MartinLogan Expands Motion Series with New Bookshelf & Floorstanding Speakers
Summary
- Product Name: Motion 2i, Motion 4i, Motion 6i, Motion 8i, Motion SLM X3
- Manufacturer: MartinLogan
- Review Date: September 08, 2017 20:00
- MSRP: $180/ea Motion 2i, $250/ea Motion 4i, $280/ea Motion 6i, $400/ea Motion 8i, $1000/ea Motion SLM X3
- First Impression: Gotta Have It!
Motion 2i Front/Surround
- Frequency Response 115-23.000 Hz
- Dispersion 80°x80°
- Sensitivity 86db @ 2.83 volts/ meter
- Impedance 6 Ohms. Compatible with 4, 6, or 8 Ohm rated amplifiers.
- Crossover Frequency 3,800 Hz
- High Frequency Driver 0.94” x 1” Folded Motion Transducer with 2.8” x 1.25” diaphragm
- Low Frequency Driver 3.5” (8.9cm) poly cone with stamped steel basket.
- Cabinet Sealed
- Rec Amp Power 20-100 watts
- Binding Post Inputs Push Style w banana jacks
- Weight 3.4 lb
- Dimensions (HxWxD) 10" x 4.7" x 4.6"
Motion 4i Front/Surround
- Frequency Response 70-23,000 Hz
- Dispersion 80°x80°
- Sensitivity 90 dB @ 2.83 volts/ meter
- Impedance 4 Ohms. Compatible with 4, 6, or 8 Ohm rated amplifiers.
- Crossover Frequency 2,900 Hz
- High Frequency Driver 1” x 1.4” Folded Motion Transducer with 5.25” x 1.75” diaphragm.
- Low Frequency Driver 4” (10.2cm) paper cone with stamped steel basket.
- Cabinet Folded bass-reflex port
- Rec Amp Power 20-150 watts
- Binding Post Inputs Push Style w banana jacks
- Weight 6 lb
- Dimensions (HxWxD) 12.6” x 5.6” x 5.7”
Motion 6i Center/Front/Surround
- Frequency Response 120–23,000 Hz ± 3 dB
- Dispersion 80° x 80°
- Sensitivity 89 dB @ 2.83 volts/ meter
- Impedance 6 Ohms. Compatible with 4, 6 or 8 Ohm rated amplifiers.
- Crossover Frequency 4,000 Hz
- High Frequency Driver 0.94” x 1” Folded Motion Transducer with 2.8” x 1.25” diaphragm.
- Low Frequency Driver Two 3.5” (8.9cm) poly cone with stamped steel basket.
- Cabinet Sealed
- Rec Amp Power 20–130 watts
- Binding Post Inputs Push style with banana jacks
- Weight 5.7 lb
- Dimensions (HxWxD) 5.2” x 17.5” x 4”
Motion 8i Center/Front/Surround
- Frequency Response 70–23,000 Hz ± 3 dB
- Dispersion 80° x 80°
- Sensitivity 89 dB @ 2.83 volts/ meter
- Impedance 4 Ohms. Compatible with 4, 6 or 8 Ohm rated amplifiers.
- Crossover Frequency 3,000Hz
- High Frequency Driver 1” x 1.4” Folded Motion Transducer with 5.25” x 1.75” diaphragm.
- Low Frequency Driver Two 4” (10.2cm) paper cone with stamped steel basket.
- Cabinet Sealed
- Rec Amp Power 20–180 watts
- Binding Post Inputs Push style with banana jacks
- Weight 8.5 lb
- Dimensions (HxWxD) 5.6” x 22” x 5.2”
Motion SLM X3 3-Channel Soundbar (non-powered)
- Frequency Response 120–23,000 Hz ± 3 dB
- Dispersion 80° x 80°
- Sensitivity 93 dB @ 2.83 volts/ meter
- Impedance 4 Ohms. Compatible with 4, 6 or 8 Ohm rated amplifiers.
- Crossover Frequency 3,000 Hz (2-way design
- High Frequency Driver Three 1” x 1.4” Folded Motion Transducer with 5.25” x 1.75” diaphragm.
- Low Frequency Driver Six 4” (10.2cm) paper cone
- Cabinet Sealed
- Rec Amp Power 20–140 watts
- Binding Post Inputs Push style
- Weight 13 lb
- Dimensions (HxWxD) 6.3” x 48” x 2”
In 2010 MartinLogan released their Motion Series Speakers with their trademarked Folded Motion tweeters. Since then, the Motion series has seen several iterations, models, and size changes. This week at CEDIA in San Diego, California, MartinLogan announced five new Motion Series speakers, including four compact speakers and an ultra-slim non-powered 3-channel soundbar designed expressly for super-thin televisions.
With these newest additions, the Motion Series now starts at under $180 (US retail) per channel for their 2i series speaker and under $1,500 (US retail) for a complete 5.1 channel MartinLogan home theater system (including a MartinLogan Dynamo Series subwoofer).
Motion 2i and Motion 4i
MartinLogan Motion 2i (left) and 4i (right)
Compact Motion 2i and 4i bookshelf speakers are designed to work as front or surround channels in freestanding bookshelf applications or mounted to a wall. The Motion 2i and 4i bookshelf speakers can also mount upside down to facilitate placement high on a wall. With a trend in immersive audio like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X forget about upward firing speakers. For $180 each, you can get four compact sized, easily wall mountable Motion 2i speakers to create a killer 5.1.4 system without having to cut holes in your ceiling to install height channels.
Motion 6i and Motion 8i
Compact Motion 6i and 8i speakers are designed for center, front, and surround channel applications. Designed with flexibility in mind, both models are equally adept at both on-wall or freestanding applications. When mounted on the wall, the Motion 6i and 8i can mount horizontally or vertically around a flat screen television.
Motion SLM X3
Although nowhere near as prevalent as soundbars with internal amplifiers, a few companies offer passive (nonpowered) soundbars. The Motion SLM X3 from MartinLogan comes with six ultra-slim fiber cone woofers to provide low-end bass extension from an ultra-slim profile and three advanced resolution Folded Motion tweeters. The high-gloss black cabinet is less than two inches deep when installed on a wall with its magnetic grille and low-profile wall mount bracket.
Motion SLM X3 3-Channel Soundbar (non-powered)
The Motion SLM X3 also comes with keyhole slots on the speaker's back panel that attach easily to the included wall bracket. If on-wall mounting is not appealing, SLM X3 includes "kick-stand" brackets that attach to the back of the cabinet, allowing it to free-stand. Just remember, you have to have a receiver or amplifier for power.
The complete Motion Series comprises of three floorstanding speakers (Motion 20, 40 & 60XT), two bookshelf speakers (Motion 15 & 35XT), two compact front/surround bookshelf speakers (Motion 2i and 4i), two center channels (Motion 30 and 50XT), two compact center/front/surround channels (Motion 6i and 8i), and three ultra-slim speakers (Motion SLM, SLM XL, and SLM X3).
All models of Motion speakers are currently shipping. Although we haven't had a chance to fully review them, if they're as good as the previous models of Motion speakers, these new models are really going to give you great bang for your buck!
Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.
Tony is our resident expert for lifestyle and wireless products including soundbars. He does most of the reviews for wireless and streaming loudspeakers and often compares soundbars in round ups and helps us cover the trade shows.
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