In this review, we will be comparing R400 and ElectroMotion ESL C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Polk Audio and MartinLogan. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R400 and MartinLogan ESL C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk R400 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 Polk R400 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 R400 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 |
Polk R400 |
MartinLogan ESL C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1 x 1-7/16-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 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
R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz whereas ElectroMotion ESL C has a frequency range of 66-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 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
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
R400 is a 8 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.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
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.
R400 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R400 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
R400 features Binding post type posts and ElectroMotion ESL C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
MartinLogan ESL C's Binding post terminals
Polk R400 dual 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 Polk R400's and MartinLogan ESL C's external dimensions. Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) 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 36mm narrower and 5mm shorter than Polk R400 but it is also 38mm 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 Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ESL C is approximately 2386.2cm2 / 369.9inch2. The R400 requires 4% 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 Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs and the MartinLogan ESL C weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the R400 2% heavier than the ElectroMotion ESL C.
Here is a comparison of how R400 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 Polk R400?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R400:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
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
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
vs
2386cm2 (582x410mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
1700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 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 |
 Height |
194mm
vs
199mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL C |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
48-39K Hz |
66-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
high-rigidity aluminum woofers |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1 x 1-7/16" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Folded Motion |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
9 x 6.375" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
199.0mm (7.8") |
194.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
618.0mm (24.3") |
582.0mm (22.9") |
| Depth |
372.0mm (14.6") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut |
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 |