Инструкции Пользователя для MartinLogan ElectroMotion® ESL X

18

FULL RANGE OPERATION 
Another significant advantage of MartinLogan’s 
exclusive transducer technology reveals itself 
when you look at examples of other loudspeaker 
products on the market today. The EM-ESL X uses 
no crossover networks above 400 Hz because 
they are not needed. The EM-ESL X consists 
of a single, seamless electrostatic membrane 
reproducing all frequencies above 400 Hz 
simultaneously. How is this possible? 

First we must understand that music is not composed 
of separate high, mid and low frequency pieces. 
In fact, music is comprised of a single complex 
waveform with all frequencies interacting 
simultaneously. 

The electrostatic transducer of the EM-ESL X 
essentially acts as an exact opposite of the 

microphones used to record the original event. A 
microphone, which is a single working element, 
transforms acoustic energy into an electrical signal 
that can be amplified or preserved by some type 
of storage media. The EM-ESL X’s electrostatic 
transducer transforms electrical energy from your 
amplifier back into acoustical energy.

Due to the limitations of electromagnetic drivers, 
no single unit can reproduce the full range 
of frequencies. Instead, these drivers must be 
designed to operate within a narrow, fixed 
bandwidth of the frequency range, and then 
combined electrically so that the sum of the parts 
equals the total signal. While nice in theory, we 
must deal with real-world conditions.

In order to use multiple drivers, a crossover 
network is enlisted to attempt a division of the 

The resulting electrostatic field, created by the 
opposing high voltage on the stators, works 
simultaneously with and against the diaphragm, 
consequently moving it back and forth, producing 
music. This technique is known as push-pull 
operation and is a major contributor to the sonic 
purity of the electrostatic concept due to its 
exceptional linearity and low distortion. 

Since the diaphragm of an electrostatic speaker 
is uniformly driven over its entire area, it can be 
extremely light and flexible. This allows it to be 
very responsive to transients, thus perfectly tracing 
the music signal. As a result, great delicacy, 
nuance and clarity is possible. When you look at 
the problems of traditional electromagnetic drivers, 
you can easily see why this is so beneficial. The 
cones and domes which are used in traditional 
electromagnetic drivers cannot be driven uniformly 
because of their design. Cones are driven only 

at the apex. Domes are driven at their perimeter. 
As a result, the rest of the cone or dome is just 
“along for the ride”. The very concept of these 
drivers requires that the cone or dome be perfectly 
rigid, damped and massless. Unfortunately, these 
conditions are not available in our world today.

To make these cones and domes move, all 
electromagnetic drivers must use voice coils wound 
on formers, spider assemblies, and surrounds to 
keep the cone or dome in position (see figure 17). 
These pieces, when combined with the high mass 
of the cone or dome materials used, make it an 
extremely complex unit with many weaknesses and 
potential for failure. These faults contribute to the 
high distortion products found in these drivers and 
is a tremendous disadvantage when you are trying 
to change motion as quickly and as accurately as 
a loudspeaker must (40,000 times per second!).