MartinLogan CLS IIz [12/24] Dvantages

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 loudspeakers deals

with charged electrons attracting and repelling each other.

To fully understand the electrostatic concept, some back-

ground information will be helpful. Remember when you

learned in a science or physics class that like charges repel

each other and opposite charges attract each other? Well,

this principle is the foundation of the electrostatic concept.

An electrostatic transducer consists of three pieces: the

stators, the diaphragm and the spacers (See Figure 11). The

diaphragm is what actually moves to excite the air and

create music. The stator’s job is to remain stationary, hence

the word stator, and to provide a reference point for the

moving diaphragm. The spacers provide the diaphragm

with a fixed distance in which to move between the stators.

As your amplifier sends music signals to an electrostatic

speaker, these signals are changed into two high-voltage

signals that are equal in strength but opposite in polarity.

These high voltage signals are then applied to the stators.

The resulting electrostatic field, created by the opposing

high voltage on the stators, works simultaneously with

and against the diaphragm, consequently moving it back

and forth, producing music. This technique is known as

push-pull operation and is a major contributor to the sonic

purity of the electrostatic concept due to its exceptional

linearity and low distortion.

Figure 11. Cut-away view of an electrostatic transducer.

Notice the simplicity due to minimal parts usage.

12 Electrostatic Advantages

ELECTROSTATIC ADVANTAGES