In this review, we will be comparing Motion 30i and SuperCenter X, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and GoldenEar.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan 30i and GoldenEar SuperCenter X first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan 30i | GoldenEar SuperCenter X |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion | HVFR (High-Velocity Folded Ribbon) |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminum | 2 x 5.25" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-25k Hz | 45-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.18kg / 18lbs | 6.82kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-15/16" x 16-5/8" x 11-1/16"
177.0 x 423.0 x 281.0mm | 5-7/8" x 20-1/16" x 11-1/8"
150.0 x 510.0 x 283.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan 30i and GoldenEar SuperCenter X 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 30i |
GoldenEar SuperCenter X |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Motion 30i and SuperCenter X are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan 30iGoldenEar SuperCenter X
Woofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
MartinLogan 30i |
GoldenEar SuperCenter X |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Motion 30i features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2600Hz. On the other hand, the SuperCenter X features a " HVFR (High-Velocity Folded Ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Woofer.
Frequency Response
Motion 30i has a frequency range of 65-25k Hz whereas SuperCenter X has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the SuperCenter X can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 30i's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Motion 30i is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the SuperCenter X 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 Motion 30i can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion 30i sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the SuperCenter X's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 30i a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar SuperCenter X, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Motion 30i and SuperCenter X have the same power range of 20-200 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion 30i features 5-Way post type posts and SuperCenter X has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan 30i's Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts terminals
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 MartinLogan 30i's and GoldenEar SuperCenter X's external dimensions. MartinLogan 30i has external dimensions of 177.0 x 423.0 x 281.0mm (6-15/16 x 16-5/8 x 11-1/16inch) whereas GoldenEar SuperCenter X has external dimensions of 150.0 x 510.0 x 283.0mm (5-7/8 x 20-1/16 x 11-1/8inch).
MartinLogan 30i is 87mm narrower and 2mm less deeper than GoldenEar SuperCenter X but it is also 27mm 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 MartinLogan 30i is approximately 1188.6cm2 / 184.2inch2 and base area of the GoldenEar SuperCenter X is approximately 1443.3cm2 / 223.7inch2. The Motion 30i requires 18% less surface area than the SuperCenter X 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 MartinLogan 30i weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs and the GoldenEar SuperCenter X weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs. This makes the Motion 30i 20% heavier than the SuperCenter X.
Here is a comparison of how Motion 30i and SuperCenter X's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 30i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 30i:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
What's in the Box of GoldenEar SuperCenter X?
Here are the items that come with the SuperCenter X:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 3 Leveling feet
- 3 Threaded-inserts
- Owners Manual
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Base Surface Area |
1188cm2
vs
1443cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
7-inch x 10-inch quadratic planar bass
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
150mm
vs
177mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
749USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion 30i |
GoldenEar SuperCenter X |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
GoldenEar |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-25k Hz |
45-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion |
HVFR (High-Velocity Folded Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
| Width |
423.0mm (16.7") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
283.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
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 |
B |
GoldenEar SuperCenter X digs deeper - 45Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
GoldenEar SuperCenter X is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. MartinLogan 30i sits in a wider range (18 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
GoldenEar SuperCenter X is cheaper - $749 against $900, about 17% less. |
A MartinLogan 30i
B GoldenEar SuperCenter X
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
GoldenEar SuperCenter X is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take MartinLogan 30i if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, GoldenEar SuperCenter X is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.