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24
Will my electric bill go ‘sky high’ by leaving my
speakers plugged in all the time?
No. A pair of MartinLogan’s will draw about 8
watts maximum (idle). There is circuitry to turn
off the static charge when not in use; however,
actual consumption will remain close to the same.
The primary purpose of the sensing circuitry is to
prevent dust collection on the electrostatic element.
If the diaphragm is punctured with a pencil or
similar item, how extensive would the damage
to the speaker be?
Our research department has literally punctured
hundreds of holes in a diaphragm, neither affecting
the quality of the sound nor causing the diaphragm
to rip. However, you will be able to see the actual
puncture and it can be a physical nuisance. If this
is the case, replacing the electrostatic transducer
will be the only solution.
Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or perfor-
mance of my speakers?
We recommend that you not place any
loudspeaker in direct sunlight. The ultraviolet (UV)
rays from the sun can cause deterioration of grill
cloth, speaker cones, etc. Small exposures to UV
will not cause a problem. In general, the filtering
of UV rays through glass will greatly reduce the
negative effects on the electrostatic membrane itself.
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 three or four times a year. See the
vacuuming FAQ.
A problem has recently developed with my
MartinLogan speakers. The right speaker seems
to be hissing even when the amplifier and such
are not connected. I was wondering if this
sounds like any problem you have encoun-
tered previously and have a simple solution for
or might it be something which will need to be
looked into more carefully.
Your speakers are dusty. See the vacuuming
FAQ. The electrostatic charge on the element has
attracted airborne dust or pollen. Since 1993, all
of our speakers have been built with a charging
circuit board that only charges the electrostatic
element when music plays. At other times they
are not charged and cannot collect dust. You can
get the same benefit by simply unplugging them
whenever they are not in use. A power strip is an
easy way to do that.
Could my children, pets, or myself be shocked by
the high-voltage present in the electrostatic panel?
No. High voltage with low current is not
dangerous. As a matter of fact, the voltage in our
speakers is 10 times less than the static electricity
that builds up on the surface of your television
screen.
How do MartinLogan speakers hold up over a
long term in the humidity of tropical climates?
We should tell you that MartinLogan indeed
has a very substantial number of customers in
tropical regions of the world. Our speakers have
been serving them nicely for many years. This
concern may have come from our earlier design
of speakers, which were charged continuously.
Since 1993, all of our speakers have been
designed so that they only charge the panel while
music is being played. This improvement has
made a tremendous difference in the consistent
performance of our product. There may be a little
more maintenance involved in humid regions when
not in an air conditioned environment. Simply
enough, the concern is to keep the electrostatic
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