In this review, we will be comparing Dynamo 600X 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 600X 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 600Xand MartinLogan 400 have a single woofer setup however the MartinLogan 600X's woofer is 10-inch whereas the MartinLogan 400 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Dynamo 600X has a frequency range of 27-200 Hz whereas Dynamo 400 has a frequency range of 30-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the Dynamo 600X can go slightly deeper then 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
Cabinet Type
Both MartinLogan 600X and MartinLogan 400 have Bass reflex type cabinets.
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 600X's and MartinLogan 400's external dimensions. MartinLogan 600X has external dimensions of 415.0 x 369.0 x 420.0mm (16-5/16 x 14-1/2 x 16-1/2inch) 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 600X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 30mm taller and 32mm deeper than MartinLogan 400.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 600X and MartinLogan 400 in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan 600X and MartinLogan 400 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 600X is approximately 1549.8cm2 / 240.2inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 400 is approximately 1315.3cm2 / 203.9inch2. The Dynamo 600X requires 18% 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 600X weighs 15.91kg / 35lbs and the MartinLogan 400 weighs 12.95kg / 28.5lbs. This makes the Dynamo 600X 23% heavier than the Dynamo 400.
Here is a comparison of how Dynamo 600X and Dynamo 400'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 600X?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Dynamo 600X:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 400?
Here are the items that come with the Dynamo 400:
- Powered subwoofer
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- User-feets Manual
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
 Height |
385mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1315cm2
vs
1549cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
500USD
vs
700USD
|
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 600X needs about 18% more floor area. MartinLogan 600X stands 32mm further into the room. MartinLogan 600X is 30mm taller.
| General |
MartinLogan Dynamo 600X |
MartinLogan Dynamo 400 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
120 watts |
75 watts |
| Frequency Response |
27-200 Hz |
30-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
120-watt RMS |
75-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
385.0mm (15.2") |
| Width |
369.0mm (14.5") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
15.91kg (35lbs) |
12.95kg (28.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass reflex |
| 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 | A | MartinLogan 600X goes deeper - 27Hz against 30Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 30Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | MartinLogan 600X has the bigger amplifier - 120W against 75W RMS, about 2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | MartinLogan 600X moves more air: 10" against 8" 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 ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only MartinLogan 600X offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Cabinet size | depends | MartinLogan 400 is about 21% 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 $700, about 29% less. |
A MartinLogan 600X 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 600X measures better, MartinLogan 400 costs about 29% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two.
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.