Member Name: Tim Bingaman
Location: Thornton, Colorado
ML Model: CLS IIz
Year Purchased: 2008 (used)
Mods/Changes - None, actually I stuck some pavers on the top of the transformer box's
Associated Electronics:
Analog Front Ends - Grado Reference cartridge, VPI JMW 10.5 tonearm, VPI Aries turntable, VPI SDS Motor Controller, Aesthetix Rhea phono stage, Living Voice Mystic Mat; Vintage Marantz Model 125 Tuner
Digital Front Ends - Esoteric DV-50S Universal Player, Sonos ZP-90 (3 zones), Mac Mini feeding an Audiolab M-DAC
Pre-Amp - Balanced Audio Technology VK-31SE
Power Amp - Balanced Audio Technology VK-6200
Subwoofer - REL Stadium II
Cables - All Synergistic Research Designers Ref or Resolution Ref (mostly X2) with Active Shielding, several mini power couplers and Master Control Center
Power Filtering - PS Audio P600 & several 20 amp Ultimate Outlets
Accessories - Bright Star Audio Big Rock Aries base with 50 lbs. of sand, Bright Star Little Rock on top of DAC, Mixed sets of Black Diamond Racing cones and thick pucks under Phono Stage, SACD Player, CD Transport and Pre-Amp, custom stainless steel cones under DAC, Townshend Audio Seismic Sink under CD Transport, Salamander Racks, SolidSteel Amp Stand, Musical Fidelity X-Cans and X-PSU headphone amp, Sennheiser HD580 headphones, ceramic cable elevators, VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine, duct tape and bailing wire.
Room Size 12' x 14' with a 9' ceiling
Comments or Stories - I had my system listed on the old website, but both it and I have been through many changes since then. My wife and I built a new house and moved in after many months. The room the system is housed in is a bit small, but at least it's a dedicated space. Eventually I will build a full blown Audio and Video room in the basement, but this works well for now. I'm enjoying the virtues of nearfield listening!
My first set of Martin Logans was a pair of used Sequel's. I'd always been enamored of planar type speakers, starting with Apogies and Magnapans, but when I had an opportunity to get the Sequel's I didn't hesitate. A few years later I picked up the ReQuests when they were first coming out and I enjoyed them for a very long time. While I enjoy the superb dynamics and bass attack of the Summits, I really felt like the midrange of my ReQuests was more magical than any of the other Logans. - although I haven't heard the Statement E2's or at that time, a properly set up set of CLS's.
In 2007 I had the opportunity to travel to Italy and Switzerland for my job, and in the process I was able to meet with one of our fellow Martin Logan owners Radu (Lugano). This meeting was magical for me on many levels. I got to visit a beautiful place, make a new friend, and finally listen to the CLS speaker in a setting that did it justice. I left Switzerland with fond memories and a burning desire to own the CLs's for myself. Almost a year later, after monitoring the 'Gon and other sites, I finally was able to lay my hands upon a minty set of CLS IIz's, and I couldn't be happier.
I listen to pretty much all kinds of music, but have an affinity for Classical, 50's & 60's era Jazz, most Rock and Alternative. I'd say about 70% of my listening is from vinyl. I worked in a record store for about 10 years part time and took my wages out in music, so I've collected about 6000 albums and 3500 CD's over time. I've also picked up about 400 SACD's over the past few years. It all sounds great through Martin Logans!
Shots of the new CLS based version of the system as well as the old ReQuest based system shown below, with further shots of upgrades appearing throught out the thread...
Wish I could be there - but hey, Munich was cool and you can't do them all
