In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 1600X and Dynamo 12, 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 1600X and MartinLogan Dynamo 12 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 1600Xand MartinLogan Dynamo 12 have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan 1600X's woofer is 15-inch whereas the MartinLogan Dynamo 12 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 1600X has a frequency range of 20-200 Hz whereas Dynamo 12 has a frequency range of 22-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 20Hz, the Dynamo 1600X can go slightly deeper then the Dynamo 12'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
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 1600X's and MartinLogan Dynamo 12's external dimensions. 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) whereas MartinLogan Dynamo 12 has external dimensions of 425.5 x 400.1 x 455.6mm ().
MartinLogan 1600X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 55.9mm wider, 84.5mm taller and 14.4mm deeper than MartinLogan Dynamo 12.
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 1600X is approximately 2143.2cm2 / 332.2inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is approximately 1822.9cm2 / 282.5inch2. The Dynamo 1600X requires 18% more surface area than the Dynamo 12 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 1600X weighs 25.91kg / 57lbs and the MartinLogan Dynamo 12 weighs 27.90kg / 61.4lbs. This makes the Dynamo 12 8% heavier than the Dynamo 1600X.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 1600X and Dynamo 12's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
20 Hz
vs
22 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
425mm
vs
510mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1822cm2
vs
2143cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1600USD
vs
2000USD
|
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 1600X needs about 18% more floor area. MartinLogan 1600X is 85mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X |
MartinLogan Dynamo 12 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
20-200 Hz |
22-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
900-watt RMS |
800-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
1600-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
510.0mm (20.1") |
425.5mm (16.8") |
| Width |
456.0mm (18") |
400.1mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
470.0mm (18.5") |
455.6mm (17.9") |
| Weight |
25.91kg (57lbs) |
27.90kg (61.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
|
| Available Colors |
Satin Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
3 Years w/ registration |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Yrs w/ Registration |
3 Years w/ registration |
Both are MartinLogan, so the design approach is shared and the differences are mostly in output, size and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (20Hz vs 22Hz). |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (900W vs 800W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | A | 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. |
| Cabinet size | depends | MartinLogan Dynamo 12 is about 29% 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 Dynamo 12 costs less - $1,600 against $2,000, about 20% less. |
A MartinLogan 1600X B MartinLogan Dynamo 12
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 1600X measures better, MartinLogan Dynamo 12 costs about 20% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - MartinLogan Dynamo 12 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.