Duntech Black Knights to Martin Logan Summit X

At your level you probably already know the all over the map advise you'll be getting.

I have a pair of Avalon Eidolons which are well known for their sound stage. I've been using solid state electronics to drive their somewhat difficult load. I recently found a pair of 200 watt tube mono blocks with two ohm taps. Getting back to tubes an their second order harmonics has been a spectacular improvement in musicality and sound staging.

I'm not a fan of panel speakers but I was recently impressed by an all Sanders system.

I've owned Monoliths and much later Prodigy, also heard Summit on several occasions. Familiar with Duntech's Sovereign and Crown Prince of old. From memory, you'll easily do better on resolution and holographic side with MLs, but they'll be no where near as dynamic, esp.macros. So I'm afraid, first, there'll be these obvious trade offs, then there'll be many more, they're just very different beasts imo.

I have not had that many speakers, just had some electrostats (Acoustats 11 and ML ESL) before and liked their holographic sound stage abut never had a chance to compare them side by side with the Duntechs. Since I like rock, the Quads are probably not best suited, hence the quest for something more modern to replace these black monoliths.

Jazzonthehudson, with all due respect to you and your speakers, the Black Knights did not have a good reputation among John Dunlavy's designs. In spite of their competitive pricing (compared to other Duntechs) they were not in production long and John did not introduce a comparable model in his DAL line up when he started that, as he did with other Duntech models.

The Black Knight had a heavy bass emphasis (to my ears and in reports from others) so if you enjoy them I would have doubts that any electrostatic or panel speaker will please you. So much depends on room, budget, associated equipment, and personal taste (for type of music and playback levels and characteristics) but I would suspect you may be better served to look at other dynamic (cone) driver models. Note that I'm not familiar with the Summit X although I am with some other ML, plus Quad, Magnepan, and Acoustat models.

Anyway, good luck.

Have you heard the Summit X? I have had the first generation Summit's for almost four years. Had Vienna Acoustic and Audio Physic before that. I knew I wanted the Summits the first time i heard them. I have heard systems with top of line Wilson's, B&W, Vandersteen Model 7 and they sound great but I am never disappointed when I get home and listen to my system, it won't make my pants legs flap but the sound and stage is oh so pure. If you are into heavy metal, hard rock etc you should look else where. As you know it comes down to price and personal preference.