamics associated with traditional electrostatic panels nearly twice its size.

CLS™ (Curvilinear Line Source)

Since the beginning of audio, achieving smooth dispersion has been a problem for all designers. Large panel transduc- ers present unique challenge because the larger the panel, the more directional the dispersion pattern becomes.

Wide 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 discov- ered an elegantly simple solution to achieve a smooth pattern of dispersion without degrading sound quality. By curving the horizontal plane of the electrostatic trans- ducer, 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 capa- bility to bring it out of the laboratory and into the market place. You will find this proprietary MartinLogan technol- ogy used in all of our electrostatic 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 MartinLogan products.

Generation 2 Diaphragm

Summit X’s diaphragm employs an extremely sophisticated conductive coating applied to the polymer surface at an atomic level using a plasma bonding process. A proprietary compound is driven into the surface of the poly- mer film in an oxygen free argon chamber. This process allows extremely uniform surface resistivity character- istics, an optically transparent surface, and a nearly massless diaphragm. This uniform surface resistivity controls the elec- trostatic charge on the diaphragm surface and regulates its migration. As a result, no discharging or “arcing” can occur.

Vacuum Bonding

To achieve the power, precision, and strength of the XStat™ transducer, two insulated high-purity carbon steel stators along with a proprietary plasma bonded diaphragm and ClearSpar™ spacers are fused into a curved geometry with an aerospace adhesive whose strength exceeds that of welding. Our propri- etary Vacuum Bonding process guarantees uniform diaphragm tensioning and extremely precise construction tolerances, result- ing in unequivocal precision, linearity and efficiency.

Controlled Dispersion PoweredForce™

MartinLogan PoweredForce woofers feature advanced driver and amplification technologies that deliver astonish- ingly dynamic and articulate bass to as low as 24 Hz from an enclosure only about the size of a case of wine. Controlled Dispersion PoweredForce woofers provide a low-frequency dispersion pattern at the crossover point mimicking that of our Controlled Dispersion XStat transducers. This break- through design provides dynamic, room filling bass at the lowest frequencies. By subtly shifting woofer phasing as it approaches the crossover frequency we minimize side-wall reflections and reduce problematic room interactions, while achieving seamless integration between the woofer and electrostatic transducer. Low-frequency equalization further enhances performance by allowing precise tailoring to indi- vidual room acoustics.

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