In this review, we will be comparing ESL and ESL X, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by MartinLogan Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL and MartinLogan ESL X first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ESL and ESL X 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 and MartinLogan ESL X 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 MartinLogan ESL X 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 ESL X are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan ESL |
MartinLogan ESL X |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
8.6x34-inch
|
8.6 x 40-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
ESL features a 8.6x34" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 1 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer . On the other hand, the ESL X features a 8.6 x 40" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
ESL has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas ESL X has a frequency range of 41-22k 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 and ESL X 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 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's and MartinLogan ESL X'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 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) .
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 and MartinLogan ESL X in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan ESL and MartinLogan ESL X 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 MartinLogan ESL X is approximately 1267.2cm2 / 196.4inch2. The ESL requires 21% less surface area than the ESL X 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 weighs 16.14kg / 35.5lbs and the MartinLogan ESL X weighs 23.64kg / 52lbs. This makes the ESL X 46% heavier than the ESL.
Here is a comparison of how ESL and ESL X'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 MartinLogan ESL X?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 Height |
1350mm
vs
1505mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
995cm2 (237x420mm)
vs
1267cm2 (240x528mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 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 |
| General |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL X |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
20-400 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
41-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
high-excursion paper cone |
high-excursion paper cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
8.6x34" |
8.6 x 40" |
| Tweeter Type |
curved electrostatic transducer |
curved electrostatic transducer |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1350.0mm (53.1") |
1505.0mm (59.3") |
| Width |
237.0mm (9.3") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
528.0mm (20.8") |
| Weight |
16.14kg (35.5lbs) |
23.64kg (52lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Composite |
Composite |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |