In this review, we will be comparing Motion C10 and ElectroMotion ESL C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by MartinLogan Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion C10 and MartinLogan ESL C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion C10 and MartinLogan ESL C 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 Motion C10 and MartinLogan ESL C 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Motion C10 is a 2-way design whereas the ElectroMotion ESL C 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.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Motion C10 |
MartinLogan ESL C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
1 x 1-7/16-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Motion C10 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Woven Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1000Hz and 2000Hz. On the other hand, the ElectroMotion ESL C features a 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers Woofer .
Frequency Response
Motion C10 has a frequency range of 63-25k Hz whereas ElectroMotion ESL C has a frequency range of 66-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 63Hz, the Motion C10 can go slightly deeper then the ElectroMotion ESL C's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 C10 and ElectroMotion ESL C have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Motion C10 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the ElectroMotion ESL C's is at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion C10 a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan ESL C, 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 Motion C10 and the Motion C10 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 C10 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Motion C10 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the ElectroMotion ESL C.
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
Motion C10 features Binding post type posts and ElectroMotion ESL C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion C10's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
MartinLogan ESL C's Binding post terminals
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 Motion C10's and MartinLogan ESL C's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion C10 has external dimensions of 184 x 483 x 293mm ( 7-1/4inch x 19inch x 11-1/2inch ) whereas MartinLogan ESL C has external dimensions of 194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm ( 7-5/8 x 22-7/8 x 16-1/8inch) .
MartinLogan ESL C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 99mm wider, 10mm taller and 117mm deeper than MartinLogan Motion C10.
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 Motion C10 is approximately 1415.2cm2 / 219.4inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ESL C is approximately 2386.2cm2 / 369.9inch2. The Motion C10 requires 41% less surface area than the ElectroMotion ESL C 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 Motion C10 weighs 10.70kg / 23.5lbs and the MartinLogan ESL C weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the ElectroMotion ESL C 36% heavier than the Motion C10.
Here is a comparison of how Motion C10 and ElectroMotion ESL C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan ESL C?
Here are the items that come with the ElectroMotion ESL C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleAC power supply (attached 10-feet DC cord)User-feets Manual (En/Fr)Product Registration Card
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
63 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
184mm
vs
194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1415cm2 (483x293mm)
vs
2386cm2 (582x410mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Price per pair* |
1700USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion® C10 |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
63-25k Hz |
66-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Fiberglass |
high-rigidity aluminum woofers |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
1 x 1-7/16" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
Folded Motion |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
9 x 6.375" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1000Hz and 2000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
184.0mm (7.2") |
194.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
483.0mm (19") |
582.0mm (22.9") |
| Depth |
293.0mm (11.5") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
10.70kg (23.5lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/ Registration |