Former Aerius i owner from the 90's wants to dabble again

[T32803]

Back in time, in the 1998 era of audio I owned a pair of Aerius i. I drove them
with a Classe Audio CA-100/model 30 Preamp/Sony X7ES CD Player. I liked
the sparkle in the highs but some how the vocals sounded off. Bass too. Maybe
my setup or equipment. Who knows. I eventually sold them to try other speakers out.
I only listen to classic rock. The Eagles, Journey, Tom Petty, Don Henley, Boston,
Fleetwood Mac. Most are recorded hot and harsh needing a warm sounding
speaker to balance out the sharpness of the upper mids and lower highs.

I have a 13' x 14' room with the 14' right side extending 25 feet for the open dining and
kitchen. The speakers are on the 14' wall and I sit 9 feet back. Plank floors, no carpet,
leather furniture. Nothing to make the room acoustics sound warm. 9 foot ceilings.

I am buying used and looking for suggestions of what 3 models were the warmest
sounding Martin Logan models. (electrostat & woofer) I read this forum for the last
few days and read that the older models were warmer sounding. I am looking for
warmest first, convincing midrange second, decent bass third, and is the right size
for my room. I don't listen very loud since I live in a condo. I am thinking SL3
looks like the right size but I need the experienced people who heard them all to
tell me what they think. I prefer warm/organic and I avoid clinical/analytical/cold.
What are the 3 warmest electrostat & woofer models? I'd like to spend $1000 to
$3000 on the used market but I don't really have a budget in mind. Thanks for
sharing your knowledge with an old timer.

 

[Kermie]

Welcome!! I don't have alot of experience with Martin Logans outside of my Aerius speakers made in 1994. I am running a powered sub to help with the bass not that the bass is bad. The key that I have discovered, is the need to listen to them before buying. The gentleman I got my Aerius from had several sets and I was able to examine them and hear them, as they are now over 30 years old. I would agree with the warmth. As for other options, I will have the next person give you some more ideas. Have fun with your search

 

[T32803]

Thanks for chiming in. If the reading I have done is correct, the older logans are warmer while the new ones are more clinical and exacting. I am more than willing to buy and resell several used models until I figure out which one I like best, but I'd like to get a top 3 "likely good-fit" suggestions because their are so many models. And most people won't ship them so I am stuck with driving 3 hours in any direction to buy a used pair.

 

[T32803]

I remember the high-pitched twinkle of the triangles on Fleetwood Mac dancing about playfully in the air so crisp let not bright or harsh on the Aerius-i many years ago. I'd like to have 2 sets of speakers with on giving me those delicate crisp highs and keep remembering the Aerius-i. The sweet spot was so small though. A larger logan may make that zone wider.