In this review, we will be comparing ESL 9 and BP-9080X, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from MartinLogan and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL 9 and Definitive BP-9080X first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan ESL 9 and Definitive BP-9080X 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 ESL 9 and Definitive BP-9080X 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that ESL 9 is a 2-way design whereas the BP-9080X is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
MartinLogan ESL 9 |
Definitive BP-9080X |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
9.2 x 44-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
4 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
ESL 9 features a 9.2 x 44" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer . On the other hand, the BP-9080X features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Polypropelene Woofer .
Frequency Response
ESL 9 has a frequency range of 34-23k Hz whereas BP-9080X has a frequency range of 16-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the BP-9080X can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ESL 9's min frequency of 34Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
ESL 9 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the BP-9080X 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 ESL 9 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ESL 9 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the BP-9080X's is rated at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9080X a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan ESL 9, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
ESL 9 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas BP-9080X has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the ESL 9.
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
ESL 9 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9080X has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan ESL 9's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Definitive BP-9080X's 5-Way post, RCA 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 ESL 9's and Definitive BP-9080X's external dimensions. MartinLogan ESL 9 has external dimensions of 1520.0 x 266.0 x 647.0mm ( 59-13/16 x 10-7/16 x 25-7/16inch) whereas Definitive BP-9080X has external dimensions of 1309.0 x 318.0 x 410.0mm ( 51-1/2 x 12-1/2 x 16-1/8inch) .
Definitive BP-9080X is 211mm shorter and 237mm less deeper than MartinLogan ESL 9 but it is also 52mm 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 ESL 9 is approximately 1721.0cm2 / 266.8inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9080X is approximately 1303.8cm2 / 202.1inch2. The ESL 9 requires 32% more surface area than the BP-9080X 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 ESL 9 weighs 35.45kg / 78lbs and the Definitive BP-9080X weighs 28.18kg / 62lbs. This makes the ESL 9 26% heavier than the BP-9080X.
Here is a comparison of how ESL 9 and BP-9080X's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan ESL 9?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ESL 9:
Floorstanding hybrid electrostatic loudspeakerAC power adapter (w/ attached 10-feet DC cord)Grille4 Spike FeetUsers ManualProduct Registration Card
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9080X?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9080X:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-grille (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like card
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 12-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Built-in 1 x 5-1/4
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1309mm
vs
1520mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1303cm2 (318x410mm)
vs
1721cm2 (266x647mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
7000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 |
Definitive Technology BP-9080X |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-400 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-23k Hz |
16-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
high-excursion paper cone |
Polypropelene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
9.2 x 44" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
curved electrostatic transducer |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1520.0mm (59.8") |
1309.0mm (51.5") |
| Width |
266.0mm (10.5") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Depth |
647.0mm (25.5") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
35.45kg (78lbs) |
28.18kg (62lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
Composite |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years w/ Registration |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years w/ Registration |
5 Years |