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MartinLogan Motion XT C100 vs MartinLogan ESL C Comparison

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MartinLogan Motion XT C100

Passive Center Channel | 42-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion® XT C100
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MartinLogan ESL C

Passive Center Channel | 66-23k Hz

MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C
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MartinLogan Motion XT C100 MartinLogan Motion X...
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MartinLogan ESL C MartinLogan ESL C
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MartinLogan Motion X...
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MartinLogan ESL C
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MartinLogan Motion XT C100 vs MartinLogan ESL C Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Motion XT C100 and ElectroMotion ESL C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by MartinLogan

Let's have a brief look at the main features of MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and MartinLogan ESL C first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
  • 42-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 93 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 5ohms
  • Power Range:20-300watts
  • Weight:15.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 203.0" x 24" x 14-1/2"( 203 x 610 x 368mm )

MartinLogan ESL C Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1 x 1-7/16" Folded Motion Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" high-rigidity aluminum woofers Woofer
  • 66-23k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-300watts
  • Weight:14.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 194.0" x 22-7/8" x 16-1/8"( 194.0 x 582.0 x 410.0mm )

What size room are the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 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 XT C100 MartinLogan ESL C
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 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.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Motion XT C100 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 XT C100 MartinLogan ESL C
Driver Setup 2-way 3-way
Tweeter 1.25 x 2.4-inch 1 x 1-7/16-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 2 x 5.25-inch

Motion XT C100 features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1300Hz and 2500Hz. 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 XT C100 has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas ElectroMotion ESL C has a frequency range of 66-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Motion XT C100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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

Motion XT C100
ElectroMotion ESL C
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

MartinLogan Motion XT C100
MartinLogan ESL C
Min
Average
Max

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 XT C100 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the ElectroMotion ESL C which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 ElectroMotion ESL C can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion XT C100 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the ElectroMotion ESL C's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan ESL C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Motion XT C100
ElectroMotion ESL C
Min
Average
Max

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 XT C100 and ElectroMotion ESL C has the same power range of 20-300 watts.

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 XT C100 features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. ElectroMotion ESL C has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Terminals
MartinLogan Motion XT C100's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

MartinLogan ESL CBinding post 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 XT C100's and MartinLogan ESL C's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion XT C100 has external dimensions of 203 x 610 x 368mm ( 8inch x 24inch x 14-1/2inch ) 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 28mm narrower and 9mm shorter than MartinLogan Motion XT C100 but it is also 42mm deeper.

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 XT C100 is approximately 2244.8cm2 / 347.9inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ESL C is approximately 2386.2cm2 / 369.9inch2. The Motion XT C100 requires 6% 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 XT C100 weighs 15.40kg / 33.9lbs and the MartinLogan ESL C weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the Motion XT C100 6% heavier than the ElectroMotion ESL C.

Here is a comparison of how Motion XT C100 and ElectroMotion ESL C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
MartinLogan ESL C
Min
Average
Max

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

  • Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion® XT C100 over MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C
    Sensitivity 93 dB vs 89 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 5 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 42 Hz vs 66 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 25k Hz vs 23k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Base Surface Area 2244cm2 vs 2386cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C over MartinLogan Motion® XT C100

    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Height 194mm vs 203mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 1700USD vs 2998USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    MartinLogan Motion XT C100 vs MartinLogan ESL C Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General MartinLogan Motion® XT C100 MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C
    Brand MartinLogan MartinLogan
    Speaker Type Center channel speaker Center channel speaker
    Power Range 20-300 watts 20-300 watts
    Sensitivity 93 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 5 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 42-25k Hz 66-23k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Aluminum high-rigidity aluminum woofers
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber n/a
    Tweeter Size 1.25 x 2.4" 1 x 1-7/16"
    Tweeter Type Folded Motion XT Folded Motion
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No 9 x 6.375"
    Crossover Frequency 1300Hz and 2500Hz 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 203.0mm (8") 194.0mm (7.6")
    Width 610.0mm (24") 582.0mm (22.9")
    Depth 368.0mm (14.5") 410.0mm (16.1")
    Weight 15.40kg (33.9lbs) 14.55kg (32lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Passive Radiator
    Finish MDF/Wood veneer n/a
    Available Colors Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White Black
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes n/a
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Yrs w/ Registration
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Yrs w/ Registration

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