In this review, we will be comparing UIW RLS II and Motion XT CI XTW6, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and MartinLogan. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive UIW RLS II and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive UIW RLS II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 22-30kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-350watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 724.0" x 7.0000" x 3.8750"( 724.0 x 178.0 x 99.0mm )
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.27 x 2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 56-25kHz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 258.0" x 7.0000" x 3.4375"( 258.0 x 178.0 x 88.0mm )
What size room are the Definitive UIW RLS II 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* |
Definitive UIW RLS II |
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Average |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Definitive UIW RLS II and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both UIW RLS II and Motion XT CI XTW6 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Definitive UIW RLS II |
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.27 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
UIW RLS II features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene 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
UIW RLS II has a frequency range of 22-30kHz whereas Motion XT CI XTW6 has a frequency range of 56-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the UIW RLS II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion XT CI XTW6's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall Speakers
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
UIW RLS II and Motion XT CI XTW6 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. UIW RLS II sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Motion XT CI XTW6's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Definitive UIW RLS II a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
UIW RLS II can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Motion XT CI XTW6 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 250 watts less than the UIW RLS II.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
UIW RLS II 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Definitive UIW RLS II's and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6's external dimensions. Definitive UIW RLS II has external dimensions of 724.0 x 178.0 x 99.0mm ( 28.5000-inch x 7.0000-inch x 3.8750-inch) 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) .
What's in the Box of Definitive UIW RLS II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of UIW RLS II:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleSelf-adhesive foam gasketPaint maskWall-Mount TemplateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration Card
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 loudspeakerGrilleT20 torx-bitUser-feets ManualCutout Template
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Number of Woofers 
High Frequency Response 
Passive Radiator 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*