In this review, we will be comparing MartinLogan Foundation C1 and ES30, 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 ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan Foundation C1 and Polk ES30 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 Polk ES30 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 ES30 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Foundation C1 |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/2-inch
|
2 x 5.5-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 ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
MartinLogan Foundation C1 has a frequency range of 53-23k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the MartinLogan Foundation C1 can go slightly deeper then the ES30's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 ES30 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 ES30's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Foundation C1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES30, 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 ES30 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 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Foundation C1's Binding post terminals
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MartinLogan Foundation C1 and ES30 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 ES30 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 ES30'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 ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm ( 7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch) .
MartinLogan Foundation C1 is 2mm narrower and 16mm less deeper than Polk ES30 but it is also 3mm taller.
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 ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The MartinLogan Foundation C1 requires 6% less surface area than the ES30 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 ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the ES30 6% heavier than the MartinLogan Foundation C1.
Here is a comparison of how MartinLogan Foundation C1 and ES30'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 ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
53 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1290cm2 (508x254mm)
vs
1377cm2 (510x270mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5-1/2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
191mm
vs
194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Foundation C1 |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
53-23k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5-1/2" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900 Hz - 3200 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
194.0mm (7.6") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
508.0mm (20") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Satin White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |