In this review, we will be comparing ESL 9 and Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan ESL 9 and MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan ESL 9 | MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 9.2 x 44" curved electrostatic transducer | 11 x 44" E-ST |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone | 2 x 8" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-23k Hz | 29-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-400 watts | — |
|---|
| Weight | 35.45kg / 78lbs | 40.82kg / 89.8lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 60-3/4" x 11-15/16" x 27-7/16"
1543.1 x 303.2 x 696.9mm |
|---|
ESL 9 and Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A are members of MartinLogan's Masterpiece series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both ESL 9 and Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan ESL 9MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
Woofer
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 |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
9.2 x 44-inch
|
11 x 44-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A features a 11 x 44" E-ST Tweeter and 2 x 8" Woofer.
Frequency Response
ESL 9 has a frequency range of 34-23k Hz whereas Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has a frequency range of 29-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
ESL 9 and Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ESL 9 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan ESL 9, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the ESL 9 and the ESL 9 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
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.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
ESL 9 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan ESL 9's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A'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 MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has external dimensions of 1543.1 x 303.2 x 696.9mm ().
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37.2mm wider, 23.1mm taller and 49.9mm deeper than MartinLogan ESL 9.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A needs about 23% more floor or shelf area. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is 50mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is 23mm 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 ESL 9 is approximately 1721.0cm2 / 266.8inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is approximately 2113.0cm2 / 327.5inch2. The ESL 9 requires 19% less surface area than the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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 ESL 9 weighs 35.45kg / 78lbs and the MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A weighs 40.82kg / 89.8lbs. This makes the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 15% heavier than the ESL 9.
Here is a comparison of how ESL 9 and Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
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
 Height |
1520mm
vs
1543mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1721cm2
vs
2113cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-23k Hz |
29-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
high-excursion paper cone |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
9.2 x 44" |
11 x 44" |
| Tweeter Type |
curved electrostatic transducer |
E-ST |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1520.0mm (59.8") |
1543.1mm (60.8") |
| Width |
266.0mm (10.5") |
303.2mm (11.9") |
| Depth |
647.0mm (25.5") |
696.9mm (27.4") |
| Weight |
35.45kg (78lbs) |
40.82kg (89.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
|
| Finish |
Composite |
Composite |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years w/ Registration |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years w/ Registration |
5 Years |
Siblings in MartinLogan's Masterpiece series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A digs deeper - 29Hz against 34Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | A | MartinLogan ESL 9: bi-amping. |
A MartinLogan ESL 9 B MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. 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.
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.