In this review, we will be comparing MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Airmotiv C1+, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Emotiva. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ 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 Foundation C1 and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that MartinLogan Foundation C1 is a 2-way design whereas the Airmotiv C1+ is a 3-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 Foundation C1 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/2-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
MartinLogan Foundation C1 features a 1" Gen2 Obsidian Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5-1/2" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900 Hz - 3200 Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv C1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550 Hz and 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
MartinLogan Foundation C1 has a frequency range of 53-23k Hz whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Airmotiv C1+ can go slightly deeper then the MartinLogan Foundation C1's min frequency of 53Hz.
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
MartinLogan Foundation C1
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation C1
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 C1 and Airmotiv C1+ have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. MartinLogan Foundation C1 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Airmotiv C1+'s is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Foundation C1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv C1+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the MartinLogan Foundation C1 and the MartinLogan Foundation C1 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation C1
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 C1 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the MartinLogan Foundation C1.
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
Airmotiv C1+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. MartinLogan Foundation C1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation C1's Binding post terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Airmotiv C1+ 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 C1's and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s external dimensions. MartinLogan Foundation C1 has external dimensions of 194.0 x 508.0 x 254.0mm ( 7-5/8inch x 20inch x 10inch ) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ has external dimensions of 197.0 x 521.0 x 210.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 20-1/2 x 8-1/4inch) .
MartinLogan Foundation C1 is 13mm narrower and 3mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ but it is also 44mm deeper.
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 C1 is approximately 1290.3cm2 / 200.0inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is approximately 1094.1cm2 / 169.6inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation C1 requires 18% more surface area than the Airmotiv C1+ 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 Foundation C1 weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ weighs 8.45kg / 18.6lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C1+ 3% heavier than the MartinLogan Foundation C1.
Here is a comparison of how MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Airmotiv C1+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation C1
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
194mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5-1/2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
53 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
vs
1290cm2 (508x254mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Foundation C1 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
Up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
53-23k Hz |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5-1/2" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
woven fiber cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900 Hz - 3200 Hz |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
194.0mm (7.6") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
508.0mm (20") |
521.0mm (20.5") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Weight |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
HDF |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Satin White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |