Crutchfield MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

Name: MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 | Crutchfield Car Audio
Brand: Crutchfield
SKU: 22139494-22139494-23205584-90839499-0-0-0-0
Price: 659.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$659.00

$659.00 ~~$7,499.98~~

Save $6,840.98

color: Gloss Black

Quantity

Ship to

:

There are no matching shipping methods for the selected country or region.

TRUSTED STORE

99% Issue-Free

Secure Checkout

$10K ID Protect

GUARANTEED SAFE CHECKOUT

MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

$659.00

$659.00 ~~$7,499.98~~

Product description

Product reviews

Shipping & Return

by Crutchfield's Eric A.

The MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 is a perfect blend of high-end form and function.

Impressive detail and an expansive soundstage

When MartinLogan demonstrated a pair of Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 speakers at Crutchfield HQ, I made sure to look around the room. As I expected, I saw telltale signs that our veteran writers and Advisors were impressed: they exchanged significant looks, arched a single eyebrow, or mouthed "wow" to a neighbor. Nobody spoke out loud, which was good — I wanted my ears to focus on the crystalline detail, musical bass, and room-spanning soundstage the Classics were producing.

Efficient, elegant electrostatic panel design

If you're used to traditional woofers and tweeters, welcome to something different, and very cool. Instead of domes and cones, this speaker uses an electrostatic panel to reproduce treble and midrange. It's an ultra-thin diaphragm that's suspended between two electrically charged perforated steel plates. The diaphragm's light weight allows it to move back and forth between the plates thousands of times a second, creating incredibly detailed, lifelike sound.

The ESL 9's curved panel is a perfect blend of high-end form and function. Efficient MicroPerf technology exposes more of the electrostatic diaphragm surface, allowing the speaker to create a wide soundstage from a relatively narrow panel. Ultra-rigid AirFrame Blade construction — precision manufactured from an aerospace-grade extruded aluminum alloy — reduces vibrations and enhances imaging, sonic detail, and accuracy.

Refined woofer array

Previous speakers in the ESL line have offered powerful bass, but MartinLogan made some important tweaks to the Classic ESL 9. The speaker's cabinet houses two 8" laser-engineered low-distortion aluminum cone woofers in an opposing array — one facing forward and one rear-firing. It's a balanced design that greatly reduces cabinet vibrations that can occur when both woofers face forward.

The first time I heard MartinLogan electrostatic speakers

I grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, which also happens to be MartinLogan's hometown. As a student at the University of Kansas, I had a part-time job at the on-campus public radio station, which gave me an early opportunity to learn about music and electronics. I clearly remember one special occasion circa 1990, when one of the station's benefactors — a retired physician and professor emeritus — invited some of the staff to his home.

When I walked into his well-appointed living room, my eyes were drawn to a pair of relatively tall structures I could not identify. I said "what are those?" in an awestruck voice. They were, of course, a pair of MartinLogan's early electrostatic speakers. Our host — a classical music aficionado — proudly put them through their paces, playing soaring arias and soulful string quartet pieces. It was my first exposure to audiophile-quality speakers, let alone electrostatic technology, and I was floored.

That memory of game-changing sound came flooding back when MartinLogan auditioned the Classic ESL 9 at Crutchfield HQ. The sound is even more extraordinary today, as the company has applied the technological advances of the intervening decades to their time-tested speaker design. To my mind, the Classic lives up to its name: it's modern in its look and sound, with ample respect for MartinLogan's legacy.

Unique crossover network

MartinLogan speakers feature proprietary Vojtko™ crossovers, named after thecompany's chief audio technologist, Joe Vojtko. "A Vojtko crossover isn't so much a set of design requirements as it is a philosophy," the company explains. Each speaker's drivers are carefully selected or designed to operate within an intentional frequency range and specific performance parameters. That allows the crossover networks — built from high-quality capacitors and resistors — to be clean and uncomplicated.

Got wire?

Most speakers don't include any. Read our article about choosing and installing speaker wire.
Shop our selection of speaker wire.

Product highlights:

matched pair of speakers
44" x 9-1/4" CLS™ (Curvilinear Line Source) XStat™ electrostatic transducer for wide sound dispersion, excellent clarity, and low distortion
- ultra-rigid AirFrame Blade construction reduces vibrations that can harm performance
- efficient MicroPerf stator technology increases the panel's output
two 8" high-excursion aluminum cone woofers in opposing array
bass-reflex woofer enclosure with rear-firing slot port
external low-voltage DC power supply (included) requires AC outlet connection to energize electrostatic panel
proprietary high-performance Vojtko™ crossover network
frequency response: 34-23,000 Hz (±3dB)
sensitivity: 90 dB
impedance: 4 ohms (compatible with 4, 6, or 8 ohm rated amplifiers)
recommended amplifier power: 20-400 watts
includes adjustable floor spikes
custom 5-way binding posts allow for secure wire connections
bi-amp and bi-wire capable

Dimensions and warranty:

10-7/16"W x 59-13/16"H x 25-7/16"D (each speaker)
weight: 78 lbs. (each speaker)
warranty: 5 years (with product registration)
Item # 700ESL9CH
California customers: Please click here for your Proposition 65 WARNING.

Our take

Sound profile: Neutral

Detail/Clarity score	9.9
Bass score	9.6
Vocals score	8.4

Inferred by AI from our extensive research

High-performance amplifier recommended. See receivers & amps for this speaker

What's in the box:

MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 owner's manual

2 Floorstanding hybrid electrostatic loudspeakers
2 AC power adapters (w/ attached 10' DC cord)
2 Grilles
8 Spike Feet
User's Manual
Product Registration Card

Customer Reviews

Based on 0 reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to review this product.

Write a Review

Rating

Name

E-mail

Body of Review

Photos (up to 5)

Shipping cost is based on weight. Just add products to your cart and use the Shipping Calculator to see the shipping price.We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. Items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery.

MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

About the MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

Impressive detail and an expansive soundstage

Efficient, elegant electrostatic panel design

Refined woofer array

The first time I heard MartinLogan electrostatic speakers

Unique crossover network

Got wire?

Product highlights:

Dimensions and warranty:

Our take

What's in the box:

Customer Reviews

You Might Also Like

Focal Vestia No.2

Wharfedale Diamond 12.4

Revel PerformaBe F328Be

KLH Concord

McIntosh XR100

MartinLogan ElectroMotion® ESL

Revel PerformaBe F228Be

Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV

Company Info

Service Center

Crutchfield Car Audio

Wishlist

This list is empty Continue Shopping

Cart

MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

About the MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9

Product highlights:

Dimensions and warranty:

Our take

Sound profiles explained

Warmer

Neutral

Brighter

What's in the box:

Customer Reviews

You Might Also Like

Company Info

Service Center

Crutchfield Car Audio

Wishlist

This list is empty Continue Shopping

Cart