In this review, we will be comparing Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Neolith, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and MartinLogan Neolith first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A | MartinLogan Neolith |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 11 x 44" E-ST | Electrostatic |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" | 15" Aluminium |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-23k Hz | 23-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-1300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 40.82kg / 89.8lbs | 175.00kg / 385lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 60-3/4" x 11-15/16" x 27-7/16"
1543.1 x 303.2 x 696.9mm | 74-3/4" x 30-1/4" x 34-1/4"
1899.0 x 769.0 x 870.0mm |
|---|
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Neolith 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Neolith are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11AMartinLogan Neolith
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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
MartinLogan Neolith |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
11 x 44-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A features a 11 x 44" E-ST Tweeter and 2 x 8" Woofer. On the other hand, the Neolith features a " Electrostatic panel Electrostatic Tweeter and 1 x 15" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 60, 250–400 Hz.
Frequency Response
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has a frequency range of 29-23k Hz whereas Neolith has a frequency range of 23-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 23Hz, the Neolith can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A's min frequency of 29Hz.
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
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Neolith have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Neolith's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Neolith, 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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
Neolith 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.
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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A's and MartinLogan Neolith's external dimensions. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has external dimensions of 1543.1 x 303.2 x 696.9mm () whereas MartinLogan Neolith has external dimensions of 1899.0 x 769.0 x 870.0mm (74-3/4 x 30-1/4 x 34-1/4inch).
MartinLogan Neolith is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 465.8mm wider, 355.9mm taller and 173.1mm deeper than MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A.
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 Neolith needs about 217% more floor or shelf area. MartinLogan Neolith is 173mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. MartinLogan Neolith is 356mm 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is approximately 2113.0cm2 / 327.5inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Neolith is approximately 6690.3cm2 / 1,037.0inch2. The Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A requires 68% less surface area than the Neolith 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A weighs 40.82kg / 89.8lbs and the MartinLogan Neolith weighs 175.00kg / 385lbs. This makes the Neolith 329% heavier than the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A.
Here is a comparison of how Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Neolith'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
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1543mm
vs
1899mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2113cm2
vs
6690cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
23 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
MartinLogan Neolith |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-23k Hz |
23-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminium |
| Tweeter Size |
11 x 44" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
E-ST |
Electrostatic |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
60, 250–400 Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1543.1mm (60.8") |
1899.0mm (74.8") |
| Width |
303.2mm (11.9") |
769.0mm (30.3") |
| Depth |
696.9mm (27.4") |
870.0mm (34.3") |
| Weight |
40.82kg (89.8lbs) |
175.00kg (385lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Dipole |
| Finish |
Composite |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
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 Neolith digs deeper - 23Hz against 29Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is easier to place; MartinLogan Neolith is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Dipole. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | MartinLogan Neolith: bi-amping. |
A MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A B MartinLogan Neolith
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?
MartinLogan Neolith has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 29Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, MartinLogan Neolith has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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.