Martin Logan Impression ESL 11A

The immediacy of audio without compromise

The Impression ESL 11A is part of the Masterpiece series. It is equipped with a double 20cm woofer, and an ARC correction system, for a perfectly coherent low frequency response. The innovative integration of this woofer array and MartinLogan's exclusive 11-inch XStat CLS transducer paired with a dual power section, delivers an expressive and dynamic audio experience. It's pure audio pleasure.

Reach laboratory standard in your own room

In the laboratory, MartinLogan engineers strive to design diffusers that are as transparent as possible. Unfortunately, outside the laboratory there is one variable that our engineers will never be able to predict: the listening room. Its unique size and shape (including what's inside it) can make low-end output unpredictable, greatly affecting the overall performance of a speaker.

For the first time in electrostatic loudspeakers we are introducing exclusive Anthem Room Correction (ARC) technology. By using ARC to control the low range output in relation to that of the ESL panel (as seen in this graph), you will achieve performance equal to that achieved inside MartinLogan's lab.

ARC measures the low frequency response of the room and compares it to some optimal response curves that take into account spatial anomalies. ARC's advanced algorithms effectively remove any room problems by correcting the output of the woofers, thus achieving lifelike and natural performance.

By minimizing room interactions with PoweredForce Forward technology and ARC's advanced room correction capabilities, the Impression ESL 11A is capable of musical message focusing unmatched on the market. Playback is extremely natural at any listening level with an extremely rich and detailed sound stage.

They express a definitive level of quality, in short, the difference between excellence and a true masterpiece.

New Ultra-Rigid AirFrame Blade design

Impression ESL 11A. The XStat panels are bonded to their speakers using MartinLogan 's new AirFrame Blade construction, constructed from an aerospace-grade extruded aluminum alloy. This material and the exclusive manufacturing process make the panels extremely rigid.
The bold style of the AirFrame Blade rail system, narrow and robust in the front, wide and decisive laterally, gives the speaker a resolutely modern design. It never obstructs the emitting surface or interferes with the dipole path of sound. It also provides electrical and acoustic isolation, minimizing intermodulation distortion caused by vibrations and resonances. The fluid lines of the design also underline the integration of the panel itself with the bass section where the woofers and the amplification section are contained. The breathtaking design of the AirFrame Blade enhances imaging, low-level detail, output precision, and speaker efficiency.

Curvilinear Line Source (CLS) electrostatic panel

CLS technology is an essential ingredient of every electrostatic loudspeaker we produce. Through our proprietary manufacturing method, we have incorporated the gentle horizontal curvature of the panel. This unique design enhances the high-frequency detail produced by the large radiating surface, without compromising the overall sound quality. Notice how the gentle modern curve and perforation pattern gives way to the flat grille of the woofer section.

Controlled dispersion sound radiation

The sound we hear from a loudspeaker is a combination of radiation directed from it to our ears and reflections from room surfaces: walls, floor and ceiling. How our brains integrate this information is far from simple. Depending on the angle of incidence at the ears and the difference in arrival time between direct and reflected sound, reflections can blur detail and stereo imaging or enhance the natural impression of depth and openness.

The electrostatic panels, which are true dipole speakers, produce a nearly ideal controlled dispersion radiation pattern. They send very little sound to the sides, thus minimizing sidewall reflections, whose short arrival times tend to interfere with the perception of direct sound. Their strong back radiation, however, produces a generous amount of upper-mid and upper register information that enriches the room.

New PoweredForce Forward ^™ bass technology

PoweredForce Forward bass technology combines two MartinLogan audio innovations: PoweredForce, which allows small enclosures to accurately produce massive amounts of bass, and ForceForward, which significantly reduces front-wall bass reflections.

PoweredForce Forward bass technology uses an advanced crossover topology with phase-clocked woofers to minimize destructive reflected energy. By virtually eliminating front-wall bass reflections and working in tandem with the panel, PoweredForce Forward Bass technology offers greater placement flexibility and enhances the true audio realism of your sound source.

Use as much space as possible for better bass

The depth of the cabinets in the Masterpiece Series has been carefully chosen to maximize the benefits of PoweredForce and ForceForward technologies, providing powerful and extremely detailed bass. In combination with Anthem Room Correction (ARC ™) , it is able to provide a level of precision on the low frequencies that is truly unique.
The cabinet size in the Masterpiece Series creates an ideal relationship between the woofers, enclosure volume and PoweredForce amplifiers. Providing ample internal volume for the woofers (two sealed enclosures, one per woofer) and powerful amplification, Masterpiece Series speakers are able to reach the lowest registers with authority while preserving detail.
As a general rule, the further the woofers are from each other, the better their emission will be in the room. MartinLogan's ForceForward technology has solved the problem (common to almost all loudspeakers) of bass reflection off the back wall of the listening room, interacting with the waves reaching the listener. These mutual influences create higher and higher level non-linearities as they reach the listener; the low frequencies are affected both by cancellations and by emphasises and which distance the reproduction from the original sound. By selectively adjusting the phasing of the woofers' output, Masterpiece Series speakers virtually eliminate harmful low-frequency emissions.
ForceForward also simplifies the task of speaker placement by removing bass energy from behind the speaker and creating an even output. This allows the Masterpiece Series loudspeakers to be positioned much closer to the back wall than previous generations of MartinLogan loudspeakers. As a general rule we recommend placing the rear of the speaker cabinet at least the diameter of its woofer (Renaissance ESL 15A: 30cm, Expression ESL 13A: 25cm, and Impression ESL 11A and Classic ESL 9: 20cm). To further enhance the integration of the speakers into the room, the Masterpiece Series speakers equipped with internal amplifiers incorporate two level controls (at 75Hz and 200Hz) to allow fine tuning of the bass output.
Also, due to their dipole nature, electrostatic panels perform best when placed at least 7cm or more from the wall, an ideal distance for the front of almost any high-end speaker, regardless of driver technology. The depth of the containers of the Masterpiece series allows a correct positioning of the electrostatic panels, guaranteeing a three-dimensional stage full of details.

New performance, versatility and safety, with WBT Binding posts

Connect your electronic devices safely and securely using WBT 5-Way Audiophile Binding Posts. Their pure copper connection plate is highly conductive and free from "eddy current" effects. These struts are insulated for shock protection and fully damped against vibration. They give you ample room for big-bore professional speaker connections.

The Vojtko crossover, the maximum possible

The advanced Vojtko crossover and electronics contained within the Impression ESL 11A add great midrange clarity to this speaker. Carefully hand-built using only polypropylene capacitors and hand-selected air coils, the crossover utilizes MartinLogan's proprietary Vojtko topology for extremely low distortion and maximum integration with the drivers/ESL. This precisely tuned crossover preserves even the most microscopic sound nuances intact and is able to make the panel reproduce the dynamics of any source.
We also took into consideration the signal you will be feeding your speakers and designed the Impression ESL 11A to work well with virtually any type of electronics. MartinLogan's state-of-the-art toroidal transformer and electrical interface engineering ensures an absolutely transparent connection from the amplifier to the electrostatic panel and woofer. This produces a sound of unmatched purity, precision, clarity and openness – the next best thing to any speaker.