In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 1100X and Dynamo 1600X, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by MartinLogan. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of MartinLogan 1100X and MartinLogan 1600X first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both MartinLogan 1100Xand MartinLogan 1600X have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan 1100X's woofer is 12-inch whereas the MartinLogan 1600X features a 15-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 1100X has a frequency range of 22-200 Hz whereas Dynamo 1600X has a frequency range of 20-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Dynamo 1600X can go slightly deeper then the Dynamo 1100X's min frequency of 22Hz.
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 Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
Both MartinLogan 1100X and MartinLogan 1600X have Acoustic Suspension type cabinets. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported designs.
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 1100X's and MartinLogan 1600X's external dimensions. MartinLogan 1100X has external dimensions of 435.0 x 381.0 x 410.0mm (17-1/8 x 15 x 16-1/8inch) whereas MartinLogan 1600X has external dimensions of 510.0 x 456.0 x 470.0mm (20-1/16 x 17-15/16 x 18-1/2inch).
MartinLogan 1600X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 75mm wider, 75mm taller and 60mm deeper than MartinLogan 1100X.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 1100X and MartinLogan 1600X in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan 1100X and MartinLogan 1600X Size and External Dimensions
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 1100X is approximately 1562.1cm2 / 242.1inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 1600X is approximately 2143.2cm2 / 332.2inch2. The Dynamo 1100X requires 27% less surface area than the Dynamo 1600X which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The MartinLogan 1100X weighs 20.91kg / 46lbs and the MartinLogan 1600X weighs 25.91kg / 57lbs. This makes the Dynamo 1600X 24% heavier than the Dynamo 1100X.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 1100X and Dynamo 1600X's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 1100X?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dynamo 1100X:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 1600X?
Here are the items that come with the Dynamo 1600X:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
 Height |
435mm
vs
510mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1562cm2
vs
2143cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
2000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
22 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
MartinLogan 1600X needs about 37% more floor area. MartinLogan 1600X stands 60mm further into the room. MartinLogan 1600X is 75mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1100X |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
650 watts |
900 watts |
| Frequency Response |
22-200 Hz |
20-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
650-watt RMS |
900-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front and bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
435.0mm (17.1") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Width |
381.0mm (15") |
456.0mm (18") |
| Depth |
410.0mm (16.1") |
470.0mm (18.5") |
| Weight |
20.91kg (46lbs) |
25.91kg (57lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black |
Satin Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
Siblings in MartinLogan's Dynamo range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (22Hz vs 20Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | MartinLogan 1600X has the bigger amplifier - 900W against 650W RMS, about 1.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | MartinLogan 1600X moves more air: 15" against 12" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are sealed designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Setup and tuning | evenly matched | The same tuning tools on both (room correction and app control). |
| Speaker-level inputs | A | MartinLogan 1100X takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Driver placement | depends | MartinLogan 1100X fires front/down and MartinLogan 1600X fires down. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | MartinLogan 1100X is about 38% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | A | MartinLogan 1100X costs less - $1,500 against $2,000, about 25% less. |
A MartinLogan 1100X B MartinLogan 1600X
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
MartinLogan 1600X is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 33% more. MartinLogan 1100X is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, MartinLogan 1100X is the only one of these two you can connect at all. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - MartinLogan 1100X is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.