In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers . MartinLogan Foundation B2 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the RP-280F is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Klipsch RP-280F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Foundation B2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 6-1/2" Aluminum Woofer
- 42-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 5ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:5.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 381.0" x 7-3/4" x 9-1/2"( 381.0 x 197.0 x 242.0mm )
Klipsch RP-280F Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer
- 32-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 98 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:28.41kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1094.0" x 10-9/16" x 17-3/8"( 1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Klipsch RP-280F 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 Foundation B2 |
Klipsch RP-280F |
| Near-field |
Average |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Klipsch RP-280F 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both MartinLogan Foundation B2 and RP-280F are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation B2 |
Klipsch RP-280F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-1/2-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
MartinLogan Foundation B2 features a 1" Gen2 Obsidian Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6-1/2" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3800Hz. On the other hand, the RP-280F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a frequency range of 42-23k Hz whereas RP-280F has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-280F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the MartinLogan Foundation B2'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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
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
MartinLogan Foundation B2 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the RP-280F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. MartinLogan Foundation B2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-280F's is rated at 98 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-280F a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Foundation B2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation B2
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.
MartinLogan Foundation B2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the RP-280F.
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
RP-280F features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. MartinLogan Foundation B2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation B2's Binding post terminals
Klipsch RP-280F's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MartinLogan Foundation B2 and RP-280F have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Foundation B2's and Klipsch RP-280F's external dimensions. MartinLogan Foundation B2 has external dimensions of 381.0 x 197.0 x 242.0mm ( 15inch x 7-3/4inch x 9-1/2inch ) whereas Klipsch RP-280F has external dimensions of 1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm ( 43-1/16 x 10-9/16 x 17-3/8inch) .
Klipsch RP-280F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 72mm wider, 713mm taller and 200mm deeper than MartinLogan Foundation B2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Klipsch RP-280F in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Foundation B2 and Klipsch RP-280F 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 Foundation B2 is approximately 476.7cm2 / 73.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-280F is approximately 1189.0cm2 / 184.3inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation B2 requires 60% less surface area than the RP-280F which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-280F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-280F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker (Ebony)Speaker baseDetachable magnetic grilleFour 1-inch #6 Wood screws4 Spike feet6 Rubber feetUser ManualWarranty InformationImportant Safety Instructions