Surrounds for Martin Logan Preface speakers

[Silo5]

I had a chance to listen to ML Preface speakers this weekend. I actually set out to listen to some Klipsch Reference Series speakers, but learned the shops in my area are either going out of business or don't carry Klipsch speakers anymore. Anyway, after listening to the Preface speakers, I was really impressed with them and will probably put them at the top of my list now. The set up I listened to had the Vignette as surrounds and the Fresco i as the center. Iron man demoed through this set up was utterly amazing. This set up is a little more than I was looking to spend right now, but well worth the sound. I was looking to see if there were other surround speakers that would work with the ML Preface that would sound just as good. ML Preface's are 4 ohms, so I'm looking for surrounds that are "ohm compatible". If nothing else, I would eventually get the other recommended speakers for this set up. I was just curious if there were other surrounds that would be just as good and not as expensive as the Vignettes. Anyone familiar with or own the ML Preface have any ideas/recommendations?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Silo5

I had a chance to listen to ML Preface speakers this weekend. I actually set out to listen to some Klipsch Reference Series speakers, but learned the shops in my area are either going out of business or don't carry Klipsch speakers anymore. Anyway, after listening to the Preface speakers, I was really impressed with them and will probably put them at the top of my list now. The set up I listened to had the Vignette as surrounds and the Fresco i as the center. Iron man demoed through this set up was utterly amazing. This set up is a little more than I was looking to spend right now, but well worth the sound. I was looking to see if there were other surround speakers that would work with the ML Preface that would sound just as good. ML Preface's are 4 ohms, so I'm looking for surrounds that are "ohm compatible". If nothing else, I would eventually get the other recommended speakers for this set up. I was just curious if there were other surrounds that would be just as good and not as expensive as the Vignettes. Anyone familiar with or own the ML Preface have any ideas/recommendations?

Martin Logan speakers are excellent. Recently, Amazon started selling the less expensive models. You can use ML speakers for your fronts and any other brand for your side and rear surrounds. Go to the thread A Guide to Bipolar, Dipolar, & Direct-Radiating Surround Speakers. Look at post#2. It has the list of most bipolar surround manufacturers. Choose a pair according to your budget.

Edit: I highly recommend the PSB speakers. You can find brand new PSB surround speakers on Ebay at huge discounts. The PSB Image surrounds may be in your budget. Axiom surround speakers are also very good.

[Silo5]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Martin Logan speakers are excellent. Recently, Amazon started selling the less expensive models. You can use ML speakers for your fronts and any other brand for your side and rear surrounds. Go to the thread A Guide to Bipolar, Dipolar, & Direct-Radiating Surround Speakers. Look at post#2. It has the list of most bipolar surround manufacturers. Choose a pair according to your budget.

Edit: I highly recommend the PSB speakers. You can find brand new PSB surround speakers on Ebay at huge discounts. The PSB Image surrounds may be in your budget. Axiom surround speakers are also very good.

Thanks for the info. The PSBs look really good. I actually prefer bipolar/dipolar surrounds over direct radiating. Looks like I've got some reading to do!!

[CasualKiller]

Preface for the money are an amazing speaker < an audio shop hear has them running off an Arcam setup> in all seriousness, they are cheap enough, go for Preface all around IMO.

[Silo5]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Preface for the money are an amazing speaker < an audio shop hear has them running off an Arcam setup> in all seriousness, they are cheap enough, go for Preface all around IMO.

I would certainly like to do that, but space-wise I just couldn't fit them all around. My theater area is also a "family room" in the basement. Maybe if I ever had a dedicated theater area I would love to do that. The Preface speakers really blew me away.

[RUR]

Originally Posted by Silo5

.....The Preface speakers really blew me away.

If you liked the Preface, you owe it to yourself to audition the Source. While the Preface is a more or less conventional cone-driver design with ATF tweeter, the Source uses ML's legendary ESL panels for mids/highs. Golden Ear award from Absolute Sound, Best Buy from Hi-Fi choice, etc., etc. Retail new would be $350 more each, but there are currently four listings for gently used on A-gon which run $1,200-1,300 per pair + a modest shipping amount (or, if you're lucky, you may find a pair near you). There are two caveats: 1) Since, unlike the Preface, they're true dipoles, you'll need to give them some room from the back wall and 2) You'll need a competent AVR or pre/amp to drive them properly. Wander over to the ML Club forum and folks there will provide endless good advice.

If the Preface blew you away, I'm not sure what the Source would do.