In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter Reference and ElectroMotion ESL C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SC Ref and MartinLogan ESL C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar SC Ref | MartinLogan ESL C |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 9 x 6.375" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" | 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers |
|---|
| Frequency response | 33-35k Hz | 66-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-350 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.09kg / 31lbs | 14.55kg / 32lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-7/8" x 35" x 11-1/16"
150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm | 7-5/8" x 22-7/8" x 16-1/8"
194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar SC Ref and MartinLogan ESL C 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* |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
MartinLogan ESL C |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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 SuperCenter Reference and ElectroMotion ESL C are 3-way speakers.
GoldenEar SC RefMartinLogan ESL C
Woofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SC Ref |
MartinLogan ESL C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1 x 1-7/16-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 9 x 6.375-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
SuperCenter Reference features a " Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Woofer. On the other hand, the ElectroMotion ESL C features a 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion Tweeter, a 9 x 6.375" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers Woofer.
Frequency Response
SuperCenter Reference has a frequency range of 33-35k Hz whereas ElectroMotion ESL C has a frequency range of 66-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the SuperCenter Reference can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ElectroMotion ESL C's min frequency of 66Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
SuperCenter Reference is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the ElectroMotion ESL C 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 ElectroMotion ESL C can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SuperCenter Reference sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the ElectroMotion ESL C's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the GoldenEar SC Ref a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan ESL C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
SuperCenter Reference can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS, whereas ElectroMotion ESL C has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SuperCenter Reference.
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
SuperCenter Reference features Binding post type posts and ElectroMotion ESL C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan ESL C's Binding post terminals
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 GoldenEar SC Ref's and MartinLogan ESL C's external dimensions. GoldenEar SC Ref has external dimensions of 150.0 x 889.0 x 281.0mm (5-7/8 x 35 x 11-1/16inch) whereas MartinLogan ESL C has external dimensions of 194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm (7-5/8 x 22-7/8 x 16-1/8inch).
GoldenEar SC Ref is 44mm shorter and 129mm less deeper than MartinLogan ESL C but it is also 307mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. MartinLogan ESL C is 129mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. MartinLogan ESL C is 44mm 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 GoldenEar SC Ref is approximately 2498.1cm2 / 387.2inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ESL C is approximately 2386.2cm2 / 369.9inch2. The SuperCenter Reference requires 5% more surface area than the ElectroMotion ESL C 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 GoldenEar SC Ref weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs and the MartinLogan ESL C weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the ElectroMotion ESL C 3% heavier than the SuperCenter Reference.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCenter Reference and ElectroMotion ESL C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of GoldenEar SC Ref?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperCenter Reference:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 4 Leveling feet
- 4 Threaded-inserts
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan ESL C?
Here are the items that come with the ElectroMotion ESL C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- AC power supply (attached 10-feet DC cord)
- User-feets Manual (En/Fr)
- Product Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-3/4-inch x 8-inch + one 7-inchx 10-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
150mm
vs
194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2386cm2
vs
2498cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1700USD
vs
1899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
GoldenEar SuperCenter Reference |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-350 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
33-35k Hz |
66-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
high-rigidity aluminum woofers |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1 x 1-7/16" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Folded Motion |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
9 x 6.375" |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
150.0mm (5.9") |
194.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
889.0mm (35") |
582.0mm (22.9") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
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 | GoldenEar SC Ref digs deeper - 33Hz against 66Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | GoldenEar SC Ref is more sensitive (91dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | GoldenEar SC Ref is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (350W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | MartinLogan ESL C is cheaper - $1,700 against $1,899, about 10% less. |
A GoldenEar SC Ref B MartinLogan ESL C
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?
GoldenEar SC Ref leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. MartinLogan ESL C is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 66Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper MartinLogan ESL C much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar SC Ref the better fit for a very large room, and MartinLogan ESL C for a mid-size room.
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.