In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter XL and Motion 50XTi, two 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.
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL Key Specs
- " Tweeter
- " Woofer
- 36-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-250watts
- Weight:9.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 147.0" x 29" x 11-1/8"( 147.0 x 737.0 x 283.0mm )
MartinLogan 50XTi Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 50-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:13.86kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 196.0" x 23" x 13-5/8"( 196.0 x 585.0 x 347.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar SuperCenter XL and MartinLogan 50XTi 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SuperCenter XL is a -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
|
-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
SuperCenter XL features a " Tweeter and 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.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
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
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. 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.
SuperCenter XL can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SuperCenter XL has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Motion 50XTi.
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
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
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 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.