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.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan ESL 9 | Definitive BP-9080X |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 9.2 x 44" curved electrostatic transducer | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4 x 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone | 12" Polypropelene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-23k Hz | 16-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-400 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 35.45kg / 78lbs | 28.18kg / 62lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 59-13/16" x 10-7/16" x 25-7/16"
1520.0 x 266.0 x 647.0mm | 51-1/2" x 12-1/2" x 16-1/8"
1309.0 x 318.0 x 410.0mm |
|---|
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:
| Listening Environment* |
MartinLogan ESL 9 |
Definitive BP-9080X |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Good |
(* 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our 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.
MartinLogan ESL 9Definitive BP-9080X
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| 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.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ESL 9 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas BP-9080X has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the ESL 9.
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.
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
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 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 loudspeaker
- AC power adapter (w/ attached 10-feet DC cord)
- Grille
- 4 Spike Feet
- Users Manual
- Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9080X?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9080X:
- Tower loudspeaker
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Top-grille (installed)
- Stabilizer base
- 4 Floor guides
- 4 Carpet spikes
- 4 Screws
- 4 Nuts
- Owners Manual
- What 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
vs
1721cm2
|
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 |
These sit in different price classes - MartinLogan ESL 9 costs roughly 1.8x what Definitive BP-9080X does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Definitive BP-9080X digs deeper - 16Hz against 34Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Definitive BP-9080X is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Definitive BP-9080X is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
A |
MartinLogan ESL 9 takes more power (400W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Definitive BP-9080X is easier to place; MartinLogan ESL 9 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability |
depends |
MartinLogan ESL 9: bi-amping; Definitive BP-9080X: Atmos drivers. MartinLogan ESL 9 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
Definitive BP-9080X is cheaper - $3,998 against $7,000, about 43% less; arguably a different class. |
A MartinLogan ESL 9
B Definitive BP-9080X
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Definitive BP-9080X is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take MartinLogan ESL 9 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 34Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, MartinLogan ESL 9 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Definitive BP-9080X is the easier speaker to get right.
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.