Is there an alternate to Martin Logans?

While I agree with most of whats said here so far you have to realize that the 8" driver in your ML's can only go down so far. More power (but clean) from a great amp may bring you down lower than you are now. You do not memtion your amplifier so I cannot comment on whether changing it may make a difference. For the longest time I had a pair of Acoustat Spectra 11 speakers that also had a 8" driver. I found a big difference when I went from my older Bryston 3B (200 w/ch @ 4 ohms) to a Bryston 4B-ST (400 w/ch @ 4 ohms). The bass was even better as well as lower - more control. But I return to the fact that your model's 8" driver is the most limiting factor. IMHO, move up the ML scale or bring in a good quality sub. Tne sub may well be your least expensive option.

right now I have a Conrad Johnson Premier 14 tube preamp and their new MF2500 240 watt solid state amp. It puts around 450 watts into 4 ohms, so I don't think power is an issue, also I foudn that when I had auditioned a pair of Nautilus 803s in my room they were very boomy, the aerius have been the only speaker that sounded tight.

Oh the Aerius "Do I love them, do I not?" I would suspect that you have come to the same conclusion that most have concerning those speakers, dynamics and bass are missing in action. Regardless of how many times you listen the conclusion is the same. Yes there are dynamic systems that do that pinpoint imaging, transparency AND have excellent dynamics and good bass as well. Try listening to Merlins VSM-SE with BAM unit. Used 3K. Read the reviews from owners in AudioReview and from Reviewers on Merlinmusic.com website. You should get a good picture of what they can do. They are extraordinary dynamic loudspeakers for sure. Good luck. Will

Sorry Will, but regardless of how good it sounds, I could never own something called the BAM. Too embarrassing. Moreover, for 3K he can buy used reQuests which would smoke those Merlins.

Oh how right you are Phil. So far as telling anyone you have something called a BAM or if you like bam, as part of an audio system, I see your concern. God forbid that a Flinstone character could be in any way connected to a high end audio system, what would one’s non-audiophile friends think if they knew? So in answer to that, don't tell or better yet don't use the acronym call it what it is, a Bass Augumentation Module. So far as the ML Requests over the Merlins, to each his own. I am not a big ML fan but am quite familiar with their early to their present products. If you really think the Request would smoke the Merlins might I suggest that 1) You have NEVER heard the Merlins period. 2)You have never heard the Merlins properly set-up or 3) You have never done an AB (I haven't either, don't need to). The ML's DO NOT integrate the bass well with the electrostatic panels, that is a real problem for me. I didn't like the Sequels which was their first attempt at integrating the two and I still don't. The Request has the same problem as the others, it doesn't sound right and brings attention to itself every time I listen. The Merlins IMHO have a midrange and highs that are as NATURAL and coherent as I have heard from any dynamic speaker system, no exaggeration or emphasis of any of the frequencies AND they are seamless at ALL frequencies unlike the planer designs that attempt to integrate a dynamic driver. The real problem with the Merlin’s is that they have such amazing resolution that they reveal all the deficiencies of everything upstream. Bass is deep and very well defined, they just can't defy the laws of physics but work quite well in a small to medium size room (especially with that BAM). And last but far from least is the DYNAMIC capability of the Merlin's, it is life like when properly set-up and with the ideal matching components. The ML don’t even come close. I have not heard ANY speaker system which will SMOKE them. Sound more spectacular? maybe on some recordings. Sound more pleasing on certain recordings? surely. Sound more accurate? Not yet. It is once again a matter of “What is your preference Sir”? Maybe your Avante-Garde Duo's are better, I haven't heard them, but certainly have read many mixed comments on them. I suspect their shortcomings are similar, trying to integrate two different technologies in a seamless coherent manner is a very challenging problem that hasn’t been solved.