In this review, we will be comparing Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and MartinLogan Foundation B1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Elac and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and MartinLogan Foundation B1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " JET 6 AMT Tweeter
- 6" AS XR cone Woofer
- 41-50k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 100watts
- Weight:8.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 331.0" x 7.5" x 9.8"( 331 x 190 x 248 mm )
MartinLogan Foundation B1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 5-1/2" Aluminum Woofer
- 48-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 5ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:5.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 347.0" x 7-1/4" x 9-1/2"( 347.0 x 185.0 x 242.0mm )
What size room are the Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and MartinLogan Foundation B1 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 Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB |
MartinLogan Foundation B1 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and MartinLogan Foundation B1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and MartinLogan Foundation B1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB |
MartinLogan Foundation B1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 5-1/2-inch
|
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 1 x 6" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the MartinLogan Foundation B1 features a 1" Gen2 Obsidian Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5-1/2" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3400Hz.
Frequency Response
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has a frequency range of 41-50k Hz whereas MartinLogan Foundation B1 has a frequency range of 48-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the MartinLogan Foundation B1's min frequency of 48Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B1
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB
MartinLogan Foundation B1
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the MartinLogan Foundation B1 which has a nominal impedance of 5 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 Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the MartinLogan Foundation B1's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Foundation B1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B1
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas MartinLogan Foundation B1 has a rear firing ports. Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to MartinLogan Foundation B1 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB's and MartinLogan Foundation B1's external dimensions. Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has external dimensions of 331 x 190 x 248 mm ( 13 x 7.5 x 9.76 inches) whereas MartinLogan Foundation B1 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 185.0 x 242.0mm ( 13-5/8inch x 7-1/4inch x 9-1/2inch ) .
MartinLogan Foundation B1 is 5mm narrower and 6mm less deeper than Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB but it is also 16mm taller.
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 Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB is approximately 471.2cm2 / 73.0inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Foundation B1 is approximately 447.7cm2 / 69.4inch2. The Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB requires 5% more surface area than the MartinLogan Foundation B1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.