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Full-marks for Mingus Septet

We’re all familiar with that moment in competition when judges award full-marks across the board. We’ve seen it play-out at international sporting events, but most often in movies for dramatic effect.

Our prodigy, Mingus Septet has been reviewed in Audio Art Magazine and has wow-ed the judges, who have awarded it a full sweep of top marks. Ok, so this isn’t the Olympics, but the magazine is renowned for its critical assessment of high quality audio products.

“Mingus Septet can fully present the huge contrast between silence and explosive passages in the music, and it is very 'ferocious'.”

Audio Art judge speakers using a category system they call Twenty Essentials of Illustrated Audio. These range from Detail Reproduction to Instruments and Vocals to Soundstage Wide and Deep to High Frequency Band, or just simply, Sound Quality.

“...the transient response is very fast, which It is the unchanging sound quality of Mingus Septet.”

In this month’s copy of the Chinese magazine, the review of Mingus Septet covers technical specifications, discusses the Mingus sound signature and takes us through extensive listening analysis of several pieces of music. The reviewers had some great things to say, and though the quotes may not have been translated with perfect cultural nuance, we get the impression they liked it.

“Solid and powerful, the vocals are refreshing with thickness and magnetism. nature, while other instruments are in an extremely transparent sound field Presenting an unambiguous sense of positioning, all of which make People feel that the music sung by Mingus Septet is not blunted or slowed down, it is as if it is real like a performance”

Many thanks to the reviewers at Audio Art Magazine for this excellent review.

Download review

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Hong Kong event at Fung Ning showroom

Hong Kong is a city that is always awake and it moves at its own pace. If you don’t keep up with it, that’s fine, but don’t expect it to pause for you.

When we arrived on the final leg of our Asia tour, we met with Fung Ning at their impressive showroom in Hong Kong, where they hosted a special Marten weekend. The event featured systems in several rooms with the focus on Coltrane 3 and the Parker series.

It was an absolute delight to meet with the team, share some great meals and talk a lot about the audiophile world in China. We even managed to take in some music in their great listening rooms.

Many thanks to Fung Ning for hosting us and Soundray for their continued support.

Coltrane 3 and Coltrane Momento
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Visiting South Korea

This autumn, during our tour of Asia, we visited South Korea. We have steadily gained popularity within the Korean audio community in recent years, so it was good to touch-base with our representatives there.

Peter Jung and his dealers have helped bring our brand to the attention of Korean audiophiles, and from the warm welcome we received, we can say that we are fans of them too.

The HiFi showroom

As part of our trip we visited Mr. Kang of The Hifi at his showroom in Seoul. Mr. Kang is a warm and welcoming host. We got to see his amazing facility and talked to many of his associates, including Hifi Sam who runs a popular YouTube channel.

Below is a brief tour of The Hifi showroom (audio recorded on iPhone from a demo of Coltrane 3 SE).

The delightful Mr. Kang
Interview with Hifi Sam

Client house

We also had the pleasure of visiting a client’s house in central Seoul. Peter Jung and Mr. Kang took us to see a listening room where they had previously installed Mingus Orchestra.

Korean welcome

The hospitality we received in South Korea was so generous and warm, with good company and many delicious meals. Many thanks to Peter Jung, Mr. Kang and all their associates.

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Tokyo International Show 2023

Touching down at Haneda Airport felt familiar, even though it had been years since we last visited Tokyo. The great metropolis has a welcome that leaves an impression.

With much anticipation we arrived in Japan for the Tokyo International Show 2023, held on 3-5 November. We were due to attend last year, but plans were cancelled at the last minute because of international visitor restrictions. It felt good to be back.

We were met by our kind and diligent hosts, Zephyrn, who have been a valued part of the Marten family for 7 years, and continue to be impressive ambassadors in the region.

The Show

Zephyrn spotlighted our latest offering Mingus Septet Statement Edition—in a stellar system featuring electronics by CH Precision, Riviera Audio and TechDAS—to the delight of many domestic and international customers that came to the Tokyo International Forum. 

Situated in the heart of the city, the Forum’s glass architecture seamlessly blends modernity with a touch of tradition, offering a fitting space for the convergence of cutting-edge audio technology.

Mingus Septet played to packed crowds
Leif Olofsson talks technology

More than music

The Zephyrn-hosted event not only allowed us to unveil Mingus Septet SE but also provided a platform for meaningful connections and collaborations within the global audio community. Engaging with fellow enthusiasts and industry experts alike makes these shows a valuable experience.

Several demonstrations were given by Kohei Ando, CEO of Zephyrn Inc, and seminars were given by reviewers, Koji Onodera and Kenji Mayuzumi.

The system

Mingus Septet Statement Edition

CH Precision M10 mono power amp
CH Precision L10 dual mono preamp
CH Precision P10 phonostage
CH Precision D1.5 SACD/CD player/transport
CH Precision C1.2 digital to analog controller
CH Precision T1 10 MHz time reference

Riviera Audio Lab APL01SE preamp
Riviera Audio Lab AFM100SE mono power amp

HSE SWISS ML-7 phono preamp
HSE SWISS ML-8 preamp

TechDAS Air Force One turntable
TechDAS Air Force 10 tonearm
TechDAS TDC01 Ti cartridge

Wiring by Crystal Cable

CH Precision and Riviera Audio
TechDAS

Arigato

Mingus Septet has been very well-received across the world and Japan was no exception. We offer kind thanks to Zephyrn for wonderful hosting and faithful support in this territory. We look forward to returning.

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Mingus Septet SE wins Stereo Sound Grand Prix 2023

With our trip to Japan for the Tokyo International Show 2023 barely behind us, it’s such pleasure to receive the news that Mingus Septet has won an award in Japan.

Our latest model has found international success since its release in the summer at Munich High End. And now, our Statement Edition model has received an award from the top hifi magazine in Japan – the prestigious Stereo Sound Grand Prix 2023. 

Many thanks to Stereo Sound for the recognition and to Zephyrn for helping us to achieve this.

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Meeting a Mingus Orchestra owner

One of the great pleasures of our business is to meet our clients. Two weekends ago, our CEO Jörgen Olofsson met long-time client, Uros at the Hi-Files Show in Belgrade.

Uros has been a Marten client for a number of years and is a self-confessed “lifelong music lover”. This year, he upgraded from Coltrane 3 to Mingus Orchestra, and his current system is something to behold. We were so interested in his journey that we decided to interview him.

“Marten speakers are designed by people who have been around instruments in their lives. I guess that’s what got me instantly hooked on the brand in the first place.”

What is your earliest memory of listening to music?

That is a very interesting question indeed. It was my dad’s system — Heco speakers, Pioneer front-end and a Sony turntable. From a very early age, in my pre-teens, I remember fiddling with the tone controls, discovering my dad’s music — AC/DC, Carlos Santana, Johnny Cash, etc. — and being captivated by the sound. That Sony turntable was as much a part of my childhood as my basketball was or my painting kit.

How long have you been interested in high end audio?

Being a boy in Serbia, we went through some very tough times. I had the fortune of being enrolled in a high school program in the US. The first speakers I ever bought were the Bose 901 speakers (thank you Best Buy in Saginaw, Michigan!), and I guess that’s a natural extension from being captivated by my dad’s hi-fi system back in the day. To me at the time that was some serious hi end audio. That was back in 1994.

When did you buy your first Marten speaker?

I owned a great number of speakers before acquiring my first Marten speaker. Marten came recommended by several of my friends with similar tastes in music. I bought the Marten Mingus Quintet and instantly fell in love with the brand.

Why did you upgrade from Coltrane 3 to Mingus Orchestra?

Having learned a lot about speaker design over the years and having heard the Orchestra several times at different hi-fi shows, it just seems like a natural progression in the journey. In hi end audio, I have a theory that you shouldn’t ever make side steps but only steps forward in building your system. Clearly no one wants to take a step backwards, but a side step is the most dangerous one. Just by virtue of something being different (and not better), people tend to be excited and ready to take the plunge. No bueno. When you’re making the switch make sure you are taking a step forward. Orchestra, subjectively and objectively, felt like a step forward.

What features or qualities of Mingus Orchestra do you appreciate in terms of sound quality, design, or functionality?

The Orchestra is, the way I see it, the next logical advancement in speaker design over the Coltrane 3. The most obvious advantage is the 4-way approach— the 2” Accuton diamond midrange paired with the 0.75” diamond tweeter. Once you hear the exquisite presence and accuracy of the midrange, which naturally extends into the highs of the 0.75” tweeter — and the coherent nature of the tone — there is no going back. You are hooked. On top of that, in the bass department, the passive backfiring drivers are superior to any ported or sealed design I’ve come across. Paired with the 8” active drivers, they offer the natural extension but also the finer details in the bass. As well as the speed and that lightning quick “thump” when you need it. Music is as much about tone as it is about the sheer energy of the instruments. Another important note. I virtually cannot “hear” the cabinet when listening to music. Internal resonances and cabinet edge diffraction are almost nonexistent (to my ears). That is a tremendously rewarding aspect of this speaker.

How has Mingus Orchestra integrated with your existing audio setup and room acoustics?

My room is well treated (by the Portuguese company Vicoustic), so no real issues in terms of RT60 (in the frequency range where RT60 matters). I was, however, worried about the bass, but it turns out the passive radiators behave very nicely in my room. I had issues with back-firing ported designs in my listening room. Turns out (thankfully) passive radiators are a different beast, and they integrated very smoothly into my listening room. I’ve done the measurements and there are no nasty energy build ups to speak of — both the SPL and the waterfall chart look very good.

As far as the integration with my current audio setup, the 2” Accuton midrange is extremely revealing. A simple bit of advice — if you hear that something is off, don’t blame the driver. Look at what’s causing the issue upstream. I know some may scoff at hearing this, but it’s the truth. Or at least the truth as I see it.

Are there any genres of music that you prefer to listen to?

No genres as far as I am concerned. Only inspired and truthful music and shameful attempts to cater to the lowest common denominator. So good and bad music.

Are there specific tracks that you love listening to?

In my band, we have a virtuoso sax player who plays both the alt and the soprano sax (clarinet being his main instrument). I am captivated by the saxophone so I love listening to any tracks that have simple, dynamically unrestricted and honest recordings of the sax. Also, anything from Manu Katche. As a drummer, I am mesmerized by his play style. Eric Clapton’s 12-string in the Lockdown Sessions, Rhiannon Giddens, Jennifer Warnes and Joan Armatrading in no particular order. Andrea Bocelli, Freddy Mercury, I could go on forever.

How does being a musician inform your listening?

Another excellent question. I have been playing drums since I was 13 years old. I am 47 years old now. So a long, long time. Drums are, acoustically, a very complex instrument. They possess the speed and power of tom-toms and the kick drum, but also the fragile balance of the snare drum, the hi-hat and the other cymbals. To that end, I am yet to hear a speaker driver reproduce a cymbal sound better than the diamonds.

The snare drum covers a wide range of octaves and is most prominent in the trickiest of frequencies. So if a snare sounds like you are hitting a thin plastic bag with an aluminum baseball bat, your speakers are too hot in the presence area (1000-4000hz), or there are phase shifts right where they shouldn’t be. I hear that as a drummer. No drummer wants to hear that. I cannot recall the number of times I heard a speaker get that sound just plain wrong.

Furthermore, a Strat guitar played with overdrive has the sweet harmonics that you only may get from a tube preamp and a good guitar amp. It’s extremely detailed and “outlined” for lack of a better word, but it’s never harsh, let alone lacking musicality.

A violin has a pleasant zing in the strings that is contrasted (or better yet complemented) by its wooden body.

Often people who are not musicians mistake this notion of “romantic sound” for something that may be a goal in hi end audio. If our goal is to reproduce the sound of the instruments (human voice included), “romantic” in that context is just another word for distortion or coloration. As a musician, I want none of that. I want the accuracy and the inherent musicality of live instruments.

Marten speakers are designed by people who have been around instruments in their lives. I guess that’s what got me instantly hooked on the brand in the first place.

151023Urosevaudiosistem10
Can you tell us what electronics make up your system?

Certainly. I have the NAT Magnetostat SE preamp, paired with the NAT Magma Evolution mono blocks. Digital sources are the LDMS MiniMax music server and the Lampizator Horizon DAC. Soulines tt42 turntable with the Koetsu Blue Lace MC head, Kuzma 4P9 tonearm and the Zanden Signature phono. The reel to reel source consists of fully refurbished Studer A807 and 810 machines.

What’s next for your system?

To answer this, I will try to paraphrase (badly) a local joke: “what does Spider-Man say when looking out on top of the ONLY skyscraper in the city? “Whoa, man, where do I go from here?!” I guess my point is I am hitting the limits of what I need and want to hear out of my music reproduction. So where DO I go from here!? 🙂

What advice would you give to audio enthusiasts that are starting out?

Do not get caught up in the “he said, she said”. Do not get discouraged. You are in this for the love of music. Identify the sound in the hi fi world which makes you feel connected to that emotion and that is the system you want to own.

Uros is the CEO of a German tech company and lives in Belgrade, Serbia. To go on a deeper-dive, you can follow him at Whats Best Forum.

Images courtesy of Foto Mrvica

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Parker Trio DE at Too Loud Fest in Croatia

Started in 2017, Too Loud Fest has become one of the most important dates in the Croatian H-Fi calendar. From its humble beginnings as a blog, the event has grown—with exhibitors showing more than 500 brands—and now attracts many international visitors.

Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, blends a rich musical heritage with its picturesque setting. Classical music finds a prominent place in the city, with renowned orchestras, opera houses, and music academies like the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. Zagreb’s streets also resonate with the music of local bands and buskers, creating a vibrant cultural scene. The city’s musical diversity offers numerous festivals and open-air events.

Our distributor BM, presented Parker Trio Diamond Edition at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Zagreb.

The system was:

Amplification
Nagra Classic Integrated Amp

Source
Nagra Classic DAC II
Nagra Classic Phono
Nagra Reference MC-6
Thales Slim 2 Turntable
Thales Easy tone arm

Cables
Jorma

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Coltrane 3 at Hi-Files Belgrade

Serbia’s capital celebrated its love for music on the 7th and 8th of October 2023 at the renowned Hi-Files Show. This event showcased Coltrane 3 Statement Edition, courtesy of our distributor, BM.

At the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Belgrade boasts a captivating blend of historical landmarks and a thriving contemporary music scene. The Hi-Files Show was a testament to Belgrade’s passion for music and culture. Alongside Coltrane 3 SE, our distributor showcased high-end audio manufacturers: Nagra, WAY Cables, Thales, Esoteric, FiData, Dan D’Agostino, and Finite Elemente.

Source

  • Nagra Classic DAC 2 / Nagra Classic Phono amp
  • Nagra Reference MC-6 / EMT HSD 006 MC Cartridges
  • Thales TTT Slim Turntable & Easy Tone Arm
  • Esoteric K01XD SACD / Grandioso G01X Clock
  • FiData HFAS1-XS20U Network Audio Server

Amplification

  • D’Agostino Momentum M400 Mono amplifiers
  • D’Agostino Momentum PreAmplifier

Wiring

  • WAY Cables PoetryX analogue XLR & RCA interconnects, digital S/PDIF & AES/EBU links
  • WAY Cables IntuitionX ethernet cable
  • WAY Cables EndlessX speaker cable and jumpers
  • WAY Cables Libertas USB, MIND ethernet, CORE power cords and Union power strip

Rack / Interfaces

  • Finite Elemente Pagode Edition Carbon HD 13
  • Finite Elemente CERABASE / CERAPUC / CERABALL

Last weekend, the city of Belgrade came alive, resonating with the sound and music showcased at the Hi-Files Show. We hope that our presence—in fantastic company—left a mark on all who were there to hear the system.

Many thanks to BM for hosting the event.

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Mingus Septet review in HiFi & Musik

We have been blessed with a review from home-grown institution HiFi & Musik which makes us even more proud to be Swedish than we are.

Established in 1984, HiFi & Musik magazine has earned a loyal readership, contributing to the growth of the high-fidelity audio community in Sweden and around the world. It remains a beacon for audiophiles and music lovers, helping them make informed decisions about their audio equipment and fostering a deeper appreciation for sound reproduction.

Here’s an excerpt from the print magazine:

In the last issue, I wrote about what sounded good at High End in Munich. I wrote that there were three brands that in my opinion sounded the best, but I only named two: Wolf von Langa’s Chicago and Venture. The third was, as a Swede I am proud to say, Marten’s Mingus Septet. A newcomer to Marten’s fairly large range that premiered in Munich.

I’ve always found Marten’s room on the High-End show to be an oasis, a place to rest your ears and meditate a bit.

“...it's the sound that counts and it's the most relaxed and effortless thing you can imagine”

The Mingus series Septet is a solid piece but looks really sleek. It has two 2-inch woofers and two 10-inch slave woofers, for the lower registers, a 7-inch lower midrange, a 3-inch beryllium dome for the midrange, and finally a 1-inch tweeter with a diamond dome.

A 4-weight, then, with a first-order filter (6 dB/octave) in all divisions.

All internal cables come from Jorma.

But all that technical stuff is completely unnecessary because it’s the sound that counts and it’s the most relaxed and effortless thing you can imagine.

I really fell in love with this speaker, and that really doesn’t happen often! (If Messrs. Olofsson are reading this, I have a slide in my listening room that would be just right to be filled with a couple of Mingus Septets..). And it’s not even the biggest in the program!

If I’m going to rank the three that I thought sounded the best, Mingus Septet easily wins that race.

Venture is far too unknown to be a real contender, it requires a lot more listening and evaluation. Wolf von Langa’s Chicago has a midrange to die for. That Altec (Western Electric, actually) 755 cone is one of the very best mid-range elements available, even in its original form. Wolf’s field coil magnet just makes it even better.

The treble and bass unfortunately do not reach the level I heard with the Mingus Septet, even if they beat most on the market.

So Marten Mingus Septet was my big winner at this year’s High End.

What was yours?

•

Many thanks to Anders Edenholm. Translated by Google.

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Why we use Beryllium

When it comes to crafting our speakers we always look for  materials that do the job best. Among the array of materials used in speaker construction, beryllium stood out as an exceptional choice for our recent model Mingus Septet. 

This lightweight, rare element has earned its place in high-end audio systems, captivating listeners with crystal-clear sound reproduction. We’ve been curious about beryllium as a material for speaker cones for some time, and its unique properties were a perfect choice for our custom high midrange driver. Let’s find out why.

Wonder material

  1. The lightest structural metal
    Beryllium is the lightest known structural metal. With a density only a third that of aluminium, it allows for incredibly agile speaker cone movement, making it an ideal choice for high-frequency applications.

  2. Extraordinary stiffness
    Despite its lightweight nature, beryllium is incredibly rigid, boasting a measure of stiffness higher than steel. This stiffness minimises unwanted resonances, ensuring precision in sound reproduction.

  3. Exceptional thermal conductivity
    Beryllium boasts remarkable thermal conductivity, effectively dissipating heat generated during high-power audio playback. This property helps prevent overheating and maintains consistent performance even under demanding conditions.

  4. Corrosion resistance
    Beryllium is highly resistant to corrosion, ensuring the longevity of speaker components. This makes it an attractive choice for products designed for the long-term.

  5. Wide frequency response
    Beryllium’s lightweight and stiff nature, combined with its excellent damping properties, allow for a wide frequency response. It excels in reproducing subtle nuances in music, making it a favourite among audiophiles seeking unparalleled clarity and detail.

Beryllium benefits

  1. Precision in high-frequency response
    Beryllium’s stiffness and low mass enable speaker cones to respond swiftly and accurately to high-frequency signals. This results in crystal-clear treble and exceptional detail in audio playback.

  2. Reduced distortion
    The exceptional stiffness of beryllium minimises distortion, allowing for cleaner and more faithful sound reproduction, especially in the midrange frequencies.

  3. Improved heat dissipation
    The superior thermal conductivity of beryllium helps dissipate heat generated during high-power audio playback, reducing the risk of thermal distortion and ensuring consistent performance.

  4. Enhanced clarity and nuance
    Beryllium’s wide frequency response and damping properties contribute to enhanced audio clarity and the ability to reproduce subtle audio nuances, providing listeners with a truly immersive experience.

For Mingus Septet we use a beryllium cone in the high-midrange driver— it’s the perfect material for a lightweight Moving Mass System— and as part of our continued advance in technology, beryllium takes its rightful place in shaping the Marten sound. It’s high resolution, open and transparent—ideal qualities for one of our finest models to date.

Find out more about Mingus Septet