In this review, we will be comparing Motion 35XTi and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MartinLogan and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan 35XTi and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan 35XTi and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 35XTi and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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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Drivers
Both Motion 35XTi and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go slightly deeper then the Motion 35XTi's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Motion 35XTi is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 Motion 35XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion 35XTi sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 35XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Motion 35XTi can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Carina BS243.4 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.
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
Both Motion 35XTi and Carina BS243.4 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Motion 35XTi has a rear firing port whereas Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to MartinLogan 35XTi with its rear-firing port.
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 35XTi's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) .
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is 22mm shorter and 53mm less deeper than MartinLogan 35XTi but it is also 13mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 35XTi and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.
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 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The Motion 35XTi requires 14% more surface area than the Carina BS243.4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 25% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how Motion 35XTi and Carina BS243.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 35XTi?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 35XTi:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) Users Manual Warranty/Registration Information
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
321mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
506cm2 (205x247mm)
vs
576cm2 (192x300mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
MartinLogan Motion 35XTi |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Brand |
MartinLogan |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-250 watts |
30-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.25 x 2.4" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion XT |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
343.0mm (13.5") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
Weight |
8.40kg (18.5lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Polymer |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |