In this review, we will be comparing MartinLogan Foundation C1 and R400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Polk R400 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 )
Polk R400 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer
- 48-39K Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:14.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 199.0" x 24-5/16" x 14-5/8"( 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Polk R400 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 |
Polk R400 |
| 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 Polk R400 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 MartinLogan Foundation C1 and R400 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation C1 |
Polk R400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/2-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
MartinLogan Foundation C1 has a frequency range of 53-23k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R400 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 R400's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Foundation C1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R400, 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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas MartinLogan Foundation C1 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the R400.
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 R400 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation C1's Binding post terminals
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MartinLogan Foundation C1 and R400 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.
Polk R400 dual Port
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 Polk R400'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 Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) .
Polk R400 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 110mm wider, 5mm taller and 118mm deeper than MartinLogan Foundation C1.
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 Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation C1 requires 44% less surface area than the R400 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 Foundation C1 weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs and the Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs. This makes the R400 82% heavier than the MartinLogan Foundation C1.
Here is a comparison of how MartinLogan Foundation C1 and R400'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 Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration