Which ML

[Bisonman]

After hearing ML's (Clarity) for the first time I'm sold. I was thinking about getting a 50" plasma (wall mount) and want some advice on which wall mount ML speaker I should consider. I don't have room for 2 Clarities. I was thinking of the Script i hanging on both sides of the plasma. One problem with them is there'll be taller than the plasma and I wonder if they would look or sound funny. Would the Script i's be better than the Fresco's? What would be the proper placement? Thanks

 

[Dreamer]

The Scripts will probably sound a LOT better than the Frescos, because they are true ESLs, and have a much bigger woofer. However, neither of them will probably give you enough bass for a HT system, so you'll probably want a sub too...

Anyway, both have their plusses and minuses. If you intend on using those two front speakers for listening to music as well as HT, the Scripts will probably sound better. If you'r emore concerned with the way they look, and have a serious SAF issue, you'd probably be better off with the Frescos.

And although the scripts are really just mini versions of, say, the Aerius or the Aeon, they DO have limited bass response, and if you hang them on the wall (rather than standing them on the floor) you will sacrifice a lot of the open airy sound that ESLs are known for.

I think the Script is a nice speaker, and offers great "bang for the buck", especially if you can get a set used in good condition. I don['t really care for the Fresco and that whole line, with their ribbon drivers. The way I see it, if you're going to lay down the bucks for ML speakers, you might as well get real ESLs...

Of course, this is just my opinion. YMMV...

--Richard

 

[bober]

Okay, I was about to make a thread just like this but Bisonman beat me to it.
First of all, I am 21 years old and I love listening to music at home, sitting down and letting the ideas soak into me. I also love doing the same with movies.
I also heard the clarity's and was not impressed in the least bit. I listened to some summits and was extremely impressed. I thought the clarity's weren't set up right but I went to another store and heard them again and was still not impressed.
I really don't want to do floorstanding speakers although i know the sound is better, looks do come into the equation and I definitely don't want my speakers to look completey disproportionate or take over the room. In other words, I'd be willing to sacrifice some sound quality/imaging for visual reasons. The question is how much sound quality am i sacrificing and are scripts prepared to be great front speakers in my future living room space?
According to the sales guy at tweeter, because their panels are rigid like the vantages and vistas, they will produce a beautiful clear sound with good highs and midranges along with a very open sound stage. This is where he said the clarity's failed, that their panel was flimsy..

Can some users with scripts give me some feedback?

 

[Jeff Zaret]

bober,

First of all, I do not have the Scripts but I do have a Fresco. The Frescos are not a panel but ATF technology. It is a bit different. The scripts would be great for front speakers and so are the Frescos. It depends on how much space you have, how much money you are willing and can spend and if the is a SAF involved.

My Fresco keeps up just fine with my CLSiiZ's. It is used as a center channel.
I would say no matter which one you do choose I would get a sub this will help extremely well. I did hear a system with 2 Frescos and a sub and they were amazing sounding for what it was!! I do not know if the Scripts have a setting for bass attenuation like the Fresco does but I am sure they will be fine.



Jeff

 

[bober]

yeah i'd be getting a sub anyway.. something very subtle. the bass is the only thing between floorstanding martin logan models like vistas, vantages and summits that i'd be willing to sacrifice.
more or less what i'm asking is if the scripts provide as open of a sound when playing music and as directional of a sound when watching sports or a movie?
because i heard clarity's and although the sound was extremely realistic and crisp, it was neither open or directional, as well as just being way too big for my room.
also, what is a SAF?

 

[Cherian]

If you are unimpressed with the claritys then you will be even more unimpressed with the scripts. I have listened to both the clarity and the script and I can tell you the clarity is superior.

I agree with Jeff if you are willing to sacrifice sound quality for ascetics then get a very good sub. The scripts have anemic bass.

 

[bober]

I am not extremely worried about the bass, it is the only thing I am really willing to sacrifice. The sound of the clarity's was just not as open as the other floorstanding models, the guy at tweeter told me it was because the panel in the vantage and summit was far more rigid, he also said the scripts use the same kind of panel.
I want to know if users that have experience with scripts think that it will make a good front channel speaker and would make a good 2.1 system for music? i am concerned with how open the sound stage and basically if the electrostat panel sounds more like the vantages and vistas rather than the clarity's

 

[Pcar928fan]

The sound of the clarity's was just not as open as the other floorstanding models, the guy at tweeter told me it was because the panel in the vantage and summit was far more rigid, he also said the scripts use the same kind of panel.

You are not making a fair comparison. Don't you think that about $8k should buy you some better sound? Isn't that about the difference between Summit and Script? Maybe its even more than that!

I personally DON'T think the script will make a good front channel. If you are looking at ML's get a nice floor standing model (used is a GREAT way to go to save some BIG $$$$) and just enjoy the heck out of them. Unless you plan to do a full on HT system and ultimately move the scripts ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK...then you could start w/ those.

I would suggest Aerius i as a nice place to begin. You can find them in VERY NICE condition for under $1k and they are going to be MUCH better than the Script.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Joey_V]

I am not extremely worried about the bass, it is the only thing I am really willing to sacrifice. The sound of the clarity's was just not as open as the other floorstanding models, the guy at tweeter told me it was because the panel in the vantage and summit was far more rigid, he also said the scripts use the same kind of panel.

Actually, it's more than that. The panel on the Clarity is small, the xo set high.

 

[bober]

You are not making a fair comparison. Don't you think that about $8k should buy you some better sound? Isn't that about the difference between Summit and Script? Maybe its even more than that!

I personally DON'T think the script will make a good front channel. If you are looking at ML's get a nice floor standing model (used is a GREAT way to go to save some BIG $$$$) and just enjoy the heck out of them. Unless you plan to do a full on HT system and ultimately move the scripts ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK...then you could start w/ those.

I would suggest Aerius i as a nice place to begin. You can find them in VERY NICE condition for under $1k and they are going to be MUCH better than the Script.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Ahh thats what i was suspecting. It only make sense, like you said. I will try to check out some aerius in person and see how they sound, right now I'm not too crazy about floor standing speakers, but I'm trying to keep my mind open to different ideas.
The reason i was raising this question was because the sales guy at tweeter told me the sound coming from the panel would be pretty similar and they'd make a great front speaker as long as i had a good subwoofer and that they'd make great speakers for just 2 channel stereo for listening to music.
This is what mostly raised my question.
Does anybody on this forum run scripts as 2.1 stereo for music or as front channels in a 5.1 setup? i'd love to hear your experience.
Does anyone know any stores in the southern california area that have scripts on display?
Also, I know the clarity is about to be discontinued and there is a new model coming out this summer, does anybody know what it is?

 

[Dreamer]

You are not making a fair comparison. Don't you think that about $8k should buy you some better sound? Isn't that about the difference between Summit and Script? Maybe its even more than that!

Yeah, you are completely correct on that note. Not really a fair comparison.

I would suggest Aerius i as a nice place to begin. You can find them in VERY NICE condition for under $1k and they are going to be MUCH better than the Script.

I didn't even think of that when I wrote my first response. He asked about Script vs Fresco, so I was going with that. But if a small floorstanding speaker is OK, I'd DEFINITELY suggest going with a used Aerius or Aeon over either the Script of Fresco. They will give you that trademark ML sound(ambience, soundstage, sweet mids, etc) without looking like a pair of Stonehenge rocks standing in your livingroom. And they can be gotten for a pretty reasonable price these days. They won't sound as good as a Summit, but they will be a LOT better (smoother mids, deeper bass) than either the Script or the Fresco...

But if it's only going to be a wall-mount ML, I'd still go with Scripts and a subwoofer over the Frescos any day.

--Richard

 

[Pcar928fan]

They will give you that trademark ML sound(ambience, soundstage, sweet mids, etc) without looking like a pair of Stonehenge rocks standing in your livingroom. And they can be gotten for a pretty reasonable price these days. They won't sound as good as a Summit, but they will be a LOT better (smoother mids, deeper bass) than either the Script or the Fresco...

But if it's only going to be a wall-mount ML, I'd still go with Scripts and a subwoofer over the Frescos any day.

Richard,

Right on about the stonehenge rocks... The only thing worse than my Prodigy are the Monolith, but I tell you what I would take a pair of monoliths in a New York minute and wouldn't trade my Prodigy for the world!!

I also agree about the wall mounting...if that is THE ONLY WAY to go, then FOR SURE get the Scripts, but the foot print of an Aerius i or an Aeon (as you added) is quite small and they will sound WAY better than either the Fresco or the Script.

 

[discocarp]

According to the sales guy at tweeter, because their panels are rigid like the vantages and vistas, they will produce a beautiful clear sound with good highs and midranges along with a very open sound stage. This is where he said the clarity's failed, that their panel was flimsy..

As a clarity owner, I had to respond to this. When I first bought my MLs I was *almost* sold on the scripts. Then I decided to take a listen to the clarities. The clarities were WAY better IMO, especially in the bass. The scripts are a fine speaker, don't get me wrong, but I strongly disagree that it sounds better than the clarities.

 

[Jeff Zaret]

bober,
SAF= Significant-other Approval Factor, also known as a wife aka WAF


Jeff

 

[Bisonman]

What would be the minimum sized room for using Clarity for fronts. I have a room that's 17' wide and 14' long - The plasma will go on the wall and the rears will be 14' away. Any recommendations on what to use for rears? I plan on adding a center and sub. THanks

 

[discocarp]

That's a couple feet bigger than the room I'm using my clarities in. I don't think the rears are nearly as important. I'd say vignettes, but if you act quick there are new frescos (better than vignettes) on audiogon for $700 which is only $50 more than the vignette retail. Act quick though, dealers are just unloading stock to make room for the new fresco i.

 

[bober]

okay so i went back to the first store (best buy) to listen to the clarity's again.. this time with my own music cd to play on them and i was A LOT more impressed. i will seek out a store in the southern california area that carries scripts to see how they sound.
i love how these clarity's created an open sound stage and had a decent vocal range.. the fresco was still not extremely impressing but hey, what can you get with a speaker that small?

what kind of sub would you guys recommend to go with these (Script i) speakers i plan on checking out for a very modest 2 channel stereo setup for listening to music?

 

[Rich]

Personally, I think the Clarities are going to give you much better sound than the Scripts. They have more placement options, where the Scripts have to be wall mounted. They also will have slightly better bass response, I think. As for a sub, I would recommend mating them with a Martin Logan Dynamo.

 

[hotroady]

I vote for the Clarity...I think bass is what could be improved. Mated to a great vintage tube amp/pre, taps into their potential. Most AV units don't even begin to do that..not w music, anyway. No doubt larger ML's sound better in a larger room, but some have found Clarity to better, in a small room. Height of sound stage can be improved by tilting them upward. Dispersion and width of sound stage is everything it should be w the right amp/preamp...it appears the panels are actually wider on Clarity than Aeons, plus updated tech of panels. Some say; Clarity more airy as opposed to others, w slightly less midrange...here again, tubes strong suit is midrange. High are wonderful and mellow. These are the speakers I prefer to sit and listen to for hours, audition w different amps/pre if you can. I listened to 'em w 3 AV units..not worth purchasing them for that IMO! Driven w some great vintage Pilot, Puresonic, Marantz, McKintosh, Fisher, etc. will reveal the potential of these speakers!! For a more compact listening area, they are hard to beat.