In this review, we will be comparing ElectroMotion ESL C and RP-450C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL C and Klipsch RP-450C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan ESL C | Klipsch RP-450C |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 9 x 6.375" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers | 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 66-23k Hz | 58-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 97 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-300 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.55kg / 32lbs | 16.23kg / 35.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-5/8" x 22-7/8" x 16-1/8"
194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm | 6-13/16" x 31-1/8" x 14-9/16"
174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan ESL C and Klipsch RP-450C 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* |
MartinLogan ESL C |
Klipsch RP-450C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that ElectroMotion ESL C is a 3-way design whereas the RP-450C is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
MartinLogan ESL CKlipsch RP-450C
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
MartinLogan ESL C |
Klipsch RP-450C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1 x 1-7/16-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 9 x 6.375-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the RP-450C features a 1" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
ElectroMotion ESL C has a frequency range of 66-23k Hz whereas RP-450C has a frequency range of 58-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 58Hz, the RP-450C 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
ElectroMotion ESL C is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-450C which has a nominal impedance of 8 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. ElectroMotion ESL C sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the RP-450C's is rated at 97 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-450C 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.
ElectroMotion ESL C can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas RP-450C has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the ElectroMotion ESL C.
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
ElectroMotion ESL C features Binding post type posts and RP-450C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan ESL C's Binding post terminals
Klipsch RP-450C'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 MartinLogan ESL C's and Klipsch RP-450C's external dimensions. 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) whereas Klipsch RP-450C has external dimensions of 174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm (6-13/16 x 31-1/8 x 14-9/16inch).
Klipsch RP-450C is 20mm shorter and 40mm less deeper than MartinLogan ESL C but it is also 209mm wider.
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 MartinLogan ESL C is approximately 2386.2cm2 / 369.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-450C is approximately 2926.7cm2 / 453.6inch2. The ElectroMotion ESL C requires 18% less surface area than the RP-450C which gives it a small advantage 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 MartinLogan ESL C weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the Klipsch RP-450C weighs 16.23kg / 35.7lbs. This makes the RP-450C 12% heavier than the ElectroMotion ESL C.
Here is a comparison of how ElectroMotion ESL C and RP-450C'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 MartinLogan ESL C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ElectroMotion ESL C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- AC power supply (attached 10-feet DC cord)
- User-feets Manual (En/Fr)
- Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-450C?
Here are the items that come with the RP-450C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Detachable magnetic grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Base Surface Area |
2386cm2
vs
2926cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
97 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 |
58 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
174mm
vs
194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
650USD
vs
1700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-450C |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker (Ebony) |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
66-23k Hz |
58-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
high-rigidity aluminum woofers |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1 x 1-7/16" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
9 x 6.375" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
194.0mm (7.6") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Width |
582.0mm (22.9") |
791.0mm (31.1") |
| Depth |
410.0mm (16.1") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
16.23kg (35.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
polymer veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - MartinLogan ESL C costs roughly 2.6x what Klipsch RP-450C 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 |
B |
Klipsch RP-450C digs deeper - 58Hz against 66Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Klipsch RP-450C is more sensitive (97dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Klipsch RP-450C is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
A |
MartinLogan ESL C takes more power (300W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Klipsch RP-450C sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
Klipsch RP-450C is cheaper - $650 against $1,700, about 62% less; arguably a different class. |
A MartinLogan ESL C
B Klipsch RP-450C
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Klipsch RP-450C is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take MartinLogan ESL C if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 66Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate MartinLogan ESL C the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Klipsch RP-450C for a small 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.