In this review, we will be comparing Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and 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.
| Key Specs | Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB | MartinLogan Foundation B1 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" Folded Motion Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" AS XR cone | 5-1/2" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-50k Hz | 48-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 5 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 100 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.00kg / 17.6lbs | 5.23kg / 11.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13" x 7.5" x 9.8"
331 x 190 x 248 mm | 13-5/8" 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and Foundation B1 are 2-way speakers.
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GBMartinLogan Foundation B1
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 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 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 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 Foundation B1's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 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 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
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB is rated Up to 100 watts and Foundation B1 up to 100 watts.
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.
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB
MartinLogan Foundation B1
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas 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
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 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 Foundation B1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the MartinLogan Foundation B1 weighs 5.23kg / 11.5lbs. This makes the Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB 53% heavier than the Foundation B1.
Here is a comparison of how Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB and Foundation B1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB
MartinLogan Foundation B1
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5-1/2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
331mm
vs
347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Base Surface Area |
447cm2
vs
471cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB |
MartinLogan Foundation B1 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
5 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
41-50k Hz |
48-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5-1/2" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400 Hz |
3400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
331.0mm (13") |
347.0mm (13.7") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
185.0mm (7.3") |
| Depth |
248.0mm (9.8") |
242.0mm (9.5") |
| Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
5.23kg (11.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss |
Walnut,Black,Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 years |
These sit in different price classes - Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB costs roughly 3.3x what MartinLogan Foundation B1 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB digs deeper - 41Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | MartinLogan Foundation B1 is more sensitive (89dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | MartinLogan Foundation B1 is the easier load at 5 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. MartinLogan Foundation B1 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | MartinLogan Foundation B1 is cheaper - $599 against $1,999, about 70% less; arguably a different class. |
A Elac Solano 2.0 BS283.2-GB B MartinLogan Foundation B1
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?
MartinLogan Foundation B1 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper MartinLogan Foundation B1 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, MartinLogan Foundation B1 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.