In this review, we will be comparing Foundation C1 and R-30C, 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 R-30C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Foundation C1 | Klipsch R-30C |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Folded Motion Ribbon | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5-1/2" Aluminum | 4 x 3.5" spun-copper TCP |
|---|
| Frequency response | 53-23k Hz | 78-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.18kg / 18lbs | 5.08kg / 11.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-5/8" x 20" x 10"
194.0 x 508.0 x 254.0mm | 4-15/16" x 26-1/16" x 6-13/16"
126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Klipsch R-30C 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 R-30C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Foundation C1 and R-30C are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan Foundation C1Klipsch R-30C
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation C1 |
Klipsch R-30C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/2-inch
|
4 x 3.5-inch
|
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 R-30C features a 1" LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) titanium diaphragm Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 4 x 3.5" spun-copper TCP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1650 Hz.
Frequency Response
Foundation C1 has a frequency range of 53-23k Hz whereas R-30C has a frequency range of 78-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the Foundation C1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-30C's min frequency of 78Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Foundation C1 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R-30C 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 Foundation C1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Foundation C1 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R-30C's is rated at 96 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-30C a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Foundation C1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Foundation C1 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas R-30C has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Foundation C1.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
MartinLogan Foundation C1
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Foundation C1 features Binding post type posts and R-30C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation C1's Binding post terminals
Klipsch R-30C's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Foundation C1 and R-30C 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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 R-30C'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 R-30C has external dimensions of 126.0 x 662.0 x 174.0mm (4-15/16inch x 26-1/16inch x 6-13/16inch).
Klipsch R-30C is 68mm shorter and 80mm less deeper than MartinLogan Foundation C1 but it is also 154mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Klipsch R-30C in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Klipsch R-30C 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 R-30C is approximately 1151.9cm2 / 178.5inch2. The Foundation C1 requires 12% more surface area than the R-30C 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 Klipsch R-30C weighs 5.08kg / 11.2lbs. This makes the Foundation C1 61% heavier than the R-30C.
Here is a comparison of how Foundation C1 and R-30C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Foundation C1
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-30C?
Here are the items that come with the R-30C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5-1/2 inches
vs
3.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
53 Hz
vs
78 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
126mm
vs
194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1151cm2
vs
1290cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
MartinLogan Foundation C1 |
Klipsch Reference R-30C |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
53-23k Hz |
78-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5-1/2" |
3.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
spun-copper TCP |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900 Hz - 3200 Hz |
1650 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
194.0mm (7.6") |
126.0mm (5") |
| Width |
508.0mm (20") |
662.0mm (26.1") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Weight |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
5.08kg (11.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Ported |
| Finish |
n/a |
Textured Wood Grain Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Satin White |
Black,White,Mocha |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: MartinLogan Foundation C1 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | MartinLogan Foundation C1 digs deeper - 53Hz against 78Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-30C is more sensitive (96dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch R-30C is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | MartinLogan Foundation C1 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-30C is easier to place; MartinLogan Foundation C1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($499 vs $499 a pair). |
A MartinLogan Foundation C1 B Klipsch R-30C
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 78Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate MartinLogan Foundation C1 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Klipsch R-30C for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.