In this review, we will be comparing Axis and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS, two Passive In-wall speakers from MartinLogan and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Axis and GoldenEar Invisa SPS first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Axis Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.25x2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 45-25kHz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-250watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 367.0" x 7.1250" x 3.7500"( 367.0 x 181.0 x 96.0mm )
GoldenEar Invisa SPS Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- ---" Folded Ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 25-35kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-350watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 674.0" x 7.1250" x 3.3125"( 674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Axis and GoldenEar Invisa SPS 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* |
MartinLogan Axis |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Bad |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* 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 MartinLogan Axis and GoldenEar Invisa SPS 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 Axis is a 2-way design whereas the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 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 |
MartinLogan Axis |
GoldenEar Invisa SPS |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25x2.4-inch
|
----inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
Axis features a 1.25x2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS features a ---" Folded Ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 4 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Axis has a frequency range of 45-25kHz whereas Invisa Signature Point Source SPS has a frequency range of 25-35kHz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Axis's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
High Frequency
In-wall 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
Axis is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Axis can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Axis sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS's is rated at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Axis a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Invisa SPS, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Invisa Signature Point Source SPS
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.
Axis can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Axis has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS.
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
Axis features Spring post type posts and Invisa Signature Point Source SPS 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 MartinLogan Axis's and GoldenEar Invisa SPS's external dimensions. MartinLogan Axis has external dimensions of 367.0 x 181.0 x 96.0mm ( 14.4375-inch x 7.1250-inch x 3.7500-inch) whereas GoldenEar Invisa SPS has external dimensions of 674.0 x 181.0 x 85.0mm ( 26.5000-inch x 7.1250-inch x 3.3125-inch) .
What's in the Box of MartinLogan Axis?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Axis:
In-wall speakerGrillePaint shieldUser-feets ManualInstall Template
What's in the Box of GoldenEar Invisa SPS?
Here are the items that come with the Invisa Signature Point Source SPS:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualCut-Out TemplateCardboard Paint Shield