MartinLogan ElectroMotion® ESL

Electrostatic speakers have always had their own niche on the outskirts of a more conventional “box speaker” world, presumably a bit too exotic to fit into the average Joe's system. So when we recently auditioned the MartinLogan ElectroMotion® ESL speakers in our cavernous product training room, we were not only impressed by their dramatic sound, but surprised by how effortlessly they played with some of our more affordable audio gear, including a mid-priced receiver. Our takeaway: you don't need a rack full of uber-expensive components or a fancy, dedicated listening room to enjoy fantastic sound with these speakers. Unlike speakers that use domes and cones to reproduce treble and midrange, the EM-ESL features an ultra-thin polymer film, or diaphragm, suspended between two electrically charged, perforated steel plates. The diaphragm's ultra-low mass allows it to move very efficiently back and forth between the plates thousands of times a second in response to the music signal creating enticingly transpare...