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KEF R6 Meta vs MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Comparison

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KEF R6 Meta

Passive Center Channel | 65-28k Hz

KEF R6 Meta
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MartinLogan Motion XT C100

Passive Center Channel | 42-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion® XT C100
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KEF R6 Meta KEF R6 Meta
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MartinLogan Motion XT C100 MartinLogan Motion X...
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KEF R6 Meta
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MartinLogan Motion X...
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KEF R6 Meta vs MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R6 Meta and Motion XT C100, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and MartinLogan.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R6 Meta and MartinLogan Motion XT C100 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R6 Meta Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 65-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:15-250watts
  • Weight:17.82kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 202.0" x 24-5/8" x 13-5/16"( 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm )

MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
  • 42-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 93 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 5ohms
  • Power Range:20-300watts
  • Weight:15.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 203.0" x 24" x 14-1/2"( 203 x 610 x 368mm )

What size room are the KEF R6 Meta 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* KEF R6 Meta MartinLogan Motion XT C100
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R6 Meta and MartinLogan Motion XT C100 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 R6 Meta is a 3-way design whereas the Motion XT C100 is a 2-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 KEF R6 Meta MartinLogan Motion XT C100
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1.25 x 2.4-inch
Midrange 1 x 5-inch -
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 2 x 6.5-inch

R6 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2400Hz. 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

R6 Meta has a frequency range of 65-28k Hz whereas Motion XT C100 has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Motion XT C100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R6 Meta's min frequency of 65Hz.

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

R6 Meta
Motion XT C100
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

KEF R6 Meta
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
Min
Average
Max

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

R6 Meta 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 R6 Meta can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R6 Meta sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Motion XT C100's is rated at 93 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R6 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

R6 Meta
Motion XT C100
Min
Average
Max

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.

R6 Meta can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R6 Meta has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Motion XT C100.

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

Both R6 Meta and Motion XT C100 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

KEF R6 Meta Terminals
KEF R6 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

MartinLogan Motion XT C100Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts Terminals
MartinLogan Motion XT C100'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 KEF R6 Meta's and MartinLogan Motion XT C100's external dimensions. KEF R6 Meta has external dimensions of 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm ( 7-15/16-inch x 24-5/8-inch x 13-5/16-inch) whereas MartinLogan Motion XT C100 has external dimensions of 203 x 610 x 368mm ( 8inch x 24inch x 14-1/2inch ) .

KEF R6 Meta is 1mm shorter and 29mm less deeper than MartinLogan Motion XT C100 but it is also 16mm 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 KEF R6 Meta is approximately 2122.1cm2 / 328.9inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is approximately 2244.8cm2 / 347.9inch2. The R6 Meta requires 5% less surface area than the Motion XT C100 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 KEF R6 Meta weighs 17.82kg / 39.2lbs and the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 weighs 15.40kg / 33.9lbs. This makes the R6 Meta 16% heavier than the Motion XT C100.

Here is a comparison of how R6 Meta and Motion XT C100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
KEF R6 Meta
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KEF R6 Meta?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R6 Meta:
  • 1 R2 Meta
  • 1 microfiber grille
  • Rubber feet
  • User manual and warranty information

  • Reasons to choose KEF R6 Meta over MartinLogan Motion® XT C100
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    High Frequency Response 28k Hz vs 25k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 202mm vs 203mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 2122cm2 vs 2244cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 1999USD vs 2998USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion® XT C100 over KEF R6 Meta

    Max Input Power 300 watts vs 250 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 93 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 5 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Low Frequency Response 42 Hz vs 65 Hz Generates deeper bass
    KEF R6 Meta vs MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF R6 Meta MartinLogan Motion® XT C100
    Brand KEF MartinLogan
    Speaker Type Center channel speaker Center channel speaker
    Power Range 15-250 watts 20-300 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 93 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 5 ohms
    Impedance 3.2 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 65-28k Hz 42-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Hybrid Aluminum Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1.25 x 2.4"
    Tweeter Type Hard-Dome Folded Motion XT
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5" No
    Crossover Frequency 500Hz and 2400Hz 1300Hz and 2500Hz
    Firing Direction n/a rear
    Suggested Break-in Period n/a Allow 72 hours of break-in
    Physical Specs
    Height 202.0mm (8") 203.0mm (8")
    Width 626.0mm (24.6") 610.0mm (24")
    Depth 339.0mm (13.3") 368.0mm (14.5")
    Weight 17.82kg (39.2lbs) 15.40kg (33.9lbs)
    Enclosure Sealed Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a MDF/Wood veneer
    Available Colors Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White
    Grille n/a Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 years 5 Years

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