In this review, we will be comparing Motion C10 and Elysian C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion C10 and Wharfedale Elysian C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Motion C10 | Wharfedale Elysian C |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon | 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.5" Woven Fiberglass | 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix |
|---|
| Frequency response | 63-25k Hz | 35-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | 50-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.70kg / 23.5lbs | 30.23kg / 66.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-1/4" x 19" x 11-1/2"
184 x 483 x 293mm | 12-5/8" x 32-11/16" x 14-9/16"
321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion C10 and Wharfedale Elysian 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 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Elysian 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 C10Wharfedale Elysian C
MidrangeWoofer
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 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
27 x 45mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 8.5-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 Elysian C features a 27 x 45mm" Air Motion Transformer (AMT) Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" coated fiberglass matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 360Hz and 2900HZ.
Frequency Response
Motion C10 has a frequency range of 63-25k Hz whereas Elysian C has a frequency range of 35-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Elysian C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion C10's min frequency of 63Hz.
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 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Elysian C 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 C10 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion C10 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Elysian C's is rated at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion C10 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Elysian C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Elysian C can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Motion C10 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Elysian 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
Elysian C features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Motion C10 has a Custom 5-way binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion C10's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
Wharfedale Elysian C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion C10 and Elysian C have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Wharfedale Elysian 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 Wharfedale Elysian C has external dimensions of 321.0 x 831.0 x 370.0mm (12-5/8 x 32-11/16 x 14-9/16inch).
Wharfedale Elysian C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 348mm wider, 137mm taller and 77mm 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 Wharfedale Elysian C is approximately 3074.7cm2 / 476.6inch2. The Motion C10 requires 54% less surface area than the Elysian 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 Wharfedale Elysian C weighs 30.23kg / 66.5lbs. This makes the Elysian C 183% heavier than the Motion C10.
Here is a comparison of how Motion C10 and Elysian 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 Wharfedale Elysian C?
Here are the items that come with the Elysian C:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal-jumpers
- User Manual
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
184mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1415cm2
vs
3074cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1998USD
vs
4995USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Passive Radiator |
Foamed Rubber
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion® C10 |
Wharfedale Elysian C |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
50-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
63-25k Hz |
35-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
8.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Fiberglass |
coated fiberglass matrix |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
27 x 45mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
Air Motion Transformer (AMT) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1000Hz and 2000Hz |
360Hz and 2900HZ |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
184.0mm (7.2") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Width |
483.0mm (19") |
831.0mm (32.7") |
| Depth |
293.0mm (11.5") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
10.70kg (23.5lbs) |
30.23kg (66.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Piano Black, Piano Walnut,White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Elysian C costs roughly 2.5x what MartinLogan Motion C10 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian C digs deeper - 35Hz against 63Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
MartinLogan Motion C10 is more sensitive (93dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian C is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian C takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
MartinLogan Motion C10 is easier to place; Wharfedale Elysian C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
Wharfedale Elysian C: bi-amping. |
| Price |
A |
MartinLogan Motion C10 is cheaper - $1,998 against $4,995, about 60% less; arguably a different class. |
A MartinLogan Motion C10
B Wharfedale Elysian 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: Wharfedale Elysian C measures better, MartinLogan Motion C10 costs about 60% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 63Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper MartinLogan Motion C10 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale Elysian 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.