In this review, we will be comparing Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker and Motion XT CI XTW6, two Passive In-wall speakers from Aperion and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker | MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 2" | 1.27 x 2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" | 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 70-35k Hz | 56-25kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 Watts watts | 50-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.30kg / 20.5lbs | 3.22kg / 7.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.7" x 10.2" x 4.4"
500.4 x 259.1 x 111.8mm | 10.1250" x 7.0000" x 3.4375"
258.0 x 178.0 x 88.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker |
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker and Motion XT CI XTW6 are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall SpeakerMartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker |
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
2-inch
|
1.27 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker features a 2" Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion XT CI XTW6 features a 1.27 x 2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker has a frequency range of 70-35k Hz whereas Motion XT CI XTW6 has a frequency range of 56-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Motion XT CI XTW6 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker's min frequency of 70Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Motion XT CI XTW6 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 91 dBdB.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Motion XT CI XTW6 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker features Spring post type posts and Motion XT CI XTW6 has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker's and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6's external dimensions. Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker has external dimensions of 500.4 x 259.1 x 111.8mm (19.7 x 10.2 x 4.4inch) whereas MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 has external dimensions of 258.0 x 178.0 x 88.0mm (10.1250-inch x 7.0000-inch x 3.4375-inch).
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 81.1mm wider, 242.4mm taller and 23.8mm deeper than MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6.
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.
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker needs about 85% more floor or shelf area. Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker is 24mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker is 242mm taller.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker weighs 9.30kg / 20.5lbs and the MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 weighs 3.22kg / 7.1lbs. This makes the Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker 189% heavier than the Motion XT CI XTW6.
Here is a comparison of how Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker and Motion XT CI XTW6's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive In-wall class.
Weight
All In-wall Speakers
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6
What's in the Box of MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6?
Here are the items that come with the Motion XT CI XTW6:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- T20 torx-bit
- User-feets Manual
- Cutout Template
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
70 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
258mm
vs
500mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
156cm2
vs
289cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1600USD
vs
1698USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker |
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
Passive In-wall Speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 Watts watts |
50-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
70-35k Hz |
56-25kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
2" |
1.27 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
500.4mm (19.7") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Width |
259.1mm (10.2") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
111.8mm (4.4") |
88.0mm (3.5") |
| Weight |
9.30kg (20.5lbs) |
3.22kg (7.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
In-wall |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 digs deeper - 56Hz against 70Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker takes more power (300W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 is easier to place; Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs In-wall. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,698 vs $1,600 a pair). |
A Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker B MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6
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 speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 70Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Aperion Theatrus T63W 6.5" In-Wall Speaker the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.