A question for you

[Mnoble]

I have a pair of ML Quest speakers. I’ve had them for more than thirty years. To my ears they are magnificent. Nothing wrong with them. I listen to them every day. The thought occurred to me, what would I do if I had to replace them. They originally cost $4k. To replace them today with ML speakers and get the same great sound I figure I’d have to spend around $10k! What other options should I consider?

 

[msimanyi]

Re-panel them and enjoy. Research / consider crossover upgrades. I don't know the answer to this: are replacement woofers available? If not, that could force the crossover issue.

 

[Tosh]

Buy used Ascent 'i' or Odyssey with the clear spar Gen2 panels. Get a demo beforehand.

 

[thomasmasi]

I have a pair of ML Quest speakers. I’ve had them for more than thirty years. To my ears they are magnificent. Nothing wrong with them. I listen to them every day. The thought occurred to me, what would I do if I had to replace them. They originally cost $4k. To replace them today with ML speakers and get the same great sound I figure I’d have to spend around $10k! What other options should I consider?

I also would recommend replacing the panels. I have owned sequel 2, quest z, odyssey, monolith iii and finally Prodigy's. I have just the replaced the Prodigy's panels with new ones from martin logan at a cost of $2900. The set cost me $1250 for a used non working set that had one panel that I had to soldered and eventually worked but at 20 plus years I knew it was time for new panels. You are correct in thinking at $4000 what speaker will give you the enjoyment that you are accustomed to sonically.

 

[Heyfey]

I would also recommend new panels from ML. I have Odysseys in my main system with new panels (and Mundorf capacitors) and whenever it crosses my mind to replace them, I ask what am I going to get that's significantly better? My first MLs were 1990 Sequel IIs and over time I replaced the panels and caps (Clarity Cap) and when I finally replaced them in 2016 with a new pair of Theos I was most surprised not by the differences but rather the similarities in sound to my 26-year-old repaneled and recapped Sequels.

 

[thomasmasi]

I would also recommend new panels from ML. I have Odysseys in my main system with new panels (and Mundorf capacitors) and whenever it crosses my mind to replace them, I ask what am I going to get that's significantly better? My first MLs were 1990 Sequel IIs and over time I replaced the panels and caps (Clarity Cap) and when I finally replaced them in 2016 with a new pair of Theos I was most surprised not by the differences but rather the similarities in sound to my 26-year-old repaneled and recapped Sequels.

Hello Heyfey, was the cap replacement a significant improvement?

 

[Robert D]

Another happy repaneling customer here. I bought some used Prodigy speakers about 8 years ago and had them repaneled. I had it done about 2 years ago and regret not doing it earlier. The improvement in sound for me was night and day!

 

[R1200CL]

I would suggest replacing the XOvers as well. Talk to GR-Research | Passion for High Quality Audio
I got great result for my Odyssey’s.

 

[thomasmasi]

I would suggest replacing the XOvers as well. Talk to GR-Research | Passion for High Quality Audio
I got great result for my Odyssey’s.

Thank you for the suggestion. I have just sent them an email.

 

[Heyfey]

Hello Heyfey, was the cap replacement a significant improvement?

It's very subjective, but I'd say yes. Most notable improvement was a more transparent sound, which I think are stats best attribute in the first place. The woofer stock caps really were cheap, so with the upgraded caps I haven't felt compelled to go electronic X-over for the woofers, as some on the site have advocated. I haven't yet done anything with the Theos stat caps, but I have bypassed the X-over for their woofers. Oddly, the biggest improvement I heard was from the stat panels, with (again) a more transparent, detailed sound. The only thing I can think of to explain it is that I power the Theos with a Parasound Halo A31, which operates in class A output for the first 5-10 wpc before going into class AB. Now that it is pushing only the stat panels it may be staying in class A mode (almost) all the time, at least more so than when it was driving both the woofer and stat panel.

 

[thomasmasi]

It's very subjective, but I'd say yes. Most notable improvement was a more transparent sound, which I think are stats best attribute in the first place. The woofer stock caps really were cheap, so with the upgraded caps I haven't felt compelled to go electronic X-over for the woofers, as some on the site have advocated. I haven't yet done anything with the Theos stat caps, but I have bypassed the X-over for their woofers. Oddly, the biggest improvement I heard was from the stat panels, with (again) a more transparent, detailed sound. The only thing I can think of to explain it is that I power the Theos with a Parasound Halo A31, which operates in class A output for the first 5-10 wpc before going into class AB. Now that it is pushing only the stat panels it may be staying in class A mode (almost) all the time, at least more so than when it was driving both the woofer and stat panel.

I appreciate the advice and i will be changing the caps and anything else that can be done to a higher quality part. I also agree that this will be subjective but I believe the benefit even if it is small will be worth it. Thanks again.