In this review, we will be comparing ESL X and ESL, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by MartinLogan
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL X and MartinLogan ESL first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan ESL X Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 8.6 x 40" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter
- 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer
- 41-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-400watts
- Weight:23.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1505.0" x 9-7/16" x 20-3/4"( 1505.0 x 240.0 x 528.0mm )
MartinLogan ESL Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 8.6x34" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter
- 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer
- 42-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:16.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1350.0" x 9-5/16" x 16-1/2"( 1350.0 x 237.0 x 420.0mm )
ESL X and ESL 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 X and MartinLogan ESL 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 X |
MartinLogan ESL |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan ESL X and MartinLogan ESL 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
Both ESL X and ESL are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan ESL X |
MartinLogan ESL |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
8.6 x 40-inch
|
8.6x34-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
ESL X features a 8.6 x 40" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer . On the other hand, the ESL features a 8.6x34" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 1 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
ESL X has a frequency range of 41-22k Hz whereas ESL has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the ESL X can go slightly deeper then the ESL's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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
ESL X and ESL have the same Impedance of 6 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
ESL X can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas ESL has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the ESL X.
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
ESL X features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. ESL has a Spring post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 X's and MartinLogan ESL's external dimensions. MartinLogan ESL X has external dimensions of 1505.0 x 240.0 x 528.0mm ( 59-1/4 x 9-7/16 x 20-3/4inch) whereas MartinLogan ESL has external dimensions of 1350.0 x 237.0 x 420.0mm ( 53-1/8 x 9-5/16 x 16-1/2inch) .
MartinLogan ESL X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 3mm wider, 155mm taller and 108mm deeper than MartinLogan ESL.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan ESL X and MartinLogan ESL in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan ESL X and MartinLogan ESL Size and External Dimensions
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 X is approximately 1267.2cm2 / 196.4inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ESL is approximately 995.4cm2 / 154.3inch2. The ESL X requires 27% more surface area than the ESL 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 MartinLogan ESL X weighs 23.64kg / 52lbs and the MartinLogan ESL weighs 16.14kg / 35.5lbs. This makes the ESL X 46% heavier than the ESL.
Here is a comparison of how ESL X and ESL's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan ESL X?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ESL X:
Floor-standing hybrid electrostatic loudspeakerAC power adapter (w/ attached 10-feet DC cord)Cloth grille (installed)4 Pre-installed feetUsers Manual (En/Fr)Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of MartinLogan ESL?
Here are the items that come with the ESL:
Floor-standing hybrid electrostatic loudspeakerAC power adapter (w/ attached 10-feet DC cord)Cloth grille (installed)4 Pre-installed feetUsers Manual (En/Fr)Product Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1350mm
vs
1505mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
995cm2
vs
1267cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL X |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-400 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-22k Hz |
42-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
high-excursion paper cone |
high-excursion paper cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
8.6 x 40" |
8.6x34" |
| Tweeter Type |
curved electrostatic transducer |
curved electrostatic transducer |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1505.0mm (59.3") |
1350.0mm (53.1") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
237.0mm (9.3") |
| Depth |
528.0mm (20.8") |
420.0mm (16.5") |
| Weight |
23.64kg (52lbs) |
16.14kg (35.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Composite |
Composite |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |