Leif talks Coltrane Quintet with U-Audio
In a recent interview with U-Audio, Guo Hancheng spoke with Marten’s Founder and Chief Designer, Leif Olofsson, about Coltrane Quintet—a speaker that, while visually familiar, represents a major leap forward in design and technology.
Leif explained that although the Quintet resembles previous Coltrane models, its technical foundation has been completely reworked. Every driver is newly developed: the high frequencies are handled by Marten’s signature diamond tweeter, the mid-treble uses a custom beryllium diaphragm, and the mid-bass benefits from a newly designed carbon fibre diaphragm for improved control. The bass, too, has been reengineered, featuring an advanced aluminium alloy sandwich diaphragm for deeper, more defined low-end performance.
One of the biggest changes is the use of exposed carbon fibre on the cabinet exterior. While Marten had incorporated carbon fibre in previous designs, this is the first time it has been visible. Because the woven structure is directional, achieving perfect alignment added time and cost to the production process, but the result is both visually striking and acoustically beneficial.
Precision craftsmanship defines Coltrane Quintet. The cabinet alone takes five to six weeks to build, followed by two to three weeks for driver and crossover assembly. In total, customers can expect a lead time of three to four months from order to delivery—reflecting Marten’s meticulous approach to speaker design.
Thanks to U-Audio for the original interview.
Text: Guo Hancheng • Photos: Cai Weijun • Distributor: Sound Ray Electronics