In this review, we will be comparing T66 and Motion XT F200, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from GoldenEar and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar T66 and MartinLogan Motion XT F200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar T66 | MartinLogan Motion XT F200 |
|---|
| Brand | GoldenEar
United States · founded 2010 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 4.5" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5 x 9" | 3 x 8" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-25k Hz | 27-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-600 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 27.22kg / 59.9lbs | 39.00kg / 85.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49-7/16" x 11-13/16" x 17"
1255.7 x 300.0 x 431.8mm | 50-3/4" x 13-3/4" x 16-1/2"
1289 x 349 x 419mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both T66 and Motion XT F200 are 3-way speakers.
GoldenEar T66MartinLogan Motion XT F200
MidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
GoldenEar T66 |
MartinLogan Motion XT F200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 4.5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5 x 9-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
T66 features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter, a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 5 x 9" Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion XT F200 features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300Hz and 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
T66 has a frequency range of 29-25k Hz whereas Motion XT F200 has a frequency range of 27-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the Motion XT F200 can go slightly deeper then the T66's min frequency of 29Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
T66 and Motion XT F200 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. T66 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Motion XT F200's is at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar T66, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the T66 and the T66 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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.
MartinLogan Motion XT F200
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion XT F200 features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. T66 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion XT F200'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 T66's and MartinLogan Motion XT F200's external dimensions. GoldenEar T66 has external dimensions of 1255.7 x 300.0 x 431.8mm () whereas MartinLogan Motion XT F200 has external dimensions of 1289 x 349 x 419mm (50-3/4inch x 13-3/4inch x 16-1/2inch).
GoldenEar T66 is 49mm narrower and 33.3mm shorter than MartinLogan Motion XT F200 but it is also 12.8mm 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.
MartinLogan Motion XT F200 needs about 13% more floor or shelf area. MartinLogan Motion XT F200 is 33mm 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 GoldenEar T66 is approximately 1295.4cm2 / 200.8inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 is approximately 1462.3cm2 / 226.7inch2. The T66 requires 11% less surface area than the Motion XT F200 which gives it a small advantage 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 T66 weighs 27.22kg / 59.9lbs and the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 weighs 39.00kg / 85.8lbs. This makes the Motion XT F200 43% heavier than the T66.
Here is a comparison of how T66 and Motion XT F200's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Motion XT F200
 Height |
1255mm
vs
1289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1295cm2
vs
1462cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5 x 9 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
GoldenEar T66 |
MartinLogan Motion® XT F200 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-25k Hz |
27-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
5 x 9" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
300Hz and 2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1255.7mm (49.4") |
1289.0mm (50.7") |
| Width |
300.0mm (11.8") |
349.0mm (13.7") |
| Depth |
431.8mm (17") |
419.0mm (16.5") |
| Weight |
27.22kg (59.9lbs) |
39.00kg (85.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
| 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (29Hz vs 27Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 92dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | B | MartinLogan Motion XT F200: bi-amping. |
A GoldenEar T66 B MartinLogan Motion XT F200
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 F200 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.