Unconstrained Performance
For those who appreciate accuracy and realism in their audio, the electrostatic transducer is the grail. For those who understand this truth in sound, we created a flagship loudspeaker: Neolith. Made-to-order, hand-delivered and professionally installed; in a world of same, Neolith proclaims different. In a world of artifice, Neolith delivers truth in sound.
Neolith is not for the faint of heart. As the embodiment of our philosophy of the truth in sound, its performance is unconstrained. It goes against the grain. In a world of small, Neolith says size is no impediment.
Neolith features one of MartinLogan's largest electrostatic radiating surfaces, fully 35% larger than the Statement E2. Its proprietary curvilinear electrostatic transducer delivers an ideal wave launch; a detailed, ultrarealistic soundstage, reproducing nearly the entire mid-range and high frequency audio spectrum. It is utterly uninhibited by room limitations.
Smoothly blended low-frequencies are provided by a 15-inch rear-firing ported woofer and 12-inch front-firing sealed mid-bass woofer. Combined, they deliver powerful, extremely accurate bass.
And this is just the beginning. The details demand your attention. The exclusive advanced-topology Vojtko Crossover uses hand-selected components for optimum power handling. The passive Neolith design gives you more control, allowing single-wire or bi-amp connections with silver filigree WBT Binding Posts, plus a unique system of audio adjustment jumpers. The audaciously sculpted Neolith frame is made of non-resonant Phenolic Resin Polymer, smoothly finished in a premium automotive gloss. Its hand-crafted woofer cabinet is wrapped in elegant soft leather.
Prepare yourself for an astonishing new audio experience; a bigger, bolder, no-holds-barred experience of breathtakingly articulate performance. The bespoke Neolith is the culmination of over 30 years of MartinLogan passion, engineering innovation and dedication to the ultimate truth in sound.
MartinLogan didn't invent electrostatic transducer technology. But by eliminating the perceived deficiencies of electrostatic technology, such as poor power handling, lack of bass response and narrow soundstage (beaming), MartinLogan has reinforced the benefit of electrostatic technology: uncanny audio accuracy.
An electrostatic transducer has three components—stators, a diaphragm, and spars (non-conductive spacers that keep the tall assembly stationary)—assembled as a sandwich. The diaphragm is an ultra-light film impregnated with an electrically conductive material and stretched taut between two stators, which are perforated steel sheets coated with an insulator.
When the speaker is operating, the diaphragm is charged with an electrostatic field of fixed positive voltage. The two stators, between which the diaphragm is stretched, are charged with voltages of equal strength but opposite polarity. These charges occur in instantaneously alternating pulses according the signal received from your audio equipment. When the charge on one stator is positive, the charge on the other is negative. Because like charges repel and opposite charges attract, the diaphragm's constantly positive charge will force it to move forward or backward depending on the stator charges. With this movement, an electrostatic transducer translates an electrical audio signal into the diaphragm motion that produces sound waves in your room.
Because traditional cone loudspeakers produce sound in response to the separate movements of many small parts (voice coil, former, diaphragm), they can't help but suffer distortion-inducing time lag as the signal travels through these parts and across the cone. But an electrostatic transducer has only one moving part: the diaphragm. Its movement is instantaneous, with no time lag, enabling the diaphragm to trace even the most delicate sonic details with absolute precision. The diaphragm's surface area is much larger than any cone driver, giving the electrostatic transducer the ability to perform over an exceptionally wide frequency range without having to cross over to another driver.
MartinLogan engineers have improved these basic electrostatic technologies with their unique innovations.
The components of each MartinLogan electrostatic panel are fused in our proprietary Vacuum Bonding process using an aerospace adhesive whose hold-strength exceeds that of welding. Vacuum Bonding ensures uniform diaphragm tensioning, and facilitates the extremely tight tolerances necessary for the construction of such a precision transducer.
The stators that "sandwich" the diaphragm must be rigid enough to remain absolutely stationary despite the strong electrostatic forces pushing and pulling them during operation. They must also be perforated to allow sound to pass through. MartinLogan's MicroPerf design optimizes this tradeoff by reducing the size of the individual stator holes, increasing the effective radiating area of the diaphragm without compromising the structural integrity of the panel. MartinLogan's ClearSpar spacers strengthen the assembly across its width, ensuring the consistent tension of the Vacuum Bonded diaphragm between the stators with absolutely no visual or auditory obstructions.
MartinLogan's groundbreaking Curvilinear Line Source (CLS) electrostatic panel design is an elegant solution to the impression of sound "beaming" from an electrostatic panel. MartinLogan CLS electrostatic panels feature a gentle horizontal curve. This ingeniously simple innovation radically changes the speaker's dispersion pattern, radiating a wide, enveloping soundstage, packed with detail; truly unlike any other loudspeaker experience.
Another key attribute of an electrostatic speaker is its dipolar radiation pattern. A true dipole transducer radiates with equal intensity from the front and back of its diaphragm, with the outputs in opposite phase. As a result, sound waves rippling out toward the sides meet at the speaker's edge and cancel, minimizing side-wall reflections with short relative arrival times. This reduction in side-output minimizes interfering side-wall reflections, which can muddy the image. It frees the dipole radiation pattern to produce a generous amount of ambience-enriching late-arriving reflections off the wall behind your loudspeakers. At the same time, electrostatic panels maintain relatively limited vertical dispersion, which minimizes undesirable floor and ceiling reflections.
Neolith is the apogee of electrostatic performance, combining these innovations in a new design. By delivering an undiluted soundstage with excellent separation, Neolith brings your music and movie soundtracks to startlingly accurate, 3-dimensional life.
"Some big speakers can only play big, while some small speakers can only play small. The MartinLogan Neolith does it all. A solo vocalist or instrument is rendered just right, with the tiniest of musical nuances never blown out of proportion. Yet when you need to rock, they will blow you away. Few speakers at any price can do this, putting the Neolith into the rarefied air of the world’s finest."—Jeff Dorgay, Tone Audio
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"MartinLogan's Neolith is a world-class product, taking its place in the upper echelon of today's best loudspeakers. The Neolith's transparency to sources, resolution, coherence, transient fidelity, and lifelike sense of presence and immediacy are as good as they get."—Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound
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"These are baller speakers... The soundstage is huge and all-encompassing, and literally makes you feel like you’re sitting in the front row of a concert... Plenty of dynamics... Leading edges of notes were lightning fast... Spatial imaging of every ‘whack’ on a drum’s skin was etched into the air between the speakers... I laughed several times at how enjoyable this system sounded and how it gave you absolutely no choice but to rock out with it. To me, this wasn’t hi fi per se, it was an experience like no other I’ve had from a two-way stereo. And at this price point, it should be. Performers were presented completely life-sized and exuded all the air, breath, punch and visceral individuality of a live band right in front of you."—Rafe Arnott, The Audio Traveler
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"Once I was exposed to them, there was little doubt that they were hands-down the “Best Two Channel Sound” at the show... The Neolith’s sound was alive and shockingly large. It was perfectly balanced and transparent. Dynamic and delicious... As much fun as it was to listen to the Neoliths effortlessly deliver sonic grace, I began to wonder if listening to them was a mistake. Experiencing perfection can make everything else seem so ordinary and that becomes frustrating when perfection comes from a speaker that falls in the realm of unobtanium. Ah, whom am I kidding? I loved it. My only regret is that I didn’t have more time to spend with them."—Todd Anderson, Home Theater Shack
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"The demo was well worth my time.As an owner of MartinLogan Montis electrostatic, I can personally attest that the much-larger Neolith takes that detailed, sonic layering and dispersion and exponentially increases it by a factor of 10 — especially in a big room... the combination of the custom-designed, rear-mounted 15-inch and front-firing, 12-inch passive bass drivers delivered stunningly tight, low bass — to a loud level that perfectly matches the electrostatic panel’s balance. The Neolith’s low end is tight, forceful and imposing... If you have the cash and a big-enough room to let the speakers breathe, the MartinLogan Neoliths will reward you with hour after hour of gorgeous music. I can’t wait to hear a pair with hi-res... it is an honor to give the Neolith the EAN Stellar Sound Award, and I also selected it for the EAN 2014 Luxury Class Audio Product of The Year."—John Gatski, Everything Audio Network
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"Over the years I have had the pleasure to audition many different loudspeaker technologies and systems from the best names in the business ranging in price from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Without question the Neolith ranks among the best full range speakers I’ve heard. Pair the Neoliths with the right amplification, put them in the right sized room, and you’ll have a recipe for countless evenings of musical bliss. At $80,000/pair for the Neoliths plus $50,000-$120,000 for electronics and amplification, you are talking about a serious investment for a very select audience. However, if you have the funds, love the magic of electrostatics, and want one of the best loudspeakers on the market today (not to mention serious bragging rights among your friends), then the MartinLogan Neolith deserves your urgent attention."—Theo Nicolakis, Audioholics
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"MartinLogan's Neolith is a 75-inch tall, 385-pound superspeaker... Where they went is a truly amazing speaker, with a huge, bold sound, that very clearly wowed the small group of hardcore audiophiles in attendance... They probably need about 600/700 hours before they reach their full potential. But even at this stage they are very impressive. The panel integrates well with the bass drivers. Resolution and tonality are excellent, and the dynamics are very impressive."—Stephen Silver, Technology Integrator
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"Neolith is a bold new loudspeaker, the product of an ambitious 3-year-long development process that combines the very best technology MartinLogan has to offer. Neolith features MartinLogan's largest-ever electrostatic radiating surface. Its proprietary curvilinear electrostatic transducer is allows the speaker to deliver an enveloping three-dimensional soundstage. Unique Controlled Dispersion Technology gives each transducer the ability to reproduce nearly the entire audio spectrum in any room. Neolith loudspeakers embody the MartinLogan ethos, and achieve "living sound"; revealing audio as it was originally performed."—Gene DellaSala, Audioholics
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"The first sounds to come out of the Neolith were sublime... The huge electrostatic panels produced a thoroughly convincing soundstage with speed and accuracy that made for a very detailed listening experience... The sense of space and depth created by the Neolith was a compelling audio illusion... I understand why Martin Logan built the Neoliths—they make a statement—and I certainly don't begrudge anyone who has the money to spend on such excellent speakers. If price were no object, I'd own a pair..."—Mark Henninger, AVSForum
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""The stunning piece of technology above is not the cockpit guard from an X-Wing fighter, nor some sort of teleportation device plucked from the future. No, this curious, screened contraption is the latest breakthrough from the audio gurus at Martin Logan, a new speaker called the Neolith. And that screen rising from that stout anchor of speakers at the base isn’t for show — it’s the company’s largest-ever electrostatic radiating surface." "—Ryanm Waniata, Digital Trends
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"I came away mighty impressed with the American company's latest offering. The speed and effortlessness normally associated with the rest of MartinLogan's line was easily audible, while their bass performance portended a truly full-range sound without any of the plodding, boomy character one might imagine such a well-endowed loudspeaker would possess... I think there will be plenty of demand for this statement loudspeaker."—Hans Wetzel, SoundStage! Global
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"The Neoliths's huge sound field projected forward into the room and well out to the sides of the speakers, so with my eyes closed I couldn't tell where the sound was coming from. Soft-to-loud dynamics were tremendous, and the bass power from the Neoliths' front 12-inch (30.4cm) carbon fiber woofer, and rear-mounted 15-inch (38.1cm) aluminum woofer were truly visceral in their impact... The proof is in the listening, and even a cursory audition of the Neolith reveals its extraordinary performance capabilities... The Neolith is a statement product, designed to advance the state of the art of sound reproduction"—Steve Guttenberg, CNET
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Frequency Response |
23–22,000 Hz ±3dB |
Recommended Amplifier Power |
20—1300 watts per channel |
Horizontal Dispersion |
30° |
Vertical Dispersion |
48" (122 cm) line source |
Sensitivity |
90 dB/2.83 volts/meter |
Impedance |
Nominal: 4 ohms, 0.43 ohms @ 20 kHz. Compatible with 4, 6, or 8 Ohm rated amplifiers. |
Crossover Frequency |
60, 250–400 Hz |
High Frequency Transducer |
XStat™ CLS™ electrostatic transducer
» Panel Dimensions 48" x 22" (122 x 56cm) |
Low Frequency Transducer |
Rear: 15” (38.1cm) cast basket, high excursion, rigid aluminum cone with extended throw drive assembly. Extensively vented triple shorting ring motor and 4-layer coil to eliminate compression and distortion. Front: 12” (30.5cm) round cast aluminum alloy frame, high excursion, rigid carbon fiber sandwich cone with long throw design, 3-inch (7.5cm) diameter copper-clad aluminum flat wire voice coil, and vented pole piece and under-spider opening to reduce power compression. |
Cabinet |
Phenolic Resin Polymer: Dense substrate with superb mechanical strength to minimize cabinet vibrations caused by woofer cone motion counter forces to provide an ideal baffle for the electrostatic panel and woofers. |
Components |
High-Pass Crossover: 1% resistors mounted to heat sinks, polypropylene capacitors, air core inductors, dual toroidal audio transformers to drive electrostatic element Low-Pass Crossover: 1% resistors mounted to heat sinks, toroidal inductors, supports user options to modify sound output via jumpers. |
Audio Controls |
Bass Control: 0dB, -4dB, -8dB Distance Control: 3 meters (or less), 4 meters, 5 meters (or greater) |
Inputs |
WBT-0705Ag nextgen™ 5-way bi-wire binding posts feature a filigree signal conductor made from fine silver for high conductivity. Fully insulated for CE and IEC conformity providing shock hazard protection. Free from eddy current effects. Max constant current 30 A, admissible peak current 200 A. Outer metal cap with palladium plated finish. |
Power Draw |
Standby: 1W each Max: 15W each |
Lighting |
LED intensity control: On, Dim, Off |
Weight |
385 lbs. (175 kg) |
Dimensions |
74.8" x 30.3" x 34.2 " (189.9cm x 76.9cm x 87cm) |