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.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Motion C10 | MartinLogan ESL C |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon | 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 9 x 6.375" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.5" Woven Fiberglass | 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers |
|---|
| Frequency response | 63-25k Hz | 66-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.70kg / 23.5lbs | 14.55kg / 32lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-1/4" x 19" x 11-1/2"
184 x 483 x 293mm | 7-5/8" x 22-7/8" x 16-1/8"
194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm |
|---|
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:
| Listening Environment* |
MartinLogan Motion C10 |
MartinLogan ESL C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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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.
MartinLogan Motion C10MartinLogan ESL C
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 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
|
- |
1 x 9 x 6.375-inch |
|
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, a 9 x 6.375" Midrange 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.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
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
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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
ElectroMotion ESL C can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Motion C10 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the ElectroMotion ESL C.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
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.
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
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 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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- AC 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
vs
2386cm2
|
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 |
A generation apart: MartinLogan Motion C10 is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
MartinLogan Motion C10 digs deeper - 63Hz against 66Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
MartinLogan Motion C10 is more sensitive (93dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
B |
MartinLogan ESL C takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
MartinLogan Motion C10 is easier to place; MartinLogan ESL C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Price |
B |
MartinLogan ESL C is cheaper - $1,700 against $1,998, about 15% less. |
A MartinLogan Motion C10
B MartinLogan ESL C
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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: MartinLogan Motion C10 measures better, MartinLogan ESL C costs about 15% 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. Match it to your room: we rate MartinLogan Motion C10 the better fit for a small room, and MartinLogan ESL C for a large room and a very large room. In a large or open-plan room, MartinLogan ESL C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, MartinLogan Motion C10 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.