In this review, we will be comparing Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and F328Be, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from MartinLogan and Revel.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Revel PerformaBe F328Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A | Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | Revel
United States · founded 1996 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 11 x 44" E-ST | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" | 3 x 8.0" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-23k Hz | 26-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 40.82kg / 89.8lbs | 51.18kg / 112.6lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 50-15/16" x 13-1/2" x 17-5/8"
1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is a 2-way design whereas the F328Be 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11ARevel PerformaBe F328Be
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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
11 x 44-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 8.0-inch
|
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A features a 11 x 44" E-ST Tweeter and 2 x 8" Woofer. On the other hand, the F328Be features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has a frequency range of 29-23k Hz whereas F328Be has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the F328Be can go slightly deeper then 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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the F328Be 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 91 dBdB.
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
F328Be features 5-way posts 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 Revel PerformaBe F328Be's external dimensions. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has external dimensions of 1543.1 x 303.2 x 696.9mm () whereas Revel PerformaBe F328Be has external dimensions of 1294.0 x 343.0 x 448.0mm (50-15/16 x 13-1/2 x 17-5/8inch).
Revel PerformaBe F328Be is 249.1mm shorter and 248.9mm less deeper than MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A but it is also 39.8mm wider.
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 38% more floor or shelf area. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is 249mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is 249mm 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 Revel PerformaBe F328Be is approximately 1536.6cm2 / 238.2inch2. The Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A requires 38% more surface area than the F328Be 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A weighs 40.82kg / 89.8lbs and the Revel PerformaBe F328Be weighs 51.18kg / 112.6lbs. This makes the F328Be 25% heavier than the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A.
Here is a comparison of how Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and F328Be'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 Revel PerformaBe F328Be?
Here are the items that come with the F328Be:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Locking rings
- 4 Washers
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Owners Manual
 Price per pair* |
12000USD
vs
17600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1294mm
vs
1543mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1536cm2
vs
2113cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
Revel PerformaBe F328Be |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-23k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8.0" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
11 x 44" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
E-ST |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1543.1mm (60.8") |
1294.0mm (50.9") |
| Width |
303.2mm (11.9") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Depth |
696.9mm (27.4") |
448.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
40.82kg (89.8lbs) |
51.18kg (112.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Composite |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Revel PerformaBe F328Be digs deeper - 26Hz against 29Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Size | depends | Revel PerformaBe F328Be is easier to place; MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | Revel PerformaBe F328Be: bi-amping. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is cheaper - $12,000 against $17,600, about 32% less. |
A MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A B Revel PerformaBe F328Be
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?
The usual trade-off: Revel PerformaBe F328Be measures better, MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A costs about about 47% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Revel PerformaBe F328Be is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.