In this review, we will be comparing Axis and Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR, two Passive In-wall speakers by MartinLogan Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Axis and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR 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 )
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.27 x 2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 44-25kHz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-150watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 686.0" x 6.6250" x 3.5625"( 686.0 x 169.0 x 91.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Axis and MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR 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 |
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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 MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Axis is a 2-way design whereas the Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR 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 |
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25x2.4-inch
|
1.27 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Axis features a 1.25x2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR features a 1.27 x 2.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Axis has a frequency range of 45-25kHz whereas Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR has a frequency range of 44-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR can go slightly deeper then 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
High Frequency
In-wall Speakers
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR
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 Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR 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 Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR's is rated at 93 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Axis a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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.
Axis can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Axis.
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 Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR 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 MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR'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 MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR has external dimensions of 686.0 x 169.0 x 91.0mm ( 27.0000-inch x 6.6250-inch x 3.5625-inch) .
MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR is 12mm narrower and 5mm less deeper than MartinLogan Axis but it is also 319mm taller.
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 MartinLogan Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR?
Here are the items that come with the Motion XT CI XTW6-LCR:
In-wall LCR loudspeakerGrilleT20 torx-bitUser-feets ManualCutout Template
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Height 
Price per pair* 
Driver Setup 
Nominal Impedance 
Woofer Size 
Base Surface Area