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  4. MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A
MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A Review
MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A - Front View

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Main Features

  • Electrostatic Tweeter
  • 2 x 12" Aluminium Woofer
  • 22-21k Hz Frequency Response
  • 92 dB Sensitivity
  • 500-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range: 20-700 watts
  • Weight: 139.99 lbs / 63.50 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 69-13/16"x15-3/4"x24-15/16" / 1773.0 x 400.0 x 633.0mm
MSRP: $29,000 (list price)
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MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A Review
MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A MartinLogan Renaissa...
Check price atAmazon›

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

MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A is a 2-way Powered Dipole Floor-standing speaker by MartinLogan. It was released in 2016. Renaissance ESL 15A's built-in amplifier provides 500-watt RMS. The built-in power amplifier saves space & eliminates the need to connect MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A to a stereo receiver or external power amp. It features a Electrostatic Tweeter and 2 x 12" Aluminium Woofer.

A hybrid floorstander: the curved XStat CLS electrostatic panel above the crossover and 2 x 12 inch woofers below it. 92 dB sensitive, 4 ohms, 20-700 W recommended, 22 Hz to 21 kHz, with 2 x 500 W of built-in Class D amplification on the bass. 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 22-21k Hz and a sensitivity of 92 dB. MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A has an MSRP of 29000$ per pair.

MartinLogan's Masterpiece Series of Loudspeakers

Renaissance ESL 15A is a member of MartinLogan's Masterpiece series of Powered 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.

MartinLogan Masterpiece Series Speakers
Model Frequency Watts RMSMax Depth / Sample Rate Woofer
MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A
Compare
24-23k Hz 300-watt— 2 x 10"
MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A
22-21k Hz 500-watt— 2 x 12"
MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A
Compare
45-23k Hz 250-watt— 4 x 6.5"

Frequency Response of the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A Speaker

MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A has a Frequency response range of 22-21k Hz and Power Range of 20-700 watts. With a minimum frequency of 22 Hz, Renaissance ESL 15A 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 Renaissance ESL 15A's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A?
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Crossover frequency of the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A?

The crossover frequency of the Renaissance ESL 15A is set to 300Hz. 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 Renaissance ESL 15A driver frequency bands22-300Woofer 12"300-21kTweeter20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Inputs and Outputs

  • USB Port:
  • Subwoofer Output
  • Digital Input:
  • HDMI Input:
  • Headphone Jack:
  • Ethernet Port

MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A External Dimensions and Weight

MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 69-13/16 x 15-3/4 x 24-15/16inch (1773.0 x 400.0 x 633.0mm ).

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 Renaissance ESL 15A is approximately 2532.0cm2 / 392.5inch2.

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

Weight

The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A weighs 63.50kg / 139.7lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Renaissance ESL 15A's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A
Min
Average
Median
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers over $20,000
MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet type and Materials

MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A has a Dipole type cabinet.

Does the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A come with a Grille?

Renaissance ESL 15A 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 Renaissance ESL 15A.

  • 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 Renaissance ESL 15A speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A

MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A Alternatives in Powered Floor-standing Speakers
Model Type Watts RMS Bluetooth Frequency
MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A
Compare
2-way 250w 45-23k Hz
MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A
Compare
2-way 300w 24-23k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A

Does the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A need an amplifier?

The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A is an active speaker with a 500-watt RMS built-in amplifier. You do not need a separate amplifier or receiver - just a source.

Does the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A need a subwoofer?

The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A reaches down to 22Hz (full range 22-21k Hz). That is genuinely deep bass - a subwoofer is optional unless you want home-theatre effects below that.

What drivers does the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A use?

The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A is a 2-way design using a Electrostatic tweeter and 2 x 12" Aluminium woofers.

Is the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A sealed or ported?

The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A uses a Dipole enclosure.

Does the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A come with grilles?

Yes. The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A comes with removable grilles.

How big and heavy is the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A?

The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A weighs 63.50kg / 139.7lbs each and measures 69-13/16 x 15-3/4 x 24-15/16inch (HxWxD).

How much does the MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A cost?

The MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $29,000 per pair.


MartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A Detailed Specifications

General
BrandMartinLogan
Full Model NameMartinLogan Renaissance ESL 15A
Speaker Type2-way Floor-standing
Power Range20-700 watts
Sensitivity92 dB
Impedance4 ohms
Frequency Response22-21k Hz
Release Date2016
Amplifier Specs
Watts RMS500 watts
TypeClass D
DAC Specs
DRIVERS
Woofer Size12-inch
Woofer CompositionAluminium
Tweeter TypeElectrostatic
Crossover freq300Hz
DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM
Amplifier Output500

CONNECTIONS
Connector TypeBinding post
Biamp InputsNo
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height1773.0mm ( 69-13/16-inch)
Width400.0mm ( 15-3/4-inch)
Depth633.0mm ( 24-15/16-inch)
Height1773.0mm ( 69-13/16-inch)
Weight63.5 kg (140 lbs)
EnclosureDipole
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty
Labor Warranty
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