ODYSSEY u s e r ’ s c l TM m a n u a l s e l e c t r MA R T I N LOGA N o s t a t i c
CONTENTS Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Installation in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INSTALLATION We know you are eager to hear your new Odyssey loudspeakers, so this section is provided to allow fast and easy set up. Once you have them operational, please take the time to read, in depth, the rest of the information in this manual. It will give you perspective on how to attain the greatest possible performance from this most exacting transducer.
INTRODUCTION AND ASSEMBLY Introduction Congratulations! You have invested in one of the world’s premier loudspeaker systems. The MartinLogan Odyssey represents the culmination of an intensive, dedicated group research program directed toward establishing a world class reference monitor utilizing leading-edge technology, without compromising durability, reliability, craftsmanship or aesthetic design.
OPERATION AC Power Connection Because your MartinLogan Odysseys use an internal power supply to energize their electrostatic cells with high-voltage DC, they must be connected to an AC power source. For this reason they are provided with the proper IEC standard power cords. These cords should be firmly inserted into the AC power receptacles on the rear connection panel of the speakers, then to any convenient AC wall outlet.
Single-Wire Connection Passive Bi-Amplification Please take note of the jumper clips installed under the binding posts. These clips attach the high and low frequency sections of the crossover together. Leaving these in place, connect the (+) wire from your amplifier to either red binding post and the (-) wire from your amplifier to either black binding post (See Figure 2).
amplifiers of choice do not have the same gain characteristics, then a sonic imbalance will occur. With horizontal bi-amping, one amplifier drives the high pass (ESL) section while the second amplifier drives the low pass (WOOFER) section. To horizontally bi-amp your Odysseys you must loosen the binding posts and remove the jumper clips. Connect the low frequency amplifier to the lower set of binding posts of both speakers. Connect the high frequency amplifier to the upper set of binding posts.
PLACEMENT Listening Position By now your speakers should be placed approximately two to three feet from the front wall, the wall in front of the listening position, and at least one to two feet from the side walls. Your sitting distance should be further than the distance between the speakers themselves. What you are trying to attain is the impression of good center imaging and stage width. There is no exact distance between speakers and listener, but there is a relationship.
Imaging In their final location, your Odysseys should have a stage width somewhat wider than the speakers themselves. On well recorded music, the instruments should extend beyond the edges of each speaker to the left and to the right, yet a vocalist should appear directly in the middle. The size of the instruments should be neither too large nor too small. Additionally, you should find good clues as to stage depth.
ROOM ACOUSTICS Your Room This is one of those areas that requires both a little background to understand and some time and experimentation to attain the best performance from your system. Your room is actually a component and an important part of your system. This component is a very large variable and can dramatically add to, or subtract from, a great musical experience. All sound is composed of waves.
on the floor or solid surface, it can shake as it produces sound and, consequently, the sound can be compromised. If your speaker is sitting on the carpet and only foot gliders are used, the bass can be ill defined and even boomy. The use of spikes is recommended to insure secured footing for your speakers. (See ‘Solid Footing’ for spike information and installation instructions). Dipolar Speakers and Your Room MartinLogan electrostatic loudspeakers are known as dipolar radiators.
DISPERSION INTERACTIONS Controlled Horizontal Dispersion Your Odysseys launch a 30 degree dispersion pattern when viewed from above. This horizontal dispersion field gives a choice of good seats for the performance while minimizing interactions with side walls (See Figure 7). Make sure both speakers stand exactly at the same vertical angle, otherwise the image can be skewed or poorly defined. The wave launch of both speakers is extremely accurate in both the time and spectral domain.
Figure 9 – 10. As can be seen here, point source concepts invite a great deal of room interaction. While delivering good frequency response to a large listening audience, imaging is consequently confused and blurred. Figure 11–12. Even though they suffer from “venetian blind” effect, angled multiple panel speakers can deliver good imaging, but only to specific spots in the listening area. Figure 13 –14.
HOME THEATER It had long been the practice of stereo buffs to connect their television to the stereo system. The advantage was the use of the larger speakers and more powerful amplifier of the stereo system. Even though the sound was greatly improved, it was still mono and limited by the broadcast signal. In the late 1970’s and early ‘80’s two new home movie formats became widely available to the public: VCR and laser disc. Surround Speakers.
ELECTROSTATIC ADVANTAGES How can sound be reproduced by something that you are able to see through? Electrostatic energy makes this possible. purity of the electrostatic concept due to its exceptional linearity and low distortion. Where the world of traditional loudspeaker technology deals with cones, domes, diaphragms and ribbons that are moved with magnetism, the world of electrostatic loudspeakers deals with charged electrons attracting and repelling each other.
Full Range Operation The most significant advantage of MartinLogan’s exclusive transducer technology reveals itself when you look at examples of other loudspeaker products on the market today. The Odyssey uses no crossover networks above 250 Hz because they are not needed. The Odyssey consists of a single, seamless electrostatic membrane reproducing frequencies above 250Hz simultaneously. How’s this possible? First we must understand that music is not composed of separate high, mid and low frequency pieces.
MARTINLOGAN EXCLUSIVES Curvilinear Line Source (CLSTM) Since the beginning of audio, achieving smooth dispersion has been a problem for all loudspeaker designers. Large panel transducers present even more of a challenge because the larger the panel, the more directional the dispersion pattern becomes. Full range electrostats have long been one of the most problematic transducers because they attain their full range capabilities via a large surface area.
ELECTROSTATIC LOUDSPEAKER HISTORY In the late 1800s, any loudspeaker was considered exotic. Today, most of us take the wonders of sound reproduction for granted. The outcome would dictate the way that future generations would refer to loudspeakers as being either “conventional”, or “exotic”. It was 1880 before Thomas Edison had invented the first phonograph. This was a horn-loaded diaphragm that was excited by a playback stylus.
In 1947, Arthur Janszen, a young Naval engineer, took part to around 70 watts. As a result, many people continued in a research project for the Navy. The Navy was interested to use box speakers with cones. in developing a better instrument for testing microphone arrays.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How do I clean my speakers? Just use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to remove the dust from your speakers. We recommend a specialty cloth (available through the XStatic shop at www.martinlogan.com) that cleans your speakers better than anything else we have ever tried. Do not spray any kind of cleaning agent on or in close proximity to the electrostatic element.
Will excessive smoke or dust cause any problems with my electrostatic speakers? Exposure to excessive contaminants such as smoke or dust may potentially affect the performance of the electrostatic membrane, and may cause discoloration of the diaphragm membrane. When not in use for extended periods, you should unplug the speakers and cover them with the plastic bags in which the speakers were originally packed. It is a good idea to vacuum the electrostatic portion of each speaker once or twice a year.
TROUBLESHOOTING No Output •Check that all your system components are turned on. •Check your speaker wires and connections. •Check all interconnecting cables. Lack of Bass or Too Much Bass •Check your speaker wires. Is the polarity correct? •Are both woofers playing? •Check the bass control switch, is it set to flat? Weak Output, Loss of Highs •Check the power cord. Is it properly connected to the speaker? Poor Imaging •Check placement.
GENERAL INFORMATION Specifications The Odyssey hybrid speaker system consists of a broadrange single element electrostatic transducer integrated with a quick-response woofer. This approach takes advantage of the benefits that both technologies have to offer. Dispersion is a controlled 30 degrees. This was achieved by curving the electrostatic transducer element itself, an elegantly simple solution.
GLOSSARY OF AUDIO TERMS AC. Abbreviation for alternating current. DC. Abbreviation for direct current. Active crossover. Uses active devices (transistors, ICs, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Diffraction. The breaking up of a sound wave caused by some type of mechanical interference such as a cabinet edge, grill frame or other similar object. Amplitude. The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. Arc.
Inductance. The property of an electrical circuit by which a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field that introduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby circuit. It is measured in henrys. Resistor. A device that is used in a circuit primarily to provide resistance. Inductor. A device designed primarily to introduce inductance into an electrical circuit. Sometimes called a choke or coil. Resonance.
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