In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter XL and Motion 50XTi, two Passive Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SuperCenter XL and MartinLogan 50XTi first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar SuperCenter XL | MartinLogan 50XTi |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-35k Hz | 50-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 94 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-250 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.55kg / 21lbs | 13.86kg / 30.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-3/4" x 29" x 11-1/8"
147.0 x 737.0 x 283.0mm | 7-11/16" x 23" x 13-5/8"
196.0 x 585.0 x 347.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar SuperCenter XL and MartinLogan 50XTi 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* |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
MartinLogan 50XTi |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SuperCenter XL is a 2-way design whereas the Motion 50XTi is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
MartinLogan 50XTi |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
SuperCenter XL features a " Tweeter and 2 x " Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion 50XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 900Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
SuperCenter XL has a frequency range of 36-35k Hz whereas Motion 50XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the SuperCenter XL can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 50XTi's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
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
SuperCenter XL is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 50XTi which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Motion 50XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SuperCenter XL sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Motion 50XTi's is rated at 94 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 50XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar SuperCenter XL, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
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.
Motion 50XTi can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas SuperCenter XL has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Motion 50XTi.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion 50XTi features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SuperCenter XL has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan 50XTi'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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL's and MartinLogan 50XTi's external dimensions. GoldenEar SuperCenter XL has external dimensions of 147.0 x 737.0 x 283.0mm (5-3/4 x 29 x 11-1/8inch) whereas MartinLogan 50XTi has external dimensions of 196.0 x 585.0 x 347.0mm (7-11/16 x 23 x 13-5/8inch).
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is 49mm shorter and 64mm less deeper than MartinLogan 50XTi but it is also 152mm wider.
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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is approximately 2085.7cm2 / 323.3inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 50XTi is approximately 2030.0cm2 / 314.7inch2. The SuperCenter XL requires 3% more surface area than the Motion 50XTi 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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs and the MartinLogan 50XTi weighs 13.86kg / 30.5lbs. This makes the Motion 50XTi 45% heavier than the SuperCenter XL.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCenter XL and Motion 50XTi's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of GoldenEar SuperCenter XL?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperCenter XL:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 3 Leveling feet
- 3 Threaded-inserts
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 50XTi?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 50XTi:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
147mm
vs
196mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
2030cm2
vs
2085cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
MartinLogan Motion 50XTi |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-35k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
900Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
147.0mm (5.8") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Width |
737.0mm (29") |
585.0mm (23") |
| Depth |
283.0mm (11.1") |
347.0mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
13.86kg (30.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL digs deeper - 36Hz against 50Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
MartinLogan 50XTi is more sensitive (94dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (250W vs 300W). |
| Size |
depends |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is easier to place; MartinLogan 50XTi is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability |
B |
MartinLogan 50XTi: bi-amping. MartinLogan 50XTi sits in a wider range (18 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($1,099 vs $1,200 a pair). |
A GoldenEar SuperCenter XL
B MartinLogan 50XTi
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, MartinLogan 50XTi is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.