In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by MartinLogan. MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Expression ESL 13A is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A and MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 250-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- " AMT Tweeter
- 4 x 6.5" Aluminium Woofer
- 45-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-600watts
- Weight:40.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 23-3/4" x 32-3/8" x 23-1/16" ( 603.0 x 822.0 x 586.0mm )
MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 300-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- " Electrostatic Tweeter
- 2 x 10" Aluminium Woofer
- 24-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-600watts
- Weight:46.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 61-7/16" x 13-3/8" x 27-1/2" ( 1561.0 x 339.0 x 699.0mm )
Illusion ESL C34A and Expression ESL 13A are members of MartinLogan's Masterpiece series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Series
History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A and MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A 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 Illusion ESL C34A and Expression ESL 13A are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A |
MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 10-inch
|
Illusion ESL C34A features a " Folded Motion AMT Tweeter and 4 x 6.5" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500, 2000 Hz. On the other hand, the Expression ESL 13A features a " Electrostatic panel Electrostatic Tweeter and 2 x 10" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300Hz.
Frequency Response
Illusion ESL C34A has a frequency range of 45-23k Hz whereas Expression ESL 13A has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Expression ESL 13A can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Illusion ESL C34A's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A
MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A
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
Illusion ESL C34A is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Expression ESL 13A which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Expression ESL 13A can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Illusion ESL C34A sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Expression ESL 13A's is rated at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A, 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. 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.
Illusion ESL C34A and Expression ESL 13A has the same power range of 20-600 watts.
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
Illusion ESL C34A features Binding post type posts and Expression ESL 13A has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Illusion ESL C34A's and MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A's external dimensions. MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A has external dimensions of 603.0 x 822.0 x 586.0mm ( 23-3/4 x 32-3/8 x 23-1/16inch) whereas MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A has external dimensions of 1561.0 x 339.0 x 699.0mm ( 61-7/16 x 13-3/8 x 27-1/2inch) .
MartinLogan Illusion ESL C34A is 958mm shorter and 113mm less deeper than MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A but it is also 483mm wider.
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 Illusion ESL C34A is approximately 4816.9cm2 / 746.6inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A is approximately 2369.6cm2 / 367.3inch2. The Illusion ESL C34A requires 103% more surface area than the Expression ESL 13A which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.