In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by MartinLogan. MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C is a Center Channel speaker whereas the ElectroMotion FX2 is a Surround speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL C and MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan ESL C Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion Tweeter
- 9 x 6.375" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers Woofer
- 66-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:14.55kg
- 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 )
MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " AMT Tweeter
- 6.5" Aluminium Woofer
- 55-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 5ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:7.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 14-15/16" x 14" x 6-3/4" ( 379.0 x 355.0 x 172.0mm )
ElectroMotion ESL C and ElectroMotion FX2 are members of MartinLogan's ElectroMotion series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
MartinLogan ElectroMotion Series
History
What size room are the MartinLogan ESL C and MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 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 |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
No way |
(* 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 MartinLogan ESL C and MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that ElectroMotion ESL C is a 3-way design whereas the ElectroMotion FX2 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.
| Driver |
MartinLogan ESL C |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1 x 1-7/16-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 9 x 6.375-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 ElectroMotion FX2 features a " Folded Motion AMT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2,300Hz.
Frequency Response
ElectroMotion ESL C has a frequency range of 66-23k Hz whereas ElectroMotion FX2 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the ElectroMotion FX2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ElectroMotion ESL C's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2
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
ElectroMotion ESL C is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the ElectroMotion FX2 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 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 ElectroMotion FX2's is rated at 93 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 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. 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.
ElectroMotion ESL C can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas ElectroMotion FX2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the ElectroMotion ESL C.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
ElectroMotion ESL C features Binding post type posts and ElectroMotion FX2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan ESL C's Binding post terminals
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 MartinLogan ESL C's and MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2'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 MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 has external dimensions of 379.0 x 355.0 x 172.0mm ( 14-15/16 x 14 x 6-3/4inch) .
MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 is 227mm narrower and 238mm less deeper than MartinLogan ESL C but it is also 185mm 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 MartinLogan ESL C is approximately 2386.2cm2 / 369.9inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ElectroMotion FX2 is approximately 610.6cm2 / 94.6inch2. The ElectroMotion ESL C requires 291% more surface area than the ElectroMotion FX2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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