Very interesting perspective. @Bjorn can you please share more information on your system please? I have to admit that with the Martens in my case I have a different experience.
I have heard Martens speakers at fairs and at dealers several times and with many different systems and the results have always been the same, stiff, boring and unmusical. But if you like that kind of thing, that’s fine
At the Munich High End show last year and this year, Marten and Wilson were the bestspeakers I’ve ever heard
The way I hear the Marten speakers is that they are very transparent, ie giving you “more” of what the recording has inside, and very fast. To me Marten speakers are high-end ones. The transparency of course means that matching with amps is not easy and any chain issues will be revealed easier compared to other speakers.
The overall balancing of a Martens based system is non easy, but when/if achieved, the experience is very good IMO.
All these are of course subjective, down to each individual
Yes, if you are looking for a clinical analysis instrument that dissects the sound down to the smallest detail, the Marten is a good way to go. Others probably prefer to just enjoy music
You may not like Marten speakers and that’s none of my concern, however it hardly entitles you (even if Martens are made in Sweden) to state what seems like even no actual listening experience as facts and, worst of all, insult personally fellow forum people here - if you think this is elegant or subtle, it’s really not.
Irony. That’s all. Not even directed at you garcon, so…
would never listen to that weirdo
I asked Jörgen and Lars Olofsson last year, what amplifier would they recommend with the Marten speakers, especially because of the diamond tweeter? They recommended mbs technology under one and pass labs under two.
I have discussed with Lars too on that in the past. In my case after some experimentation I settled with Gryphon D120, driving the Parker Duos.
There is no pair of speakers that will appeal to everyone, but it’s clear you are on an intent of disparaging the brand and provoking those who like it in the process. Ironically, it is your own credibility that is diminished as a result.
No, not at all, anyone can like which speakers they want of course. It goes without saying.
I think high-quality, high-resolution loudspeakers are highly dependent on the electronics and the conditions (especially the room). I had a truly enchanting listening experience with Marten Oscar Duo at the dealer’s a few months ago. They were really convincing with NSC 222/NPX333+Nap250 (new classic) (Click here). A few days ago I heard them with Uniti Nova. They didn’t sound bad, but they lacked detail, musical flow and a bit of control. Nova didn’t seem enough to realise their potential. We compared the Oscars with Franco Serblin Accordo, also driven by Uniti Nova. The result was similar. I had previously heard the Accordos with Nait50/Linn Selekt DSM Edition (an expensive 20k streamer)(Click here) . They were absolutely convincing with Nait50/Linn, but less so with the Nova. There was a lack of resolution, detail and tonal density that I had heard the first time. The Nait 50 seemed to have more control over the Serblins. But the source (Linn versus Nova) was probably the deciding factor. Given the price difference, that’s not really surprising. Both speakers (Oscar, Accords) magnify the qualities of the electronics like a loupe. Otherwise, both seem fascinating to me in their own way. Otherwise, they differ fundamentally in their technical construction (e.g. Accordos with silk-dome tweeter, Oscars with ceramic dome tweeter etc). In terms of sound signature, the Oscars are faster, with more depth and punch in the bass; the Accordos are rounder, stronger in the mids and more cohesive in the sound. The strengths of the Accordos lie in vocals and small ensembles (classical, jazz). Here they offer an experience that I find fascinating and hard to top. The Marten seem to be the better all-rounders, also with rock/pop, but also with jazz/classical, even if they don’t quite match the specialised Accordos there. Both are in a similar price range and fascinating in their own way (with high-quality electronics). Ultimately, it is more a question of taste, listening habits and the situation in the respective listening room. Different orientations can hardly be classified as better or worse overall.
You always describe my own speakers better than I can do!
I think the two above are very different and this description reminds me of how my Spendor D1 differ from the Oscars. In a smaller room and with simpler or acoustic music, listening from just outside close range the D1s, especially with something like a Nait 2 or the Nait 50, just bring everything to life in front of you, however and in a larger space - to borrow a phrase from you I think! - the Oscars just “draw you into the music“ and are seductive like nothing else I have tried at home - hifi jargon here is not even needed.
I also agree that the Nait 50 works very well with the Oscars, apart from some more confident and deeper bass which I hear with the NC250. However, from what I’ve read in this thread, the Oscars appear to be much easier to work with than their higher standing siblings. The SN3 did sound a bit softer with them but it may be more down to its generation (“Old” Classic) signature as I’ve not had an issue driving them with any other good amp e.g the Nytech 40WPC that I still still use with them occasionally.
Thank you very much for the feedback. I have not yet listened to the Oscar Duos with the Nait50. Your impressions are therefore very helpful to me. However, my dealer also said that the Oscars are quite room-filling and work well in larger rooms too. The dealer’s listening room was about 28 square metres. But that means that the Oscars might be too much for my 17 square metre room. You had already hinted at this (Click here), and so it coincides with my dealer’s assessment. I would have to try it out in my room but I am not sure that they are the best solution for my situation.
My office is smaller, about 12m2 and the Oscars felt too much, yes. I think somewhere between 16-30m2 might be their optimal space depending on all other factors (at present they are in a room about 25m2)? Nothing too unusual when I come to think of it but they can live happily in slightly larger spaces.
Still very happy with the Gryphon Diablo 300 running my Marten Parker Duo. Excellent combo, not easy to outperform without spending six digit amount of money.
Maybe you listened to the diamond edition. I run the ceramic tweeter version of the Parker Duo and the sound is absolutely amazing, not clinical at all. They deliver plenty of emotion in all registers. For me Parker is indeed one of the best speaker brands worldwide.
Terry of Pursuit Perfect System on YouTube highly recommends this system as he finds it to sound sublime, the Gryphon Diablo 300 and Marten Parker Duo.
Same here running my Parker Duo with Gryphon D120. Great synergy, great listening experience.