In this review, we will be comparing ESL and R-610F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from MartinLogan and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL and Klipsch R-610F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan ESL and Klipsch R-610F 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan ESL and Klipsch R-610F compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both ESL and R-610F are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan ESL |
Klipsch R-610F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
8.6x34-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
ESL features a 8.6x34" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 1 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer . On the other hand, the R-610F features a 1.0" Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .
Frequency Response
ESL has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas R-610F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the ESL can go slightly deeper then the R-610F's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-610F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ESL sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R-610F's is rated at 94 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-610F a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan ESL, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-610F has a max power handling value of 85 watts RMS, 215 watts less than the ESL.
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 features Post type posts and R-610F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-610F's 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's and Klipsch R-610F's external dimensions. 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) whereas Klipsch R-610F has external dimensions of 942.0 x 239.0 x 369.0mm ( 37-1/16 x 9-3/8 x 14-1/2inch) .
Klipsch R-610F is 408mm shorter and 51mm less deeper than MartinLogan ESL but it is also 2mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan ESL and Klipsch R-610F in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan ESL and Klipsch R-610F 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 is approximately 995.4cm2 / 154.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-610F is approximately 881.9cm2 / 136.7inch2. The ESL requires 13% more surface area than the R-610F 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 weighs 16.14kg / 35.5lbs and the Klipsch R-610F weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs. This makes the R-610F 1% heavier than the ESL.
Here is a comparison of how ESL and R-610F'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-610F?
Here are the items that come with the R-610F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
85 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
942mm
vs
1350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
881cm2 (239x369mm)
vs
995cm2 (237x420mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL |
Klipsch Reference R-610F |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
up to 85 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
45-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
high-excursion paper cone |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
8.6x34" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
curved electrostatic transducer |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1350.0mm (53.1") |
942.0mm (37.1") |
| Width |
237.0mm (9.3") |
239.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
16.14kg (35.5lbs) |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Composite |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Years |