There are many loudspeaker manufacturers in this world. But very few exude craftsmanship in the truest sense of the term.
I’m talking about an operation that does not conjures terms like assembly line, mass production, automation, and robotics…
…but rather those like skill, care, craftsmanship, and artistry.
I’ve spoken before on why people spend big on high-end audio—how improvements in sound are only part of the picture—and how there’s something storied, something of great merit, that makes owning a piece of high-end audio deeply satisfying.
It truly is to own a piece of real art. Engineered art. An expression of years of study, practice and personal philosophy, compressed into the design, development and construction of something beautiful.
Something that sounds better than most (if not all) of the mass produced, hyper cost-efficient products that constitute most of the modern marketplace.
Today I want to share my experience visiting the Marten factory: one of the rare facilities that both resembles true craftsmanship, and produces some of the best loudspeakers in the world.
It all started in the rental car, driving through Gothenburg—the second most populated town in Sweden.
As we drive through an industrial complex, I learn that Marten has held three locations for their factory within it. They started small, and as they grew, they moved to fill bigger facilities—always in the same complex.
It all started a long time ago.
One of Leif’s grandfathers made classical violins. The other played them. Music was a part of his life from the beginning. So it’s no surprise he began building speakers in his parent’s house in the 70s.
Fast forward through 20 years of study, trial and error, to 1998. Leif had developed his first production model: the Mingus loudspeaker.
One can imagine Leif sitting the kitchen, baffled to think, finally he was a speaker maker.
Of course, that was just the beginning. Over the next 25+ years Marten would face more than their share of ups and downs. Leif recounts teetering on the edge of success and failure for what felt like an eternity.
Despite some big wins and international recognition (for instance, when they released the Coltrane) however the headlines didn’t translate directly into revenue. Thus to stay afloat—again, for a very long time—Marten had to stay on the phones, finding buyers for their excellent but little-known speakers.
Driven by passion, Marten persisted for more than 20 years and finally, in recent years, has stepped into recognition.
Between the car and the front door, I asked Leif: “When you see the Marten logo there, how does it make you feel?”
He responded: “I can’t believe it.”
Not what I’d expect from the head of a successful company, whose product range includes a 1.45 million dollar speaker (with more than 10 units backsold). But as I’d continue to find out, Leif is as down to earth as they come. What drives him is not status or profit; it’s a genuine passion for building the most wonderful speakers possible.
He sees the underdog story of his brand not as a personal triumph as much as a blessing, which has allowed him to share what he loves with the world.
We made our way into the factory.
A mere dectet of craftspeople work on the production floor at Marten…
…that’s ten, for the layperson.
In order to produce world-class speakers with a compact team, Marten has indeed had to outsource some aspects of their process. However this is less about sourcing parts and assemblies elsewhere, and more about partnering with other bespoke makers who do custom work for Marten, specifically.
They’re partnered with other quality-obsessed groups of engineers and craftspeople. Such as Mundorf and Dueland, who provide robust components for Marten’s crossover networks. Custom drivers are manufactured by specialist third-parties based on Leif’s designs, using unique and innovative techniques. And Isoacoustics, who produce custom isolation feet for Marten’s speakers.
They also have joinery partners who produces most of the body of their speaker cabinets (called the “carcass”). These are used as a starting base, and then the woodworking team works on the beautiful facade and finish.
That process is a story of perfectionism.
The team combs through a shipment of lumber, isolating only the most perfect lengths. Something like 20% of the original shipment will actually be used in Marten speakers. And these lengths will then be isolated further—numbered in sequence based on the grain pattern, for use in the gorgeous laminated paneling found in several models.
A CNC rig will be used for the initial shaping stage, which will then be hand finished—smoothing the surface, adding the Marten badge, and applying a luxurious lacquer finish in Marten’s dedicated spray booth.
Next, we moved into the electronics department.
A core part of Marten’s philosophy, which can be found throughout the company, is the trickle-down effect.
The primary pursuit is towards absolute quality, with nothing compromised. Then more economical creations can be made by adapting flagship-level innovations.
This applies to speaker models of course, but also to variants within models. For instance, some models (like the Coltrane Quintet) have two crossover options: an economical standard variant and a “statement” variant.
The statement variant offers different upgrades depending on series. For instance, with the Coltrane series Marten upgrade some vital crossover components to copper foil, and internal cabling from Jorma Duality to Jorma Statement. With the Parker series, they use a diamond tweeter, an upgraded crossover network with more robust filtering components, and shielded cabling.
From there we moved into what may be the most impressive part of the Marten factory: the listening room.
Not only is this room well treated, but Marten actually host live performances here, from which recordings are produced on their own record label. This allows Leif to hear actual instruments playing in the very same room he auditions his speakers.
It’s a fascinating and brilliant strategy…and likely a key reason why Marten speakers are renowned for having both high-end realism and natural warmth.
Set up in the room that day was a pair of the Coltrane Supreme Extremes—Marten’s flagship loudspeaker.
It’s still quite new. The Coltrane Supreme Extreme were debuted passively (not playing anything) at Munich High-End, May 2025. And then auditioned publicly for the first time at Hong Kong High-End AV in August.
However, Marten sold more than 10 of the 1.45 million dollar speaker almost immediately—a testament to just how unique Leif’s creations are. The first production unit took 8 months to produce. The second took 6 months. The team is getting faster, however they’ll be working through a backlog of a couple years.
Above: A shot of an open Coltrane Supreme Extreme, showing the sophisticated crossover network.
What’s even newer than Marten’s flagship however, is the Dexter series, which were launched at Vienna High-End last month.
Again, as a testament to Marten’s quality and performance, the new line presold more than a year's worth of the Parker series within a week of announcing them. It has been their most in-demand creation yet.
The Dexter line up has an impressive pedigree of both new and trickle-down technologies. When asked what he thought of the new creation, Leif responded: “We’ve gotten better over the years and I’ve learned a lot more, so I decided it was time to make a new speaker.”
To him, it’s wasn’t “another masterpiece” so much as a symbol of his growth. Similarly to his humble perspective on the company’s success in general.
What makes Marten loudspeakers so special?
Words that come to mind are “modern vintage.”
These speakers look extraordinary. They capture the essence of Scandinavian minimalism, giving them a natural yet modern appeal…and they sound rich and warm in a classic analog kind of way. The performance Leif has gone for isn’t textbook realism, as much as making the music sound “right.”
Their small, craftsmanship-driven operation, and where they are in their own story arc—still growing and finding their stride—gives them an irresistible allure.
And the philosophy of quality and dedication to music, punctuated by Leif’s genuine nature, gives owning a Marten piece a special, soulful kind of satisfaction.
While bespoke quality of this level comes at a cost, Marten’s trickle-down philosophy means their most accessible series is truly exceptional.
It’s called the Oscar series, and consists of the Oscar Duo standmount, and the Oscar Trio floorstanding.
Exquisite cabinetry and finishing. Light yet extremely rigid ceramic drivers (designed specifically for the Oscar series). In-house Jorma interior cabling. Robust lower-order crossovers. These speakers are known for delivering a sound that’s more room-filling—with deeper bass—then bigger speakers at higher prices.
If the Marten story inspires you and you’d like to see their offerings, you might start here with the Oscar series.
Even better, call 02 9561 0788 or use the live chat on this page to book a demonstration at our showroom in Sydney. We’ll make sure a set is waiting for you when you arrive.
Happy listening!
