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  1. Home
  2. MartinLogan Speakers
  3. Passive Floor-standing Speakers
  4. MartinLogan Neolith
MartinLogan Neolith Review
MartinLogan Neolith - Front View

Compare To

Main Features

  • Electrostatic Tweeter
  • 15" Aluminium Woofer
  • 23-22k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range: 20-1300 watts
  • Weight: 385.81 lbs / 175.00 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 74-3/4"x30-1/4"x34-1/4" / 1899.0 x 769.0 x 870.0mm
MSRP: $120,000 (list price)
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MartinLogan Neolith Review
MartinLogan Neolith MartinLogan Neolith
Check price atAmazon›

Made by MartinLogan · United States · since 1982 · sold through dealers

MartinLogan Neolith is a 2-way Passive Dipole Floor-standing speaker by MartinLogan. It was released in May 2014. It features a Electrostatic Tweeter and 1 x 15" Aluminium Woofer.

A hybrid floorstander: the curved XStat CLS electrostatic panel above the crossover and a 15 inch rear-firing and a 12 inch front-firing woofer below it. 90 dB sensitive, 4 ohms, 20-1300 W recommended, 23 Hz to 22 kHz. Masterpiece is MartinLogan's electrostatic flagship line: a curved XStat CLS panel for everything above the crossover, and powered, DSP-corrected cone woofers below it.

The speaker has a frequency range of 23-22k Hz and a sensitivity of 90 dB. MartinLogan Neolith has an MSRP of 120000$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the MartinLogan Neolith is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:

Listening Environment* Suitability
Near-fieldAre you nuts?
Small RoomPoor
Mid-size RoomAverage
Large RoomGood
Very Large RoomGood

(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2. Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)

MartinLogan's Masterpiece Series of Loudspeakers

Neolith is a member of MartinLogan's Masterpiece series of Passive speakers. The Masterpiece range are MartinLogan's flagship electrostatic speakers, with large curved electrostatic panels. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

See all 4 MartinLogan Masterpiece models compared »

MartinLogan Masterpiece Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
MartinLogan ESL 9
Compare
34-23k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 8"
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
Compare
29-23k Hz 91 dB4Ω 2 x 8"
MartinLogan Masterpiece Focus ESL C18
Compare
50-23k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 6-1/2"
MartinLogan Neolith
23-22k Hz 90 dB4Ω 1 x 15"

Frequency Response of the MartinLogan Neolith Speaker

MartinLogan Neolith has a Frequency response range of 23-22k Hz and Power Range of 20-1300 watts. With a minimum frequency of 23 Hz, Neolith delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.

Here we have a comparison of how Neolith's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Neolith
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the MartinLogan Neolith?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 23 Hz low end
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Crossover frequency of the MartinLogan Neolith?

The crossover frequency of the Neolith is set to 60, 250–400 Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.

MartinLogan Neolith driver frequency bands23-60Woofer 15"60-250Lower midMidrange400-22kTweeter20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

MartinLogan Neolith's nominal impedance level is 4 ohms and has a sensitivity of 90 dB.

Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Neolith
Min
Average
Median

Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the MartinLogan Neolith is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.

Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the MartinLogan Neolith with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.

Sensitivity

90dB of the MartinLogan Neolith is an average sensitivity for stereo speaker so it is neither easy nor difficult to drive Sensitivity wise. Work out how loud the MartinLogan Neolith plays in your room →

Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →

What amplifier does the MartinLogan Neolith need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 15–240 W per channel into 4 ohms. Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.

We check power, impedance safety and current delivery - not just watts.

Prefer to browse? See every integrated amplifier we cover.

Input Type

Neolith has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.

Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →

MartinLogan Neolith External Dimensions and Weight

MartinLogan Neolith has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 74-3/4 x 30-1/4 x 34-1/4inch (1899.0 x 769.0 x 870.0mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of MartinLogan Neolith is approximately 6690.3cm2 / 1,037.0inch2.

Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →  ·  Work out where they should sit in the room →

Weight

The MartinLogan Neolith weighs 175.00kg / 385lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Neolith's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Neolith
Min
Average
Median
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers over $20,000
MartinLogan Neolith
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet type and Materials

MartinLogan Neolith has a Dipole type cabinet.

Does the MartinLogan Neolith come with a Grille?

Neolith comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the MartinLogan Neolith.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
  • Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the MartinLogan Neolith speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for MartinLogan Neolith

MartinLogan Neolith Alternatives in Passive Floor-standing Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
Compare
2-way 91 dB 4 ohms 29-23k Hz
MartinLogan ESL 9
Compare
2-way 90 dB 4 ohms 34-23k Hz
MartinLogan Masterpiece Focus ESL C18
Compare
3-way 90 dB 4 ohms 50-23K Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about MartinLogan Neolith

What amplifier do you need for the MartinLogan Neolith?

MartinLogan rates the MartinLogan Neolith for 20-1300 watts of amplifier power. It is a 4-ohm speaker, a demanding load that wants an amplifier rated to drive 4 ohms - many budget receivers are not.

Is the MartinLogan Neolith easy to drive?

The MartinLogan Neolith has a sensitivity of 90 dB. That is high: it goes loud on modest power, so it suits low-powered amplifiers, including valve/tube designs.

Does the MartinLogan Neolith need a subwoofer?

The MartinLogan Neolith reaches down to 23Hz (full range 23-22k Hz). That is genuinely deep bass - a subwoofer is optional unless you want home-theatre effects below that.

What drivers does the MartinLogan Neolith use?

The MartinLogan Neolith is a 2-way design using a Electrostatic tweeter and a 15" Aluminium woofer.

Is the MartinLogan Neolith sealed or ported?

The MartinLogan Neolith uses a Dipole enclosure.

Can the MartinLogan Neolith be bi-wired or bi-amped?

Yes. The MartinLogan Neolith has two sets of terminals, so it can be bi-wired or bi-amped: bi-wiring runs separate cable to the treble and bass sections, bi-amping gives each its own amplifier channel. It uses Binding post terminals.

Does the MartinLogan Neolith come with grilles?

Yes. The MartinLogan Neolith comes with removable grilles.

How big and heavy is the MartinLogan Neolith?

The MartinLogan Neolith weighs 175.00kg / 385lbs each and measures 74-3/4 x 30-1/4 x 34-1/4inch (HxWxD).

How much does the MartinLogan Neolith cost?

The MartinLogan Neolith has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $120,000 per pair.


MartinLogan Neolith Detailed Specifications

General
BrandMartinLogan
Full Model NameMartinLogan Neolith
Speaker Type2-way Floor-standing
Power Range20-1300 watts
Sensitivity90 dB
Impedance4 ohms
Frequency Response23-22k Hz
Release DateMay 2014
DRIVERS
Woofer Size15-inch
Woofer CompositionAluminium
Tweeter TypeElectrostatic
Crossover freq60, 250–400 Hz

CONNECTIONS
Connector TypeBinding post
Biamp InputsYes
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height1899.0mm ( 74-3/4-inch)
Width769.0mm ( 30-1/4-inch)
Depth870.0mm ( 34-1/4-inch)
Height1899.0mm ( 74-3/4-inch)
Weight175 kg (385.8 lbs)
EnclosureDipole
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty
Labor Warranty
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