Possible CLS Purchase - Help Requested

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bigbanger

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So I've been bouncing around the last couple of days thinking about moving to an ML speaker. I have a lead on a local ReQuest sale, but have started to think that maybe I'd be happier with a full-range ESL like the CLS. I do have an opportunity to pick up a CLS (also locally), and have done quite a bit of research on this site about the speaker. The seller claims it's a CLS 1, but says that it dates from 1992. This seems to contradict the timeline on this site. The picture I have of the speaker for sale does seem consistent with other CLS 1 pictures on this forum (based on spacing between the horizontal lines towards the bottom of the panel and the fact that the horizontal lines don't meet the vertical ones). I've asked the seller for serial # information and am awaiting a response. Is there any way that this is a CLS 1 if the speaker dates from '92? From what I've read here, new panels are still available from ML, is that still true? And what about other upgrades, say to II, IIa or IIz status? Seems like the Z upgrade is no more, but thought I'd ask anyway.

Thanks again!
 
Yes the panels are still available and they will be the latest version in that series. They will not be XStat. They will have the latest bonding process used and be very reliable. Also I believe they are approximately $900.00 USD.

As for the upgrade to the iiZ, I believe you are correct, it is not available. You can come close. One of the things the iiZ upgrade did was to shut off the "current" to the panel when not in use and then turn on slowly when a signal is received. I believe someone here (Ok I forgot who) has got a hold of power supplies which will do this similar cycling of power.



Jeff:cool:
 
3 packages

There are 3 distinct electronics packages for the CLS. They are not upgradeable from one to another, and may not even be repairable -- you'd have to check w/ ML.

The 3 versions are:
CLS I
CLS II, IIa (a II becomes a IIa with the removal of one wire)
CLS IIz

There are 2 versions of the panel:
CLS I (no side bass sections)
CLS II (IIa), CLS IIz (with bass sections on the L and R side of the panel.

The seller you're working with may simply have forgotten exactly when his speakers were purchased. I ordered my CLS II's in late 1989. A number of people have recently purchased CLS I's (with the original electronics package) and replaced the panels with the later panels (2nd version) which are the only ones now available. According to these folks, the performance is exceptional, many even preferring it to the later versions of the speaker.
 
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