In this review, we will be comparing MartinLogan Foundation C1 and RP-404C II, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Klipsch RP-404C II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Foundation C1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 2 x 5-1/2" Aluminum Woofer
- 53-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:8.18kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 194.0" x 20" x 10"( 194.0 x 508.0 x 254.0mm )
Klipsch RP-404C II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 4 x 4" Cerametallic cone Woofer
- 87-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 125watts
- Weight:9.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 147.0" x 26-7/8" x 6-1/2"( 147.0 x 683.0 x 166.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Klipsch RP-404C II 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 C1 |
Klipsch RP-404C II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 C1 and Klipsch RP-404C II 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 C1 and RP-404C II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation C1 |
Klipsch RP-404C II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/2-inch
|
4 x 4-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 RP-404C II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 4 x 4" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900 Hz.
Frequency Response
MartinLogan Foundation C1 has a frequency range of 53-23k Hz whereas RP-404C II has a frequency range of 87-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the MartinLogan Foundation C1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-404C II's min frequency of 87Hz.
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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-404C II which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the MartinLogan Foundation C1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. MartinLogan Foundation C1 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the RP-404C II's is rated at 94 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-404C II a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Foundation C1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 RP-404C II has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 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
MartinLogan Foundation C1 features Binding post type posts and RP-404C II has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation C1's Binding post terminals
Klipsch RP-404C II's Binding 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 Foundation C1's and Klipsch RP-404C II'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 Klipsch RP-404C II has external dimensions of 147.0 x 683.0 x 166.0mm ( 5-3/4 x 26-7/8 x 6-1/2inch) .
Klipsch RP-404C II is 47mm shorter and 88mm less deeper than MartinLogan Foundation C1 but it is also 175mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Klipsch RP-404C II in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Klipsch RP-404C II 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 C1 is approximately 1290.3cm2 / 200.0inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-404C II is approximately 1133.8cm2 / 175.7inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation C1 requires 14% more surface area than the RP-404C II which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.