In this review, we will be comparing Carina BS243.4 and Motion 35XTi, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and MartinLogan 35XTi first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Carina BS243.4 | MartinLogan 35XTi |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminum | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-30k Hz | 50-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-100 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.70kg / 14.7lbs | 8.40kg / 18.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"
321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm | 13.5" x 7.5" x 11.8"
343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and MartinLogan 35XTi speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Carina BS243.4 and Motion 35XTi are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Carina BS243.4MartinLogan 35XTi
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go slightly deeper then the Motion 35XTi's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Carina BS243.4 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 35XTi which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Motion 35XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Carina BS243.4 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Motion 35XTi's is rated at 92 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 35XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Motion 35XTi can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Carina BS243.4 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Carina BS243.4 and Motion 35XTi features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
MartinLogan 35XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing port whereas Motion 35XTi has a rear firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to MartinLogan 35XTi with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Carina BS243.4's and MartinLogan 35XTi's external dimensions. ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm (12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) whereas MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm (13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch).
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is 22mm shorter and 53mm less deeper than MartinLogan 35XTi but it is also 13mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and MartinLogan 35XTi in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and MartinLogan 35XTi Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2. The Carina BS243.4 requires 12% less surface area than the Motion 35XTi which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and MartinLogan 35XTi on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the MartinLogan 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 25% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how Carina BS243.4 and Motion 35XTi's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Carina BS243.4:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled)
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 35XTi?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 35XTi:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
321mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
506cm2
vs
576cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
MartinLogan Motion 35XTi |
| Brand |
ELAC |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
8.40kg (18.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | ELAC Carina BS243.4 digs deeper - 46Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | MartinLogan 35XTi is more sensitive (92dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | ELAC Carina BS243.4 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | MartinLogan 35XTi takes more power (250W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | ELAC Carina BS243.4: bi-amping; MartinLogan 35XTi: bi-amping. MartinLogan 35XTi sits in a wider range (18 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,500 vs $1,500 a pair). |
A ELAC Carina BS243.4 B MartinLogan 35XTi
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate ELAC Carina BS243.4 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and MartinLogan 35XTi for a mid-size room, a large room and a very large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, MartinLogan 35XTi is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.