Summit setup

[markoullini]

Hello club, new Summit owner here.

Found a used pair of summits for a very good price and would like your advice on what the best amp would be for a budget of 2500-3000 eur. Initially the seller (showroom owner and friend) advised me to get a quad 909 as a minimum with an audiolab 8000ap decoder with prospect to build on a home cinema setup (main goal right now is stereo).
Now i've asked around other forums and the general consensus is that the 909 isn't up for the task, even though it powers the quad esl's without drama, so I'm starting to think I cant get around going on a higher budget. Could I go with dual 909's? Also I've heard that ML's love good tubes but generally good tubes run expensive so i believe i should look for a solid state amp. Anyhow, any suggestions/guidelines would be appreciated.. thanks!

Also, I've heard that you can replace the membrane on the summits in case it deteriorates. The speakers arent old, just asking out of curiosity, would the sound remain the same if i change it, after break in of course. Is it even adviseable? thanx!

 

[Nikos]

Hi, are you from Cyprus?
then have a look at the best summit thread on the net....
link
(it's in Greek...)

 

[Gordon Gray]

Hi Mark,

You will find numerous threads and posts on this forum regarding amplifiers and ML speakers. Use the "search" feature and be ready to do alot of reading.

I trust you recognize that there are no "right" answers and are all based on well founded personal perspectives and experiences.

Given the fact that you have an ML model that already provides power to the woofers, your options, depending on your room size, type of music you listen to, and how loud you wish to play the Summits, will hopefully be a bit less complex.

Good luck and welcome.

GG

PS And yes, ML does anticipate and provides for panel (membrane) replacement for all their models.

 

[JMAUSGP]

ML panels should last for 10 to 12 years at a minimum according to Jim Powers at ML service. That time frame can be affected by smoke, direct sunlight, and unruly pets or children or adults for that matter. In other words if your Summits have not been abused your panels should be good for several more years at an absolute mimimum, but as always your mileage may vary. I would think that new panels at this moment in time, given that they have not been abused, would be a complete waste of money and you should not be able to hear any appreciable difference.

As you stated in your post, if you want to start with Stereo and go to multi-channel home theater down the road, it is really tough to beat a new or used Sunfire TGA 5400 or 7400 for the price range you are talking, check Audiogon and see what you can get, the prices are very good, but of course you would have to spend more dollars or Euros for shipping. Many on this forum use the Sunfire amps because they double down as the impedance goes down on the MLs. Anyway they handle MLs power requirements with ease and they sound pretty pleasant doing it as many on this forum will attest. If you use the search feature you can read about all of the above to your hearts content. Good Luck, Summits used or new are not just a good speaker but actually a great speaker, I know I had a pair before my current MLs and they never ceased to amaze me or startle me for that matter.

 

[CCH]

I am assuming that your power is 220-240 volts, right? If so, that sets some parameters around what equipment you can sensibly import.

 

[markoullini]

Thanks room.
the seller is offering me a pair of NuForce 9 v2SE's. would that be a good choice with an audiolab 8000ap preamp?
Also he's saying that i still need an amp for the bass drivers, since nuforce is active hes worried its not possible to connect them to the summits.. does that hold true?

 

[RichTeer]

Thanks room.
the seller is offering me a pair of NuForce 9 v2SE's. would that be a good choice with an audiolab 8000ap preamp?
Also he's saying that i still need an amp for the bass drivers, since nuforce is active hes worried its not possible to connect them to the summits.. does that hold true?

Your seller seems to be a bit clueless when it come to Martin Logans. Each Summit has a pair of built in amps for the bass. I don't see why the NuForce wouldn't work with the Summits. Yeah they're switching amps (which might have its own problems although I know that the '2SEs are highly regarded in some circles), but I don't see that being a problem. As always, try before you buy!

 

[markoullini]

well to be honest i'm the n00b here
The issue according to him is that the bass drivers need a separate signal to operate and nuforce cannot provide that. His setup has an extra amp (passthrough?) for the bass. Or something like that. In other words, is it possible to have (8000ap preamp)->(summit bass input) or do i need a 3d amp for the bass drivers?
Or am i just talking nonsense? Sorry for the lameness :>

 

[CCH]

Summits do not require a second bass input/signal. Ordinarily, the output of the amplifier to the panel is fed (either with the supplied plate or with additional wire) directly to the bass inputs. Some people chose to biwire, that is, to send the same signal to both inputs over separate wires. In neither case does it require a separate bass signal. Unlike the panel, however, the woofers have their own amplifiers, so all you have to worry about driving is the panel.

 

[markoullini]

Yes so the question is starting to clear up now.. i believe he tried to bi-wire the nuforce to the bass drivers and they didn't work at all. He says couldve been chance, could be that the amp is incompatible.. the speakers were the latest revision..Either way he wont attempt to drive the lower speaker with this amp again untill he gets the ok from the manufacturers. My question still remains though whether the 9v2SE is a good amp for the highs?

 

[tonepub]

definitely talk to the guys at aca.gr, the audiophile society of athens.

they are very knowledgeable guys and great enthusiasts!

 

[sleepysurf]

FYI, there was an issue with the earliest productions of the Summit, when driven by another switching (Class D) amp. ML changed some circuitry (even sent out replacement boards to the few customers who encountered that issue). As far as I know, it was limited to the first few production runs, and not an issue since then. Perhaps that's what your dealer was thinking of.

 

[markoullini]

yes sleepysurf, the speakers are of latest manufacture date, at least thats what we think.. anyways we should resolve this soon..thanks.