📌 FIND ONE HERE: bit.ly/3QOJ2pz 📌Check out the Marantz Trade-In Program here bit.ly/3rMtdoZ! Offer ends November 10! 🔓 Missed something? OPEN the description box ABOVE. You'll find it! 🆘 Hit THANKS☝to highlight your Question + give thanks for the help you receive! ☝ NO Links, Self Promotion, or Personal Info. Please stay on topic and be respectful.
Zero regrets. Thanks for the video review. I picked up a pair of these and man... they sound amazing. Anything I could say about them, you've already said spot on in your review. What an amazing speaker. If you're in the market and you're on the fence about these, just do it.
Had a Klipsch Cinema 600 soundbar and enjoyed it, but finally went with an Onkyo RZ50 and a pair of Klipsch RP 8000F II speakers. Awesome. Got the speakers for $1048/pair. I’m VERY pleased with my selections. Thank you Andrew and Kristi for your reviews!
Looking at a receiver for my dad. Denon 1700H for $477 or Onkyo 6100 for $385? He uses a 5.1 mostly for tv and music streamed from a roku and wants to use only remote. Thanks for the great content.
Either will work. The Onkyo sounds like a steal. I think you'll find this video helpful in making your decision - th-cam.com/video/ARoUCuVJRH8/w-d-xo.html, especially around the 11-minute mark.
*Huge favor to ask of everyone...please hit the 👍button and leave a comment if you haven't already! It makes a big difference. We really appreciate it.* Have a great day and thank you so much for watching.
I am always posting comments on almost every channel I subscribe reminding people to hit the like 👍 button. Sad this country is that ridiculously lazy. I click right away, it takes one second! Think about the level of laziness it must take after you start viewing a video to nit take one second 🤔 😢. Thank you both, still feel like my budget (virtually none 😂) will never get me a new system, but love the videos! ❤
Here's the main question, for those willing to throw a few more bucks at speakers. I listened to these ML motion foundation F2 yesterday at Magnolia. I loved them. I think they sounded better than KEF Q11 Meta, or R5. But, your review of Q Acoustics Concept 50 had me foaming at the mouth. I cannot audition the Q Acoustics, and would be buying blind at almost double the price of these ML's. I'm willing to do it. Would you buy the Q Concept 50 for around $2800 or these for around $1500? Begging for an opinion. Thanks so much for all you guys do.😎
3:00 I really like these specific details in reviews where you pinpoint small sounds that a song has. It is even helpful to test these specific tracks at home to see if we can hear the same subtleties.
7:06 WHEN WHEN you give them what they need 😂.. can I ask you a question! Would you consider also adding hip-hop or r&b tracks as that's mostly what I play as well and would like to know your thoughts on certain songs! I'm really thinking of the trade in program as my denon just isn't really doing it for me anymore! I still think in this situation I would still go with the polks.. great review overall the finish on these are nicely done as well enjoy your travels
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I am really considering the cinema 60.. I've got a nice little bonus coming in at the end of October. And I think it's time too say goodbye to the denon s950h I'm going to take your advice and just stick with the 7.2 for a 5.1.2 set-up! I just hope the cinema 60 gives me the sound that I'm looking for
Great video today! Personally I like that the woodgrain has different accents than the other two finishes, and all 3 options are a great aesthetic. Thanks Kristi for bringing up the low level performance, as this matters to many of us. I'm still with you two on the option of heritage finishes for lower end Klipsch products. QOTD: with R700 being more power hungry than Klipsch and ML, I'd say Polk is my loser of the 3 (what a world to live in!) One more thing that occurs to me is if I'm already using a sub I wonder if the bookshelf model can mostly close the gap between the higher end ML options. Sorry for the long comments and enjoy your weekend!
Thought I would have buyer's remorse after recently upgrading my R600s to R700s when first watching this. After hearing your review and comments to brightness I still feel comfortable since I like a more relaxed tweeter. The ML cabinets look stellar though. Great work you two!
Another great review from you guys. You made my decision a lot harder. I need a set of tower for music and HT, but I really don't have the space for a subwoofer in this particular setup. I know if I go with the R700s I'll need good receiver with 3 channel amp across the front. But it sounds like these might work better, with just a good HT Receiver. Hmmm. Thanks again, and Kristi really hit home with her thoughts on this one. You guys are the best!
Hi Andrew, could you do a series on center channel speakers. It seems like this is where a lot of brands are let down and reviews for these are thin on the ground. Especially when used in an LCR configuration for two channel stereo although I realized getting 3 to test may be hard.
Some of the best centers from my experience are the giants. Legacy, paradigm, perlisten, revel, and wharfedale to name a few. All 3 way and we'll designed and engineered. Otherwise you're better off with 2 good floorstanders and a phantom center as Kristi mentioned for this model. You'll notice there's some brands that throw in a 2.5 way small weak center just to fill the gap in the lineup. Some are even $3k or $4k and there just a wtw design or a wtmw design with a lousy 3" or 4" midrange driver. That needs to be a 5.25" or bigger depending on room size. Finding a good center and matching with towers always narrows down my brand choices for the LCR pretty quickly. Then go audition the top 3 or 4
@@andrewrobinsonreviews please, please, when you do this video make sure to include a section about phantom center. The 2 of you have been making brief comments of support to this, but I would love to hear a more thorough video on your thoughts of how phantom center can fit into the home theater world. I have extensively tested my Paradigm Signature systems over and over and always end up with phantom. I currently have 2 Signature C5 v3 centers in my house, yet I picked phantom.
I purchased a set of B2 also F2 and a C1 but have no idea what receiver or amplifier to use. Can you please suggest. My budget is around 2k for additional equipment. Thanks!
On the more affordable side I would go with this bit.ly/3k1gqs8 as it has modern features as well as all the power needed to power the Logans. If you want to step it up a little consider this bit.ly/3BPi48v or maybe this bit.ly/3y4rfAq.
For me the real agony was deciding between the B100s and the Polk R700. Space wasn't an issue and I have a good sub. In the end I went with the B100s based on your review and livestream Q&A. I'm super happy with them. In the end I had to admit to myself that I, like Kristi, love a lively presentation over a neutral one more often than not.
I really LOVE the style of these. Those copper-ish rings are beautiful. Hi-Fi in general needs to explore more colors, whether accents or main cabinet colors. Think KEF LSX II in that gorgeous olive green and gold combo. I don’t need another huge black piece of equipment/furniture. I want loud style and interesting things to look at.
No height modules for the ML hmm? I also like the downward port on the R700 by comparison. So for me and my room Polk for the dub. But all of them are so awesome these days makes it hard to go completely wrong
Just saying thanks. Tried out the Sony az1000es on your recommendation and it really is solid. I returned the Pioneer lx505 and saved some money. In the past I would never have picked a Sony over an Elite but the gap between them is more preference than performance now. Sony really stepped thier game up, you cant get away with making mediocre products now.
Wharfedale Evo4.4? Real wood veneer for around $2k. JBL Studio 698? with compression driver like the more expensive HDI series . Many choices at that price point. Great review thanks.
Always enjoy your reviews. The lady who talks at the end is the best part of all your videos. I can relate to her simple down to earth untechnical opinions and comments.
I purchased these speakers in the wood grain finish about a month ago and have been breaking them in and loving them quite a bit . I have owned three sets of Paradigm speakers ( latest being the Monitor 9 , S7) and was looking at continuing with Paradigm until I saw the new release by Martn Logan a few months ago . I had a very good listen at a local HiFi shop who had the Anthem MRX home theatre amps ( like I have ) and decided on the F2. I’m also using a separate IA to power my fronts 5.1 system and it’s been very good so far . Would have gone for the XT’s , but I’m really the only one in our home who would notice - so I “settled” for these speakers . Really enjoying them so far and I had a friend with me as we tried out 5 different speakers and they all sounded so very different. Kept the same song rotation to keep it fair , and I’ve been very happy since . Thanks for a great review . Very good assessment - I have added my sub in mainly for movies - could have run without the sub if only most music .
Hi, I'm a big fan of the channel, these Martin Logan are interesting and also aesthetically beautiful... I have some Focal Aria 926 driven by the Yamaha R-N2000A Chord Company Epic X speaker cables. I'm quite satisfied with the Focals but could it be an upgrade by changing to these Foundation F2? Thanks Daniele
I would love to see a head to head that would include the SVS Prime Pinnacle Speaker ($999) vs Polk R700, Martin Logan F2, Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G, Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F...
This was a really great and informative review! There is a store near me that carries ML speakers. I'm going to take a listen to the F2. Because of my background in recording studios, neutral sounding speakers vibe with me. However, I also love a live, dynamic sound that presents a sense of space. I appreciate the fact that you do not always rely on specs. It really is about listening. 👍
Andrew it’s great review I need some advice , would tot recommend old 60xti over f2 ? They almost in same price range . Do you think f2 is better than 60xti in 5.1.2 home theatre system
Thank you so much for the discussion on low volume listening. Love to turn it up, but 80% + of the time, I am constrained to lower volumes. I was interested in you take on the woofer volume as it comes to low level dynamics. My experience is that stand mount speakers are more likely to need to be turned up before opening up than do towers. However, I have been told on various forums that it has more to do with efficiency. Do you find that to be true?
How Does F10 and F20 perform compared foundation and motion XT series. And would you recommend F10 or F20 over older version of martin logan 60xti? Now both motion F10 and older 60xti costs almost same?
I would pick the Martins. Leaning towards live sounding speakers and with you liking these over the Klipsch you have me sold. Definitely agree on the better aesthetics of the Martins. Great review!
I really enjoyed this speaker review. I have had mixed feelings about Martin Logan speakers. Now they have produced a speaker worth considering with good response añd with a touch of brilliance on top and it has my vote for 2023 Speaker Reference. Thank you and have a safe enjoyable trip!
@@KristiWright I am glad that I have been spelling your name correctly because I didn't want to insult a lady. Please continue to keep Andrew on his toes and help him to fill in the gaps .
Excellent in depth reviews as usual. Sometimes makes it hard to make a decision on what next to get for home theater 😂. Currently have the previous gen klipsch premiere, I love the lively sound as you guys described. I’ve been looking at Martin Logan, paradigm, possibly. I know eventually when I can take the hit for an end all be all theater speaker I would go for the Perlisten speakers, but who am I kidding it’s a hobby. I will probably will remain curious about other speakers.
I think these are overall better than the original RP line. The new, revised RP line, specifically the 8000F IIs, is going to come down to personal taste and look (I think). I too would love to just go all-in on a speaker but then I remember that I like to play with different sounds and speaker types, so it's not likely going to happen for me either.
Man, the way you do the grill disappearance effect while the camera still moves, really cool and impressive! How do you think this compares to the updated 600 line from B&W? It’s slightly cheaper compared to 603 towers. Not sure if you’ve heard the Foundation bookshelves or not or the 603 tower. Either way it would be interesting comparison! Hope the trip is going well and everyone is having a lovely Sunday! Awesome review!
I use a computer-controlled motion control rig that enables me to repeat the exact same move at the exact same speed as many times as I want. In between takes, I add a grille. Then in editing, I put all the clips together in one seamless motion. Very similar to stop-motion animation. I have not demoed the new 603 towers so I cannot say. These are not quite as refined nor as extended as the 606 S3 bookshelf speakers (same for the Foundation bookshelf speakers). If you want to hear every nuance of treble-leaning instruments the 600 S3 series is going to be a bit "better". But these, I think, would classify as a very close second if you value treble.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews that’s so cool! I had no idea you could do something like that, especially on a TH-cam video scale. Maybe movies and major TV, but that’s so cool to see in a TH-cam video! Keep it up, it’s amazing! And thanks for the tips on 600 comparison!
@@gavriushka I want our videos to be as professional as possible, so I always consider it a good investment in the channel and the audience acquiring tools that will make the experience THAT much better.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews and it is! It’s apparent immediately. You’ve upgraded, yes, upgraded the quality of the videos significantly from a few years ago and it shows. Keep moving forward, the future looks bright for you guys!
Don't be surprised, if everyone gave phantom center a real try, center channel sales would plummet. It isn't for everyone, but centers are not the slam dunk that most of the industry indicates. Phantom is better for a lot of situations, always cheaper, and far easier to fit in your room. Center channels have always been a huge issue, for me, the best solution to those issues for me is to ditch them. Loving my Paradigm Signature 4.1.2 set up a Sonus Faber 4.2 set up and a few Stereo systems used for music and movies (Martin Logan and Paradigm). Maybe it doesn't work as well with some other brands, but all of mine are exceptional. I extensively tested with Paradigm (and they have awesome centers by the way) and phantom always has won the day for me.
I was surprised too. I did get the C1 and found dialogue much much better than just the F2 front left & right. Then our den is much smaller than theirs, so I am sure the acoustics have a little to do with it.
I myself shortlisted few of my most favorites which i am gonna buy very soon for further experiences 1st Cambridge Audio EXA100 Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 Pair 2nd Rotel Ras-5000 MartinLogan F2 Pair 3rd Musical Fidelity Roundtable S, M6s Pre, M6x 250.4/2 Focal Theva N°3 Pair 4th Arcam SA45 KEF R11 Pair ❤❤❤❤
Great review as usual 👍🏼 With all of the current sales going on here are some competitors. Would love to hear your thoughts on comparisons if you have the time. Below are priced each at Crutchfield: SVS Prime @ $1299 Focal Theva #3 @ $1,199 Focal Aria 926 @ $ 1,098 ($1,300 off) Paradigm Premier 800F @ $1,199 Thx guys ✊🏼
In early December, Audio Advisor incorrectly listed the F2 in black finish for $599! They finally realized the error two days later! That was a great buy!
And the F2 are currently on sale for $1,600 with their little brother F1s at $1,200, so they don't have to be even if you adhere to such dollar for dollar comparisons. However, that is not how it works. doubling what you spend on speakers will rarely get you twice as good. If it does, then the cheaper speaker is horrible value and or a horrible speaker......
Great video, happy new year! Martin Logan has been hitting it out of the park with their most recent speakers. Their new speakers... bring the "electrostatic transparent sound" to the masses that did not want to deal with electrostatic hassles. AND... they keep the transparency, liveliness and forward top end that made them mesmerizing to listen to. Truth be told... had a pair of ML ESL... loved the sound... WIFE HATED that they required to be plugged in and had power cords along the wall. After 5 years... was forced to part with them. Anyway.... where was I ohh yes. Martin logan I guess won you over with their version of "ribbon" tweeter... or your ears are getting older (like mine) and are starting to appreciate brighter speakers.
Awesome video as usual..the way Kristi & Andrew put it together is just perfect at times. Great stuff. This speaker looks interesting. I prefer the aesthetics over the R700. I found the Logan's XT B-100 to be a smidge too hot up top for my tastes, i couldn't afford the towers. I also feel the R700 is missing just a smidge of that top extension. This F2 maybe is the middle ground, but i dk. I have noticed in the past that speakers with that rise between 2-300hz can sound a hair muddy, but usually easy to EQ. I'm excited to give these F2's a listen. I have a pair of R700's so im familiar with their strengths and weaknesses..pushing them with about 380wpc from an Arcam PA240.
I'm in a similar boat as you -- the XT *100 seemed a little hot for me as well, and I like my top-end hot; I found the KEF Metas a little weak by comparison (the R11s seemed better than the R3/R6, but $$$), and the R700s slip down a little farther on that scale. I like the paradigm premier line as it seems to get it right on the balance, but man the bass on the F100s is really nice when it lights up. I'd be interested in what you think if you do get the chance to listen, though the rear port is unfortunate (as it is in the paradigm). I'm going to have to bring them home eventually, but circumstances prevent -- let me know what you think if you do.
@@34332yeah I've used EQ thru the PEQ functions on my Dac and I used my minidsp DDRC-22D on the Polk's as well. They respond well to EQ but I don't feel there is a way to recreate the more airier extension or sound of the Martin Logan folded tweeter. To me the R700 don't sound rolled off, but if you compare them to the Logan's they do. I can jack everything up past say 6khz and it will make a noticeable difference, but honestly for everyday listening I usually don't EQ the highs/high mid frequency's. I listen off axis a bit and I'm still ok with how the R700 tweeter sounds. I still think it's crisp & clean but I'm aware it's not as crisp with that upward extension as some other speakers. I really like the Linton's but I feel they sound a little more rolled off than the R700..but still a good sounding speaker. I'm very sensitive to treble and can get listening fatigue pretty quickly..and I listen to music probably 8 hours a day, so the Polk's work for me. To answer your question I think the R700 respond well to EQ, but depending on your taste it might not be enough. I've read a few personal reviews that no matter how they set the R700 up the Ring tweeter just didn't work for them. But I've read others that thought the tweeter was too beaming on axis.
@@NosEL34 Thank you for your detailed and helpful response, much appreciated! I'm also quite sensitive to treble and you answered quite a lot of my questions. I'm going back and forth between my Focals and Lintons (love them) for exactly the same reason you described. Also using a DSP (Flex) to get some control over the room and FR. I'm familiar with Polks ringtweeter and somewhat more narrow dispersion (got the R200 for a short while) that really performed well in my room (the tweeter). I guess the R700 is more aligned to my preference. Anyway, food for thoughts, thanks!
Hi love this channel and you guys are an awesome nerd couple (we are too). Question: we own a pair of Dali Oberon 7's *the are a GREAT listen* but really looking for new speakers that are simply more clinical while not sacrificing the qualities (slam, giant soundstage, warm mids) of the Oberon 7's. Would the Foundation 2's be the answer to this search at this price point?
Love the reviews. I’ll admit some of the price points are out of my range , never the less I like the best for what I can afford. My dilemma . I need rear speakers to complete my 5.1 setup . What are the best mid price wireless speakers that perform well without breaking the bank . Or could you possibly do a review on good , better and best for the money . I’m in a Condo and without tearing SG!? Up I’d prefer going wireless if at all posible without compromising sound .
I would wait for the Kef Q150 to go on sale then use a wireless adapter for them. depending on price point. To me the KEF Q150 are amazing for the value if you can get them for $300 which happens around November - December
That I cannot say, judging by the response to the XT Series at least, I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. I think it's potentially confusing for customers to decide which MartinLogan they're looking at given how much they all look the same, but that's about as far as I'll go.
Probably not. The XT is the Corvette, while the Motion series is the Camaro. No shame in owning a Camaro, but it'll never carry the prestige of a Vette.
I really loved the triangle br09 at a local shop. And i also loved the kef q950. (Prefered a bit the sound of the triangle but lacks bass to my taste...) Would you say that the f2 are better on the nass delth and quality then the klipsh 8000f ii... Are the f2 are as good or very close to polk r700??
The fact I'm only in a small 13 x 11.5 apartment living room, unlike Towers I chose to go with stand mounts with a stereo pair of rel 8-in subwoofers. All I can say is never mind no room gain. No Bass traps needed neither 🥳
@@tattedsoul1I tried to sell my RP-8000F but with the current low prices for new ones, I’ve decided to keep them. I am now using them for 2-channel music listening in my studio/office, paired to a Yamaha receiver. They do sound great.
@@tattedsoul1 I finally sold my RP-8000F. Here’s a shocker, I also sold my Martin Logan Foundation F2 and bought a pair of Martin Logan Motion 60XTi. Previous generation Motion speakers but sound awesome.
Generally speaking, when you talk about the bass performance, do you do any room correction for just the low frequencies to take the room out of the equation? Why or why not?
Unless otherwise noted I form my opinion of the speaker's bass prowess without room correction, but if I find that my concerns are fixed with room correction I will point that out. That said, room correction does not fix cabinet design, so in this instance that boost in energy and bit of chestiness is present regardless.
Hello Andrew! Your reviews get me in trouble! 😂 I ordered a pair of F2 and they arrive Saturday. Since they are 4 ohms but the rest of my speakers are 8 ohms, should I leave the ohm setting in my STR-AZ5000ES set to 8 ohms? I have a 5.1.4 setup.
In keeping with your reviews of speakers in the $2,000 range, I would like to have your opinion of the Dynaudio Emit 50 and the JBL Studio 698. This review has pretty well locked up my choice for the mains of my next HT speakers. But, a positive review of the JBL 698 could change my mind.
Great review as always Andrew and Kristi if you still do have the other higher-end center could you test it and let us know the results in your next live?
Which speaker would I pick? Last week I received the Klipsch 8000F II...and you now put this video up!?! Are you kidding me! If I had known, I would have considered the Foundation F2 over the 8000F II. Similar and better looking than the Klipsch but easier to drive than the Polk R700...the F2 seems like an easy 2023 winner. At the same time I was able to get Klipsch at half the cost of these Martin Logan speakers plus I already have the RP-600C center channel which matches very well with the 8000F II. No regrets buying the Klipsch...but darn Andrew and Kristi you sure don't make it easy! 🙂
The new 8000F IIs are great and if I already had them in my possession I wouldn't switch. Only if I were still deciding would I encourage those to demo both before making a final decision. They're really very close and yet unique in their own ways!
Early December, Audio Advisor listed the black F2 for $599! That was a great deal. Took them two days to realize the error. I had just received my F2 the day before the error, I called my vendor, send them a copy of the link and they gladly credited my CC $200 back! I got really lucky!
What is your favorite tower speaker for around $1000 for the pair? The music spectrum for me is all over the place; I listen to jazz, electronic, classical, funk, etc. Wouldn't mind pairing it with a sub as a separate expense.
Hi Andrew & Kristi. Don't think you ever had a look, at the Paradigm Monitor SE 8000F? That sounds like a fun speaker. It's $849.00 each. Thanks guys, for another great video.
We haven't reviewed them officially on the channel but I am aware of them and think they are a good speaker --albeit one that's getting a bit long in the tooth and likely due for a refresh.
It's kind of annoying how most brands are making amazing affordable towers, but they seem to purposely design subpar center channels to force people to go for their higher line. Polk, ML and Heco all went this route. With all three you have to splurge for the higher end center channels.
I think there are a number of factors that go into manufacturing a center speaker and I don't personally believe forcing buyers up-market is one of them. At this price point, price is a factor, as is size for it's unlikely that people can accomodate larger.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews An W(T/M)W design is not that much larger than the MTM they're using. The companies are still trying to maximize profit, and the main differentiator for a few companies between these lines of speakers is the center channel design. If it were a single company displaying this specific design choice I'd agree with you, but when there are a significant number of them it's hard to ignore when shopping for speakers at this point.
I just bought these and the center to replace my 25 year old JBL towers and Center, because the surrounds on the woofers are degrading... I'll replace my surround speakers soon (they're only about 10 years old), just not sure if I want to go with the Motion Foundation B2 or the Motion FX... decisions decisions...
❤️ I have a MAC7200, a Dual 618Q. my room is 12x 22. which speakers should I get? I listen to everything from coltrane to slayer. thank you. i have subscribed. I currently have Vandersteen Model 2
Thanks and thanks to Marantz lol! I am a bit locked in with all my speakers (barring my REL subs) being the same with matching tones and sensitivity (Klipsch). I do hear other speaker like the B&W Signature driven by Classe separates and Golden Ear Reference with McIntosh in the home system but for the theater needs it will be Klipsch for some time..
I guess the ranking would differ from person to person. What you may find sounds great, may not be great to someone else. Those four choices are all great speakers!
I have KEF Q950, I prefer them over RP 8000f .I liked their warm sound. According to what I heard from 1. Polk R700 or Martin Logan 2. KEF Q950 3. RP 8000
Keg R11 Metas are I believe 3200 dollars. The Martins are 799 ? Polk R700 899 on sale or regularly priced at I think 1099 . The numbers push me towards the Polks on sale and if not then maybe the Martins .
Yes I agree . The big Polks give me a sound that is fitting for the music I listen to primarily , 70s 60s , old country music not current country POP , patsy cline , John cash, Hank Williams. I also listen to some punk ,80s rock, symphony , opera . The latter sound better on my faster brighter Focal Choras ,but I enjoy all music on both . I’m so glad these reviews got me to look at the Polks as they probably wouldn’t have ever been on my radar
@@rafacq yes . They are beautiful in a room for the money you pay for them . The sound is great too. I think the icing on the cake would be a REL T9 or a T11 for a little more . I use the T11 on my Polks . Very fast tight base .
Very well dressed speakers - clearly inspired by the KEF R series walnut finish. Their individual speaker covers don’t look wonky like they usually do. The real issue, though, are the rear dual ports which mean more space BUT you could get away without a sub which saves space and ain’t many nice looking subs (RIP oval KEF in maple). The Q Acoustics 5040 is also a very nice looking speaker in walnut with those curves - they need to add some bass to it. It looks better than the Concept 50 and visually gives the 500 a run for its money.
In this video I say the F2s reviewed here are a close second to the R700, I don't think I would get the F1s over the R700s given that I wouldn't personally choose the F2s over the R700, but that's just me.
Hey Andrew and Kristi, great review on the foundation series .Is there a review coming sometime on the Arendal 1723 Towers? Would really like to know what your take is on them.
Great review! Polk R700 for me. But I think Martin Logan did a good job with the design on these. They look pretty good! Polk is going to need a refresh. Would love to see a review on the new Emotiva XDA gen3DAC with XPA Gen 3 DR2 with balanced connections 👍🏻
The new Emotiva DAC has massive HDMI connection and signal issues which I've made them aware of and they are looking into them. Given that the inclusion of HDMI is a big feature of that DAC, we're not moving forward with a review until the issues are addressed. I cannot recommend the new Emotiva DAC at this time and would tell anyone considering it for its HDMI functionality to hold off.
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Is possíble you ask Denon to sent you a x6800h?
1 Year later Kristi's question and your answer regarding low level listening saved me the trouble of searching the forums! Thanks!
Apologies for the early post time this week. We're traveling and I got my timezones wrong. Oops.
Pleased it's earlier as i'm listening while having morning coffee.
This actually was a good time for those of us in Central/Eastern time zones.
@@BryanRuby Thanks for joining us!
Right on, have fun you two!
Why apologize for doing something early?
Zero regrets. Thanks for the video review. I picked up a pair of these and man... they sound amazing. Anything I could say about them, you've already said spot on in your review. What an amazing speaker. If you're in the market and you're on the fence about these, just do it.
Had a Klipsch Cinema 600 soundbar and enjoyed it, but finally went with an Onkyo RZ50 and a pair of Klipsch RP 8000F II speakers. Awesome. Got the speakers for $1048/pair. I’m VERY pleased with my selections. Thank you Andrew and Kristi for your reviews!
Great choice! Enjoy!
Looking at a receiver for my dad. Denon 1700H for $477 or Onkyo 6100 for $385? He uses a 5.1 mostly for tv and music streamed from a roku and wants to use only remote. Thanks for the great content.
Either will work. The Onkyo sounds like a steal. I think you'll find this video helpful in making your decision - th-cam.com/video/ARoUCuVJRH8/w-d-xo.html, especially around the 11-minute mark.
*Huge favor to ask of everyone...please hit the 👍button and leave a comment if you haven't already! It makes a big difference. We really appreciate it.*
Have a great day and thank you so much for watching.
I am always posting comments on almost every channel I subscribe reminding people to hit the like 👍 button. Sad this country is that ridiculously lazy. I click right away, it takes one second! Think about the level of laziness it must take after you start viewing a video to nit take one second 🤔 😢. Thank you both, still feel like my budget (virtually none 😂) will never get me a new system, but love the videos! ❤
Y'all have the polk r700 in high praise. The fact that these are in the conversion with them is outstanding.
The R700s still have not been outright beaten at their price.
Here's the main question, for those willing to throw a few more bucks at speakers. I listened to these ML motion foundation F2 yesterday at Magnolia. I loved them. I think they sounded better than KEF Q11 Meta, or R5. But, your review of Q Acoustics Concept 50 had me foaming at the mouth. I cannot audition the Q Acoustics, and would be buying blind at almost double the price of these ML's. I'm willing to do it. Would you buy the Q Concept 50 for around $2800 or these for around $1500? Begging for an opinion. Thanks so much for all you guys do.😎
3:00 I really like these specific details in reviews where you pinpoint small sounds that a song has. It is even helpful to test these specific tracks at home to see if we can hear the same subtleties.
Glad you found it helpful!
Amazing to see Polk discussed in the same veign as Martin Logan. Really impressed with Polk Reserve series.
7:06 WHEN WHEN you give them what they need 😂.. can I ask you a question! Would you consider also adding hip-hop or r&b tracks as that's mostly what I play as well and would like to know your thoughts on certain songs! I'm really thinking of the trade in program as my denon just isn't really doing it for me anymore! I still think in this situation I would still go with the polks.. great review overall the finish on these are nicely done as well enjoy your travels
I can throw some hip-hop and such into the rotation and get back to you in future reviews for sure! What Marantz would you trade up to?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I am really considering the cinema 60.. I've got a nice little bonus coming in at the end of October. And I think it's time too say goodbye to the denon s950h I'm going to take your advice and just stick with the 7.2 for a 5.1.2 set-up! I just hope the cinema 60 gives me the sound that I'm looking for
Off the bat, the wood looks amazing. Love the looks of these.
They look good and sound even better.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewstotally agree!
Great video today! Personally I like that the woodgrain has different accents than the other two finishes, and all 3 options are a great aesthetic.
Thanks Kristi for bringing up the low level performance, as this matters to many of us.
I'm still with you two on the option of heritage finishes for lower end Klipsch products.
QOTD: with R700 being more power hungry than Klipsch and ML, I'd say Polk is my loser of the 3 (what a world to live in!)
One more thing that occurs to me is if I'm already using a sub I wonder if the bookshelf model can mostly close the gap between the higher end ML options.
Sorry for the long comments and enjoy your weekend!
Thought I would have buyer's remorse after recently upgrading my R600s to R700s when first watching this. After hearing your review and comments to brightness I still feel comfortable since I like a more relaxed tweeter. The ML cabinets look stellar though. Great work you two!
Enjoy your R700s and thanks for watching!
Another great review from you guys. You made my decision a lot harder. I need a set of tower for music and HT, but I really don't have the space for a subwoofer in this particular setup. I know if I go with the R700s I'll need good receiver with 3 channel amp across the front. But it sounds like these might work better, with just a good HT Receiver. Hmmm. Thanks again, and Kristi really hit home with her thoughts on this one. You guys are the best!
Hi Andrew, could you do a series on center channel speakers. It seems like this is where a lot of brands are let down and reviews for these are thin on the ground. Especially when used in an LCR configuration for two channel stereo although I realized getting 3 to test may be hard.
We're looking into a video similar to your request, stay tuned.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews nice thanks Andrew for the reply. Love your channel. I watch every week.
Some of the best centers from my experience are the giants. Legacy, paradigm, perlisten, revel, and wharfedale to name a few. All 3 way and we'll designed and engineered. Otherwise you're better off with 2 good floorstanders and a phantom center as Kristi mentioned for this model.
You'll notice there's some brands that throw in a 2.5 way small weak center just to fill the gap in the lineup. Some are even $3k or $4k and there just a wtw design or a wtmw design with a lousy 3" or 4" midrange driver. That needs to be a 5.25" or bigger depending on room size.
Finding a good center and matching with towers always narrows down my brand choices for the LCR pretty quickly. Then go audition the top 3 or 4
@@andrewrobinsonreviews please, please, when you do this video make sure to include a section about phantom center. The 2 of you have been making brief comments of support to this, but I would love to hear a more thorough video on your thoughts of how phantom center can fit into the home theater world. I have extensively tested my Paradigm Signature systems over and over and always end up with phantom. I currently have 2 Signature C5 v3 centers in my house, yet I picked phantom.
I purchased a set of B2 also F2 and a C1 but have no idea what receiver or amplifier to use. Can you please suggest. My budget is around 2k for additional equipment. Thanks!
On the more affordable side I would go with this bit.ly/3k1gqs8 as it has modern features as well as all the power needed to power the Logans. If you want to step it up a little consider this bit.ly/3BPi48v or maybe this bit.ly/3y4rfAq.
For me the real agony was deciding between the B100s and the Polk R700. Space wasn't an issue and I have a good sub. In the end I went with the B100s based on your review and livestream Q&A. I'm super happy with them. In the end I had to admit to myself that I, like Kristi, love a lively presentation over a neutral one more often than not.
Glad you found a solution that works best for you! Kristi always has great advice!
Ha! I just literally hooted with joy seeing the price on Crutchfield.
Good hoot or bad hoot?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews It was the "Question answered, problem solved" hoot!
Man these speakers looked really good in y’all’s space
I really LOVE the style of these. Those copper-ish rings are beautiful.
Hi-Fi in general needs to explore more colors, whether accents or main cabinet colors. Think KEF LSX II in that gorgeous olive green and gold combo.
I don’t need another huge black piece of equipment/furniture. I want loud style and interesting things to look at.
They are so nice in person!
No height modules for the ML hmm? I also like the downward port on the R700 by comparison. So for me and my room Polk for the dub. But all of them are so awesome these days makes it hard to go completely wrong
Just saying thanks. Tried out the Sony az1000es on your recommendation and it really is solid. I returned the Pioneer lx505 and saved some money. In the past I would never have picked a Sony over an Elite but the gap between them is more preference than performance now. Sony really stepped thier game up, you cant get away with making mediocre products now.
The 1000 is a banger. That whole Sony line is better than people give it credit for.
Wharfedale Evo4.4?
Real wood veneer for around $2k.
JBL Studio 698? with compression driver like the more expensive HDI series .
Many choices at that price point.
Great review thanks.
There are a lot of choices, true! Thanks for adding Wharfedale to the list.
Always enjoy your reviews. The lady who talks at the end is the best part of all your videos. I can relate to her simple down to earth untechnical opinions and comments.
i hate to admit it but MARTIN LOGANS know how to make things look beautiful
I agree!
I purchased these speakers in the wood grain finish about a month ago and have been breaking them in and loving them quite a bit . I have owned three sets of Paradigm speakers ( latest being the Monitor 9 , S7) and was looking at continuing with Paradigm until I saw the new release by Martn Logan a few months ago .
I had a very good listen at a local HiFi shop who had the Anthem MRX home theatre amps ( like I have ) and decided on the F2.
I’m also using a separate IA to power my fronts 5.1 system and it’s been very good so far . Would have gone for the XT’s , but I’m really the only one in our home who would notice - so I “settled” for these speakers .
Really enjoying them so far and I had a friend with me as we tried out 5 different speakers and they all sounded so very different. Kept the same song rotation to keep it fair , and I’ve been very happy since .
Thanks for a great review . Very good assessment - I have added my sub in mainly for movies - could have run without the sub if only most music .
Hi, I'm a big fan of the channel, these Martin Logan are interesting and also aesthetically beautiful...
I have some Focal Aria 926 driven by the Yamaha R-N2000A Chord Company Epic X speaker cables.
I'm quite satisfied with the Focals but could it be an upgrade by changing to these Foundation F2?
Thanks Daniele
I would love to see a head to head that would include the SVS Prime Pinnacle Speaker ($999) vs Polk R700, Martin Logan F2, Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G, Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F...
This was a really great and informative review! There is a store near me that carries ML speakers. I'm going to take a listen to the F2. Because of my background in recording studios, neutral sounding speakers vibe with me. However, I also love a live, dynamic sound that presents a sense of space. I appreciate the fact that you do not always rely on specs. It really is about listening. 👍
These will definitely feel less control room and more in-room if that makes any sense (hoping it does because of your background).
Hi Andrew and Kristi :) Thanks for the video! Question: How would you compare Monitor Audio Silver 500 7g against these MLs?
Andrew it’s great review
I need some advice , would tot recommend old 60xti over f2 ? They almost in same price range .
Do you think f2 is better than 60xti in 5.1.2 home theatre system
Thank you so much for the discussion on low volume listening. Love to turn it up, but 80% + of the time, I am constrained to lower volumes. I was interested in you take on the woofer volume as it comes to low level dynamics. My experience is that stand mount speakers are more likely to need to be turned up before opening up than do towers. However, I have been told on various forums that it has more to do with efficiency. Do you find that to be true?
How Does F10 and F20 perform compared foundation and motion XT series. And would you recommend F10 or F20 over older version of martin logan 60xti? Now both motion F10 and older 60xti costs almost same?
I would pick the Martins. Leaning towards live sounding speakers and with you liking these over the Klipsch you have me sold. Definitely agree on the better aesthetics of the Martins. Great review!
Can you guys get the ML ESL X or As in?! Or better yet the Klipsch RF7 iii?!
I really enjoyed this speaker review. I have had mixed feelings about Martin Logan speakers. Now they have produced a speaker worth considering with good response añd with a touch of brilliance on top and it has my vote for 2023 Speaker Reference. Thank you and have a safe enjoyable trip!
Thanks!
@@KristiWright I am glad that I have been spelling your name correctly because I didn't want to insult a lady. Please continue to keep Andrew on his toes and help him to fill in the gaps .
Excellent in depth reviews as usual. Sometimes makes it hard to make a decision on what next to get for home theater 😂. Currently have the previous gen klipsch premiere, I love the lively sound as you guys described. I’ve been looking at Martin Logan, paradigm, possibly. I know eventually when I can take the hit for an end all be all theater speaker I would go for the Perlisten speakers, but who am I kidding it’s a hobby. I will probably will remain curious about other speakers.
I think these are overall better than the original RP line. The new, revised RP line, specifically the 8000F IIs, is going to come down to personal taste and look (I think). I too would love to just go all-in on a speaker but then I remember that I like to play with different sounds and speaker types, so it's not likely going to happen for me either.
If I may ask Sir, What is the setup you currently enjoy the most when you sit down and listen to music
Man, the way you do the grill disappearance effect while the camera still moves, really cool and impressive!
How do you think this compares to the updated 600 line from B&W? It’s slightly cheaper compared to 603 towers. Not sure if you’ve heard the Foundation bookshelves or not or the 603 tower. Either way it would be interesting comparison!
Hope the trip is going well and everyone is having a lovely Sunday!
Awesome review!
I thought the grill tricks were pretty cool as well
I use a computer-controlled motion control rig that enables me to repeat the exact same move at the exact same speed as many times as I want. In between takes, I add a grille. Then in editing, I put all the clips together in one seamless motion. Very similar to stop-motion animation. I have not demoed the new 603 towers so I cannot say. These are not quite as refined nor as extended as the 606 S3 bookshelf speakers (same for the Foundation bookshelf speakers). If you want to hear every nuance of treble-leaning instruments the 600 S3 series is going to be a bit "better". But these, I think, would classify as a very close second if you value treble.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews that’s so cool! I had no idea you could do something like that, especially on a TH-cam video scale. Maybe movies and major TV, but that’s so cool to see in a TH-cam video! Keep it up, it’s amazing! And thanks for the tips on 600 comparison!
@@gavriushka I want our videos to be as professional as possible, so I always consider it a good investment in the channel and the audience acquiring tools that will make the experience THAT much better.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews and it is! It’s apparent immediately. You’ve upgraded, yes, upgraded the quality of the videos significantly from a few years ago and it shows. Keep moving forward, the future looks bright for you guys!
I've had Yamaha receivers all life never had a single problem , in my opinion Yamaha is the best. Great review have a nice day !
Thanks for the review! I was surprised Kristi liked them better without the center channel for home theater use.
Don't be surprised, if everyone gave phantom center a real try, center channel sales would plummet. It isn't for everyone, but centers are not the slam dunk that most of the industry indicates. Phantom is better for a lot of situations, always cheaper, and far easier to fit in your room. Center channels have always been a huge issue, for me, the best solution to those issues for me is to ditch them. Loving my Paradigm Signature 4.1.2 set up a Sonus Faber 4.2 set up and a few Stereo systems used for music and movies (Martin Logan and Paradigm). Maybe it doesn't work as well with some other brands, but all of mine are exceptional. I extensively tested with Paradigm (and they have awesome centers by the way) and phantom always has won the day for me.
I was surprised too. I did get the C1 and found dialogue much much better than just the F2 front left & right. Then our den is much smaller than theirs, so I am sure the acoustics have a little to do with it.
Loved the review. Sounds like it's going to be a great upscale starter speaker.
I think so. I think users have three to five really great massmarket options between $1500 - $2000 a pair now.
Good Sunday morning Guys. The ML look impressive. However, I'm in love with my Polk r700 ❤️🔥. A NAD 2400 feeds them plenti of powa 💥
The R700s are absolutely fabulous!
I myself shortlisted few of my most favorites which i am gonna buy very soon for further experiences
1st
Cambridge Audio EXA100
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S3 Pair
2nd
Rotel Ras-5000
MartinLogan F2 Pair
3rd
Musical Fidelity Roundtable S, M6s Pre, M6x 250.4/2
Focal Theva N°3 Pair
4th
Arcam SA45
KEF R11 Pair
❤❤❤❤
Great review as usual 👍🏼 With all of the current sales going on here are some competitors. Would love to hear your thoughts on comparisons if you have the time. Below are priced each at Crutchfield:
SVS Prime @ $1299
Focal Theva #3 @ $1,199
Focal Aria 926 @ $ 1,098 ($1,300 off)
Paradigm Premier 800F @ $1,199
Thx guys ✊🏼
In early December, Audio Advisor incorrectly listed the F2 in black finish for $599! They finally realized the error two days later! That was a great buy!
The rp-8000f2 go on sale regularly for around $1100. Are these almost twice as good as the klipsch?
This is covered in the video.
And the F2 are currently on sale for $1,600 with their little brother F1s at $1,200, so they don't have to be even if you adhere to such dollar for dollar comparisons. However, that is not how it works. doubling what you spend on speakers will rarely get you twice as good. If it does, then the cheaper speaker is horrible value and or a horrible speaker......
I hope both of you are having a great day.
We are and thank you for asking! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and thanks for watching!
@andrew can you discuss subwoofers? I’m getting ready to upgrade and nobody talks about JL Audio
Great video. How far ML need to be from the wall ? You mentioned Klipsch is more tolerant
Great video, happy new year! Martin Logan has been hitting it out of the park with their most recent speakers. Their new speakers... bring the "electrostatic transparent sound" to the masses that did not want to deal with electrostatic hassles. AND... they keep the transparency, liveliness and forward top end that made them mesmerizing to listen to. Truth be told... had a pair of ML ESL... loved the sound... WIFE HATED that they required to be plugged in and had power cords along the wall. After 5 years... was forced to part with them. Anyway.... where was I ohh yes. Martin logan I guess won you over with their version of "ribbon" tweeter... or your ears are getting older (like mine) and are starting to appreciate brighter speakers.
Awesome video as usual..the way Kristi & Andrew put it together is just perfect at times. Great stuff. This speaker looks interesting. I prefer the aesthetics over the R700. I found the Logan's XT B-100 to be a smidge too hot up top for my tastes, i couldn't afford the towers. I also feel the R700 is missing just a smidge of that top extension. This F2 maybe is the middle ground, but i dk. I have noticed in the past that speakers with that rise between 2-300hz can sound a hair muddy, but usually easy to EQ. I'm excited to give these F2's a listen. I have a pair of R700's so im familiar with their strengths and weaknesses..pushing them with about 380wpc from an Arcam PA240.
In your opinion, how does the R700 respond to EQ re. top-end? I assume you tried that?
I'm in a similar boat as you -- the XT *100 seemed a little hot for me as well, and I like my top-end hot; I found the KEF Metas a little weak by comparison (the R11s seemed better than the R3/R6, but $$$), and the R700s slip down a little farther on that scale. I like the paradigm premier line as it seems to get it right on the balance, but man the bass on the F100s is really nice when it lights up. I'd be interested in what you think if you do get the chance to listen, though the rear port is unfortunate (as it is in the paradigm). I'm going to have to bring them home eventually, but circumstances prevent -- let me know what you think if you do.
Arcam 💪
@@34332yeah I've used EQ thru the PEQ functions on my Dac and I used my minidsp DDRC-22D on the Polk's as well. They respond well to EQ but I don't feel there is a way to recreate the more airier extension or sound of the Martin Logan folded tweeter. To me the R700 don't sound rolled off, but if you compare them to the Logan's they do.
I can jack everything up past say 6khz and it will make a noticeable difference, but honestly for everyday listening I usually don't EQ the highs/high mid frequency's. I listen off axis a bit and I'm still ok with how the R700 tweeter sounds. I still think it's crisp & clean but I'm aware it's not as crisp with that upward extension as some other speakers. I really like the Linton's but I feel they sound a little more rolled off than the R700..but still a good sounding speaker. I'm very sensitive to treble and can get listening fatigue pretty quickly..and I listen to music probably 8 hours a day, so the Polk's work for me. To answer your question I think the R700 respond well to EQ, but depending on your taste it might not be enough. I've read a few personal reviews that no matter how they set the R700 up the Ring tweeter just didn't work for them. But I've read others that thought the tweeter was too beaming on axis.
@@NosEL34
Thank you for your detailed and helpful response, much appreciated! I'm also quite sensitive to treble and you answered quite a lot of my questions. I'm going back and forth between my Focals and Lintons (love them) for exactly the same reason you described. Also using a DSP (Flex) to get some control over the room and FR. I'm familiar with Polks ringtweeter and somewhat more narrow dispersion (got the R200 for a short while) that really performed well in my room (the tweeter). I guess the R700 is more aligned to my preference. Anyway, food for thoughts, thanks!
Hi love this channel and you guys are an awesome nerd couple (we are too). Question: we own a pair of Dali Oberon 7's *the are a GREAT listen* but really looking for new speakers that are simply more clinical while not sacrificing the qualities (slam, giant soundstage, warm mids) of the Oberon 7's. Would the Foundation 2's be the answer to this search at this price point?
I'm so glad you included the KEF Q750!! It's still a very relevant speaker in my opinion :D
It will always be relevant as it is a great speaker.
Nice review. Love the channel. Really hope to see a Wharfedale AURA 4 vs Martin Logan XTF200 video. 🤞
Love the reviews. I’ll admit some of the price points are out of my range , never the less I like the best for what I can afford.
My dilemma . I need rear speakers to complete my 5.1 setup . What are the best mid price wireless speakers that perform well without breaking the bank . Or could you possibly do a review on good , better and best for the money .
I’m in a Condo and without tearing SG!? Up I’d prefer going wireless if at all posible without compromising sound .
I would wait for the Kef Q150 to go on sale then use a wireless adapter for them. depending on price point. To me the KEF Q150 are amazing for the value if you can get them for $300 which happens around November - December
Much appreciated .
Great review again! Question, do you think ML is actually digging into their sales from the X series with the foundations?
That I cannot say, judging by the response to the XT Series at least, I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. I think it's potentially confusing for customers to decide which MartinLogan they're looking at given how much they all look the same, but that's about as far as I'll go.
Probably not. The XT is the Corvette, while the Motion series is the Camaro.
No shame in owning a Camaro, but it'll never carry the prestige of a Vette.
I really loved the triangle br09 at a local shop. And i also loved the kef q950. (Prefered a bit the sound of the triangle but lacks bass to my taste...) Would you say that the f2 are better on the nass delth and quality then the klipsh 8000f ii... Are the f2 are as good or very close to polk r700??
What matters is someone making a decent center speaker with wide dispersion instead of the same ol mtm design with it's flaws.
The fact I'm only in a small 13 x 11.5 apartment living room, unlike Towers I chose to go with stand mounts with a stereo pair of rel 8-in subwoofers. All I can say is never mind no room gain. No Bass traps needed neither 🥳
Got my F2 speakers today. My RP-8000F were good, but this are clearly a notch ahead. Can’t wait to burn them in a few weeks.
I have the klipsch rp8000f now and I'm going to try out a pair of the Martin Logan, hopefully an upgrade for me too
@@tattedsoul1I tried to sell my RP-8000F but with the current low prices for new ones, I’ve decided to keep them. I am now using them for 2-channel music listening in my studio/office, paired to a Yamaha receiver. They do sound great.
@@tattedsoul1 I finally sold my RP-8000F. Here’s a shocker, I also sold my Martin Logan Foundation F2 and bought a pair of Martin Logan Motion 60XTi. Previous generation Motion speakers but sound awesome.
@@rafacqare they a lot better? The 60s?
@@RahzAlGhulthey sound amazing. With two 8” woofers they have excellent lows. But the whole speaker is an impressive performer.
What is your opinion of the Paradigm Premier F800's?
Generally speaking, when you talk about the bass performance, do you do any room correction for just the low frequencies to take the room out of the equation? Why or why not?
When reviewing speakers, he always speaks about the sound without room correction.
Unless otherwise noted I form my opinion of the speaker's bass prowess without room correction, but if I find that my concerns are fixed with room correction I will point that out. That said, room correction does not fix cabinet design, so in this instance that boost in energy and bit of chestiness is present regardless.
Hello Andrew! Your reviews get me in trouble! 😂
I ordered a pair of F2 and they arrive Saturday. Since they are 4 ohms but the rest of my speakers are 8 ohms, should I leave the ohm setting in my STR-AZ5000ES set to 8 ohms? I have a 5.1.4 setup.
Yes, leave the setting to 8 ohms.
Hey guys thx for the review 😊 .
Thanks for joining us!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for another lively and fun review!!🥰💖🥰
Appreciate you tuning in!
Thank you so much Leezah! Appreciate you!
In keeping with your reviews of speakers in the $2,000 range, I would like to have your opinion of the Dynaudio Emit 50 and the JBL Studio 698. This review has pretty well locked up my choice for the mains of my next HT speakers. But, a positive review of the JBL 698 could change my mind.
Where are F1 reviews? Is their something wrong with them?
I would love a apple playlist from you guys thanks for the early video
Great review as always Andrew and Kristi if you still do have the other higher-end center could you test it and let us know the results in your next live?
We no longer have it sorry.
What about the F1’s are they better than the 8000f II?
I haven't heard any of them, but judging by how you guys describe them, i'm still firmly in the R700 camp.
Which speaker would I pick? Last week I received the Klipsch 8000F II...and you now put this video up!?! Are you kidding me! If I had known, I would have considered the Foundation F2 over the 8000F II. Similar and better looking than the Klipsch but easier to drive than the Polk R700...the F2 seems like an easy 2023 winner. At the same time I was able to get Klipsch at half the cost of these Martin Logan speakers plus I already have the RP-600C center channel which matches very well with the 8000F II. No regrets buying the Klipsch...but darn Andrew and Kristi you sure don't make it easy! 🙂
The new 8000F IIs are great and if I already had them in my possession I wouldn't switch. Only if I were still deciding would I encourage those to demo both before making a final decision. They're really very close and yet unique in their own ways!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for making me feel better! 🎶
Win has one syllable but w has three
My R700’s will arrive tomorrow! Caught them on sale for $799 ea.
Where?
Early December, Audio Advisor listed the black F2 for $599! That was a great deal. Took them two days to realize the error. I had just received my F2 the day before the error, I called my vendor, send them a copy of the link and they gladly credited my CC $200 back! I got really lucky!
What is your favorite tower speaker for around $1000 for the pair? The music spectrum for me is all over the place; I listen to jazz, electronic, classical, funk, etc. Wouldn't mind pairing it with a sub as a separate expense.
Hi Andrew & Kristi. Don't think you ever had a look, at the Paradigm Monitor SE 8000F? That sounds like a fun speaker. It's $849.00 each. Thanks guys, for another great video.
We haven't reviewed them officially on the channel but I am aware of them and think they are a good speaker --albeit one that's getting a bit long in the tooth and likely due for a refresh.
It's kind of annoying how most brands are making amazing affordable towers, but they seem to purposely design subpar center channels to force people to go for their higher line. Polk, ML and Heco all went this route. With all three you have to splurge for the higher end center channels.
I think there are a number of factors that go into manufacturing a center speaker and I don't personally believe forcing buyers up-market is one of them. At this price point, price is a factor, as is size for it's unlikely that people can accomodate larger.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews An W(T/M)W design is not that much larger than the MTM they're using. The companies are still trying to maximize profit, and the main differentiator for a few companies between these lines of speakers is the center channel design. If it were a single company displaying this specific design choice I'd agree with you, but when there are a significant number of them it's hard to ignore when shopping for speakers at this point.
Would love to hear these up against SVS Prime Pinnacle towers 👌
I just bought these and the center to replace my 25 year old JBL towers and Center, because the surrounds on the woofers are degrading... I'll replace my surround speakers soon (they're only about 10 years old), just not sure if I want to go with the Motion Foundation B2 or the Motion FX... decisions decisions...
❤️ I have a MAC7200, a Dual 618Q. my room is 12x 22. which speakers should I get? I listen to everything from coltrane to slayer. thank you. i have subscribed. I currently have Vandersteen Model 2
Thanks and thanks to Marantz lol! I am a bit locked in with all my speakers (barring my REL subs) being the same with matching tones and sensitivity (Klipsch). I do hear other speaker like the B&W Signature driven by Classe separates and Golden Ear Reference with McIntosh in the home system but for the theater needs it will be Klipsch for some time..
I wonder if would have to make a ranking between the Polk R700, Klipsch RP8000, Martin Logan Foundation F2 and the Q950 how that ranking would be
I guess the ranking would differ from person to person. What you may find sounds great, may not be great to someone else. Those four choices are all great speakers!
I have KEF Q950, I prefer them over RP 8000f .I liked their warm sound.
According to what I heard from
1. Polk R700 or Martin Logan
2. KEF Q950
3. RP 8000
Do you both know when this series will be available in the UK?
How do these speakers compare to Emotiva’s airmotiv T3+?
Keg R11 Metas are I believe 3200 dollars. The Martins are 799 ? Polk R700 899 on sale or regularly priced at I think 1099 . The numbers push me towards the Polks on sale and if not then maybe the Martins .
3200 each tower
@@rushgush I believe so . I really like the sound from the Polks for the money . Especially on sale .
Yes I agree . The big Polks give me a sound that is fitting for the music I listen to primarily , 70s 60s , old country music not current country POP , patsy cline , John cash, Hank Williams. I also listen to some punk ,80s rock, symphony , opera . The latter sound better on my faster brighter Focal Choras ,but I enjoy all music on both . I’m so glad these reviews got me to look at the Polks as they probably wouldn’t have ever been on my radar
I bought the F2 and really love their sound.
@@rafacq yes . They are beautiful in a room for the money you pay for them . The sound is great too. I think the icing on the cake would be a REL T9 or a T11 for a little more . I use the T11 on my Polks . Very fast tight base .
Would be cool if you guys made a video on the Foundation bookshelves B1 & B2, there's really not any content out there
Very well dressed speakers - clearly inspired by the KEF R series walnut finish. Their individual speaker covers don’t look wonky like they usually do.
The real issue, though, are the rear dual ports which mean more space BUT you could get away without a sub which saves space and ain’t many nice looking subs (RIP oval KEF in maple).
The Q Acoustics 5040 is also a very nice looking speaker in walnut with those curves - they need to add some bass to it. It looks better than the Concept 50 and visually gives the 500 a run for its money.
Would you get the F1 ($750ea) over the R700's ($1100ea)?
In this video I say the F2s reviewed here are a close second to the R700, I don't think I would get the F1s over the R700s given that I wouldn't personally choose the F2s over the R700, but that's just me.
Great review! I listened to the MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A last week, incredible sound.
Wondering how it would compete with the Bowers and Wilkins 603 S3 ?
Not sure as I have not heard the new tower speakers from that series.
Hopefully soon 🤞really enjoy all of your reviews
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsI would be very happy if you do so =) Regards from Germany
Hey Andrew and Kristi, great review on the foundation series .Is there a review coming sometime on the Arendal 1723 Towers? Would really like to know what your take is on them.
Nothing is planned right now.
Ok thank you ,from what I've seen so far I think they might give the ML Motion XT F100 and F200's a good run...
Good morning Andrew & Kristi! One day, I’ll rock a set of Martin Logan speakers and bust them out for fun listening sessions 🔊
Morning! Thank you so much for joining us and if you're on the market for a FUN speaker, this earns high marks from me!
Thanks for joining us!
I have recently discovered your videos and love them! Off topic, where did you get the tripod stands you use for bookshelves? Thanks for your help!
Hi @henrydavila7387, You'll find that information in the description box just below the video's title. Thanks for watching!
Great review! Polk R700 for me. But I think Martin Logan did a good job with the design on these. They look pretty good! Polk is going to need a refresh. Would love to see a review on the new Emotiva XDA gen3DAC with XPA Gen 3 DR2 with balanced connections 👍🏻
The new Emotiva DAC has massive HDMI connection and signal issues which I've made them aware of and they are looking into them. Given that the inclusion of HDMI is a big feature of that DAC, we're not moving forward with a review until the issues are addressed. I cannot recommend the new Emotiva DAC at this time and would tell anyone considering it for its HDMI functionality to hold off.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews ok wow! Thanks for the reply. Good to know however I’m more interested in it as a 2.1 stereo set up. I will hang tuff
Hello, would these be a significant improvement on the Jamo 809’s? Thank you.
Absolutely
I still prefer the Polk R700 because they have the port at the bottom
Awesome video like always. It would be awesome if you ever do a review on the martin Logan monument.
Hello Andrew, i would like to hear your opinion about the canton smart amp v2? It's the smallest av-receiver i know.
Wonderful review. I ❤ ML, but KEF are the king of 2023.