My son has Martin-Logan electrostats that I think come very close to my B&W 801D's for about $12,000 less. I find them extremely fast, and airy. What they do lack is a bottom that's as solid as my 801's. My son attemps to compensate by using a Velodyne sub, but I find the bass to be flabby and not worthy of the lightning fast ML panels.

Thanks for your reply. And, although they can be great in certain regards to everything but the bass, it confirms what I have read about the bass being inadequate. Did you say $12,000 less than your B&W 801s? I was planning on getting some 801s but did not think they were more than about $3000 for a pair...

Listen to them, and be the judge. Buying speakers is like buying shoes.
at any rate, electrostatics have been around for decades.
I used to see Jensen Electrostatics advertised in "Stereo Review" in the late 1960's.