MartinLogan STAGECenter Channel Speaker manual

S TAGE user’s manual TM[...]

Serial Number: _________________________________ Record your serial number here for easy reference. You will need this infor- mation when filling out your warranty registration. Stage’s serial number is located on backplate and on the shipping container.[...]

Thank you—to you, the MartinLogan owner, for loving what we do, and for making it possible for us to do what we love.[...]

4 Contents C ONTENTS WARNING! Do not use your Stage loudspeaker outside of the country of original sale—voltage requirements vary by country. Improper voltage can cause damage that will be potentially expensive to repair. The Stage is shipped to authorized MartinLogan distributors with the correct power supply for use in the country of intended s[...]

Installation in Brief 5 We know you are eager to hear your new MartinLogan loudspeaker, so this section is provided to allow fast and easy set up. Once your new speaker is operational, please take the time to read, in depth, the rest of the informa- tion in the enclosed manual. It will give you perspective on how to attain the greatest possible per[...]

6 Introduction Congratulations! You have invested in one of the world’s premier loudspeaker systems. The Stage represents an advanced combination of sonic technologies establishing an unprecedented direction for audiophile design. The result of years of research, the new Stage™ hybrid electrostatic loudspeaker features XStat™ technology estab[...]

Connections 7 C ONNECTIONS AC Power Connection Your Stage uses an external low-voltage power supply to energize its electrostatic panel. For this reason the proper low-voltage power supply is provided. The power supply should be firmly inserted into the ‘Power In’ receptacle on the rear connection panel of the speaker, then to any convenient AC[...]

Using Only One Power Supply You may have noticed a connection on the back of your Stage labeled ‘Power Out’. The use of this connec- tion will allow you to daisy-chain up to five low-voltage MartinLogan products and eliminate the need for multiple low-voltage power supplies. A variety of low voltage interconnect cables may be pur- chased at you[...]

Installation 9 I NST ALLA TION For optimum performance the Stage must be tilted on its stand towards the main listening position and directed towards the audience’s ears (see figure 3). After you have placed your Stage in its final location, loosen the 2 knobs located on the stand arm, pivot the Stage towards the main listening position, and then[...]

10 Installation Mounting the Stage On A W all NOTE: These instructions describe how to remove the stand from the Stage and mount it to the wall. MartinLogan rec- ommends using 4 wall anchors and machine screws to secure the Stage bracket to the wall. When drilling pilot holes for the wall bracket, if any screw location hits a stud, it is recommende[...]

4 Place the bracket against the wall at the desired location. It is important that the entire area behind the bracket, and 8.5 inches to the left and right of the bracket be free from obstructions and completely flat. IMPORTANT! To allow the Stage to fully rotate up or down, the following area must be free of obstructions: — 4 inches above of the[...]

Figure 7. Installing a toggle bolt wall anchor. Figure 8–9. Attach the stand to the wall using 4 screws. Install the Stage. 8 Install TOGGLER ® SNAPTOGGLE ® toggle bolts at all locations with a 1 / 2 -inch hole. To do this: A) Hold the toggle bolt metal channel flat alongside the plastic straps. Slide the metal channel through the 1 / 2 - inch [...]

Home Theater 13 It had long been the practice of stereo buffs to connect their television to a 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 1980’s tw[...]

14 Electrostatic Advantages How can sound be reproduced by something that you are able to see through? Electrostatic energy makes this possible. Where the world of traditional loudspeaker technology deals with cones, domes, diaphragms and ribbons that are moved with magnetism, the world of electrostatic loudspeaker deals with charged electrons attr[...]

MartinLogan Exclusives 15 XStat™ Transducer XStat™ transducers incorporate a myriad of technology and design innovations including CLS™, MicroPerf, Generation 2 Diaphragms, ClearSpars™, and Vacuum Bonding. CLS™ (Curvilinear Line Source) Since the beginning of audio, achieving smooth dispersion has been a problem for all designers. Large p[...]

16 Electrostatic History In the late 1800’s, any loudspeaker was considered exotic. Today, most of us take the wonders of sound reproduction for granted. 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 1898, Sir Oliver Lodge invented a cone loudspeaker,[...]

Electrostatic History 17 In 1947, Arthur Janszen, a young Naval engineer, took part in a research project for the Navy. The Navy was interested in developing a better instrument for testing microphone arrays. The test instrument needed an extremely accurate speaker, but Janszen found that the cone speaker of the period were too nonlinear in phase a[...]

18 Frequently Asked Questions How do I clean my speaker? Use a dust free cloth or a soft brush to remove the dust from your speaker. We also recommend a specialty cloth (available at the Xtatic shop at www.martinlogan. com) that cleans your speaker better than anything else we have tried. For the wood surfaces it is acceptable to slightly dampen th[...]

Frequently Asked Questions 19 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 th[...]

20 Troubleshooting No Output • Check that all your system components are turned on. • Check your speaker wires and connections. • Check all interconnecting cables. • Try hooking up a different speaker. The lack of output could point to a problem with other equipment in your system (amp, pre-amp, processor, etc.) Weak or no Output from Elect[...]

General Information 21 System Frequency Response 69–22,000 Hz ± 3db Dispersion Horizontal: 30 Degrees Sensitivity 90 dB/2.83 volts/meter Impedance Nominal: 4 ohms Minimum: 2.9 ohms Crossover Frequency 450Hz, 2700Hz Components Custom-wound toroidal audio transformer, air core coils, polypropylene capacitors Tweeter Type 1” (2.5 cm) neodymium so[...]

Dimensions: No Rotation Max. Dimensions: Rotated Down Max. Dimensions: Rotated Up D IMENSIONAL D RAWINGS 22 Dimensional Drawings Plan View (Top) Front Elevation (no stand/bracket rotation) Side Elevation Dimensions: On Stand (stand/brack et beneath speak er) AC & Signal[...]

Dimensions: No Rotation Max. Dimensions: Rotated Down Max. Dimensions: Rotated Up Dimensional Drawings 23 Plan View (Top) Front Elevation (no stand/bracket rotation) Side Elevation Dimensions: W all Mounting (stand/bracket behind speak er) AC & Signal[...]

24 Glossary of Audio Terms AC. Abbreviation for alternating current. Active crossover. Uses active devices (transistors, IC’s, tubes) and some form of power supply to operate. Amplitude. The extreme range of a signal. Usually measured from the average to the extreme. Arc. The visible sparks generated by an electrical discharge. Bass. The lowest f[...]

Glossary of Audio Terms 25 Inductance. The property of an electrical circuit by which a varying current in it produces a varying magnetic field that in troduces voltages in the same circuit or in a nearby circuit. It is measured in henrys. Inductor. A device designed primarily to introduce induc- ta n ce into an electri cal circuit. Sometimes calle[...]

26 Notes N OTES[...]

Notes 27[...]

Lawrence, Kansas, USA tel 785.749.0133 fax 785.749.5320 www.martinlogan.com ©2006 MartinLogan. All rights reserved. Rev. #031606 ® WARNING! Do not use your Stage loudspeaker outside of the country of original sale—voltage requirements vary by country. Improper voltage can cause damage that will be potentially expensive to repair. The Stage is s[...]