In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 12 and Dynamo 400, 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 Dynamo 12 and MartinLogan 400 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 Dynamo 12and MartinLogan 400 have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan Dynamo 12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the MartinLogan 400 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 12 has a frequency range of 22-200 Hz whereas Dynamo 400 has a frequency range of 30-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the Dynamo 12 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Dynamo 400's min frequency of 30Hz.
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
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 Dynamo 12's and MartinLogan 400's external dimensions. MartinLogan Dynamo 12 has external dimensions of 425.5 x 400.1 x 455.6mm () whereas MartinLogan 400 has external dimensions of 385.0 x 339.0 x 388.0mm (15-1/8 x 13-5/16 x 15-1/4inch).
MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 61.1mm wider, 40.5mm taller and 67.6mm deeper than MartinLogan 400.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
MartinLogan Dynamo 12 needs about 39% more floor or shelf area. MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is 68mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is 41mm taller.
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 Dynamo 12 is approximately 1822.9cm2 / 282.5inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 400 is approximately 1315.3cm2 / 203.9inch2. The Dynamo 12 requires 39% more surface area than the Dynamo 400 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Dynamo 12 weighs 27.90kg / 61.4lbs and the MartinLogan 400 weighs 12.95kg / 28.5lbs. This makes the Dynamo 12 115% heavier than the Dynamo 400.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 12 and Dynamo 400's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
385mm
vs
425mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1315cm2
vs
1822cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
500USD
vs
1600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
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 Dynamo 12 needs about 39% more floor area. MartinLogan Dynamo 12 stands 68mm further into the room. MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is 41mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 12 |
MartinLogan Dynamo 400 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
22-200 Hz |
30-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
800-watt RMS |
75-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
1600-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
425.5mm (16.8") |
385.0mm (15.2") |
| Width |
400.1mm (15.8") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Depth |
455.6mm (17.9") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
27.90kg (61.4lbs) |
12.95kg (28.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Satin Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years w/ registration |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years w/ registration |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | MartinLogan Dynamo 12 goes deeper - 22Hz against 30Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | A | MartinLogan Dynamo 12 has the bigger amplifier - 800W against 75W RMS, about 10.3dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | MartinLogan Dynamo 12 moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; MartinLogan 400 is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | MartinLogan 400 is about 35% 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 | B | MartinLogan 400 costs less - $500 against $1,600, about 69% less. |
A MartinLogan Dynamo 12 B MartinLogan 400
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?
The usual trade-off: MartinLogan Dynamo 12 measures better, MartinLogan 400 costs about 69% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, MartinLogan 400 will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is usually the easier one to make sound right. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $500 each, two MartinLogan 400 cost about $1,000 against $1,600 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.