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MartinLogan 15i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Comparison

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MartinLogan 15i

Passive Bookshelf | 60-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion 15i
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MartinLogan 35XTi

Passive Bookshelf | 50-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion 35XTi
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MartinLogan 15i MartinLogan 15i
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MartinLogan 35XTi MartinLogan 35XTi
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MartinLogan 15i
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MartinLogan 35XTi
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MartinLogan 15i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Motion 15i and Motion 35XTi, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by MartinLogan

Let's have a brief look at the main features of MartinLogan 15i and MartinLogan 35XTi first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MartinLogan 15i Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 60-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 92 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 5ohms
  • Power Range:20-200watts
  • Weight:5.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 290.0" x 6.8" x 9.4"( 290.0 x 173.0 x 240.0mm )

MartinLogan 35XTi Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
  • 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
  • 50-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 92 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-250watts
  • Weight:8.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 343.0" x 7.5" x 11.8"( 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm )

Motion 15i and Motion 35XTi are members of MartinLogan's Motion series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

MartinLogan Motion Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
MartinLogan 15i
Bookshelf 60-25k Hz 92 dB5Ω 1 x 5.25"
MartinLogan 35XTi
Bookshelf 50-25k Hz 92 dB4Ω 1 x 6.5"
MartinLogan 60XTi
  
Floor-standing 35-25k Hz 94 dB4Ω 2 x 8"
MartinLogan 50XTi
  
Center Channel 50-25k Hz 94 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
MartinLogan LX16
  
Bookshelf 60-25k Hz 92 dB5Ω 1 x 5.25"
MartinLogan 40i
  
Floor-standing 40-25k Hz 92 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
MartinLogan 20i
  
Floor-standing 46-25k Hz 90 dB4Ω 2 x 5.5"
MartinLogan 30i
  
Center Channel 65-25k Hz 91 dB4Ω 1 x 5.25"
MartinLogan 6i
  
Center Channel 120-23k Hz 89 dB6Ω 2 x 3.5"
MartinLogan 8i
  
Center Channel 70-23k Hz 89 dB4Ω 2 x 4"

What size room are the MartinLogan 15i and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 15i MartinLogan 35XTi
Near-field Poor Poor
Small Room Average Poor
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Average Good
Very Large Room Poor 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 MartinLogan 15i and MartinLogan 35XTi 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

Both Motion 15i and Motion 35XTi are 2-way speakers.

Driver MartinLogan 15i MartinLogan 35XTi
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1.0 x 1.4-inch 1.25 x 2.4-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5.25-inch 1 x 6.5-inch

Motion 15i features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.

Frequency Response

Motion 15i has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Motion 35XTi can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 15i's min frequency of 60Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Motion 15i
Motion 35XTi
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

MartinLogan 15i
MartinLogan 35XTi
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

Motion 15i is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 35XTi 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 35XTi can provide this impedance level.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 92 dBdB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Motion 15i
Motion 35XTi
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.

Motion 15i can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Motion 15i has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.

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 35XTi features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Motion 15i has a Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

MartinLogan 15i Terminals
MartinLogan 15i's Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts terminals

MartinLogan 35XTi Terminals
MartinLogan 35XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Motion 15i and Motion 35XTi have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.

If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.

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 15i's and MartinLogan 35XTi's external dimensions. MartinLogan 15i has external dimensions of 290.0 x 173.0 x 240.0mm ( 11.4 x 6.8 x 9.4inch) whereas MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch) .

MartinLogan 35XTi is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 53mm taller and 60mm deeper than MartinLogan 15i.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 15i and MartinLogan 35XTi in scale.

MartinLogan 15i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of MartinLogan 15i and MartinLogan 35XTi Size and External Dimensions

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 MartinLogan 15i is approximately 415.2cm2 / 64.4inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2. The Motion 15i requires 28% less surface area than the Motion 35XTi which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

MartinLogan 15i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of MartinLogan 15i and MartinLogan 35XTi on a Media Console
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 MartinLogan 15i weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs and the MartinLogan 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 56% heavier than the Motion 15i.

Here is a comparison of how Motion 15i and Motion 35XTi's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan 15i
MartinLogan 35XTi
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of MartinLogan 15i?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 15i:
  • Bookshelf loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • Users Manual
  • Warranty/Registration Information
  • What's in the Box of MartinLogan 35XTi?

    Here are the items that come with the Motion 35XTi:
  • Bookshelf loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
  • Users Manual
  • Warranty/Registration Information

  • Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion 15i over MartinLogan Motion 35XTi
    Nominal Impedance 5 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Height 290mm vs 343mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 415cm2 vs 576cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 900USD vs 1500USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion 35XTi over MartinLogan Motion 15i

    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 200 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 50 Hz vs 60 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    MartinLogan 15i vs MartinLogan 35XTi Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General MartinLogan Motion 15i MartinLogan Motion 35XTi
    Brand MartinLogan MartinLogan
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-200 watts 20-250 watts
    Sensitivity 92 dB 92 dB
    Impedance 5 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 60-25k Hz 50-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5.25" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Aluminum Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1.0 x 1.4" 1.25 x 2.4"
    Tweeter Type Folded Motion Folded Motion XT
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2700Hz 2200Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Suggested Break-in Period Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB
    Physical Specs
    Height 290.0mm (11.4") 343.0mm (13.5")
    Width 173.0mm (6.8") 192.0mm (7.6")
    Depth 240.0mm (9.4") 300.0mm (11.8")
    Weight 5.40kg (11.9lbs) 8.40kg (18.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Lacquer MDF/Lacquer
    Available Colors Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 26-28" 24-26"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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