In this review, we will be comparing Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker and Motion XT C100, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Aperion and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker and MartinLogan Motion XT C100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker | MartinLogan Motion XT C100 |
|---|
| Brand | Aperion
United States · founded 1998 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-35k Hz | 42-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 5 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 Watts watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 24.31kg / 53.5lbs | 15.40kg / 33.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.75" x 31" x 13"
273.1 x 787.4 x 330.2mm | 8" x 24" x 14-1/2"
203 x 610 x 368mm |
|---|
What size room are the Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker and MartinLogan Motion XT C100 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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* 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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker and Motion XT C100 are 2-way speakers.
Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel SpeakerMartinLogan Motion XT C100
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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker features a 1.1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion XT C100 features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1300Hz and 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker has a frequency range of 35-35k Hz whereas Motion XT C100 has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion XT C100's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Verus V8C Center Channel 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
Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Motion XT C100 which has a nominal impedance of 5 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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Motion XT C100's is rated at 93 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 a more sensitive speaker compared to Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Verus V8C Center Channel 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.
Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas Motion XT C100 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Verus V8C Center Channel 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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion XT C100 features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion XT C100's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker's and MartinLogan Motion XT C100's external dimensions. Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker has external dimensions of 273.1 x 787.4 x 330.2mm (10.75 x 31 x 13inch) whereas MartinLogan Motion XT C100 has external dimensions of 203 x 610 x 368mm (8inch x 24inch x 14-1/2inch).
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is 177.4mm narrower and 70.1mm shorter than Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker but it is also 37.8mm deeper.
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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker needs about 16% more floor or shelf area. MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is 38mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker is 70mm 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 Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker is approximately 2600.0cm2 / 403.0inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is approximately 2244.8cm2 / 347.9inch2. The Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker requires 16% more surface area than the Motion XT C100 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker weighs 24.31kg / 53.5lbs and the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 weighs 15.40kg / 33.9lbs. This makes the Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker 58% heavier than the Motion XT C100.
Here is a comparison of how Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker and Motion XT C100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
203mm
vs
273mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2244cm2
vs
2600cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker |
MartinLogan Motion® XT C100 |
| Brand |
Aperion |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 Watts watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-35k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1300Hz and 2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
273.1mm (10.8") |
203.0mm (8") |
| Width |
787.4mm (31") |
610.0mm (24") |
| Depth |
330.2mm (13") |
368.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
24.31kg (53.5lbs) |
15.40kg (33.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
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 | A | Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker digs deeper - 35Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 93dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is the easier load at 5 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker takes more power (400W vs 300W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is easier to place; Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | MartinLogan Motion XT C100: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,998 vs $2,998 a pair). |
A Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker B MartinLogan Motion XT C100
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Aperion Verus V8C Center Channel Speaker the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and MartinLogan Motion XT C100 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.