In this review, we will be comparing Motion XT C100 and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Polk ES30 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 )
Polk ES30 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" High-res dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer
- 55-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:8.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 191.0" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"( 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Polk ES30 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 |
Polk ES30 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Polk ES30 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
Both Motion XT C100 and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-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 ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
Motion XT C100 has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k 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 ES30's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
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 ES30 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion XT C100 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the ES30's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES30, 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. 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 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas ES30 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 175 watts less than the Motion XT C100.
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. ES30 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion XT C100's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion XT C100 and ES30 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.
Polk ES30 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 Motion XT C100's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion XT C100 has external dimensions of 203 x 610 x 368mm ( 8inch x 24inch x 14-1/2inch ) whereas Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm ( 7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch) .
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 100mm wider, 12mm taller and 98mm deeper than Polk ES30.
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 Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The Motion XT C100 requires 63% more surface area than the ES30 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.