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MartinLogan 30i vs MartinLogan LX16 Comparison

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MartinLogan 30i

Passive Center Channel | 65-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion 30i
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MartinLogan LX16

Passive Bookshelf | 60-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion LX16
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MartinLogan 30i MartinLogan 30i
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MartinLogan LX16 MartinLogan LX16
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MartinLogan 30i
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MartinLogan LX16
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MartinLogan 30i vs MartinLogan LX16 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by MartinLogan. MartinLogan Motion 30i is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Motion LX16 is a Bookshelf speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of MartinLogan 30i and MartinLogan LX16 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MartinLogan 30i Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 65-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 91 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:20-200watts
  • Weight:8.18kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 177.0" x 16-5/8" x 11-1/16"( 177.0 x 423.0 x 281.0mm )

MartinLogan LX16 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): 280.0" x 6.4" x 9.5"( 280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm )

Motion 30i and Motion LX16 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 30i and MartinLogan LX16 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 MartinLogan LX16
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan 30i and MartinLogan LX16 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 30i and Motion LX16 are 2-way speakers.

Driver MartinLogan 30i MartinLogan LX16
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1.0 x 1.4-inch 1.0 x 1.4-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5.25-inch 1 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 Motion LX16 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.

Frequency Response

Motion 30i has a frequency range of 65-25k Hz whereas Motion LX16 has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the Motion LX16 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion 30i'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

Motion 30i
Motion LX16
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

MartinLogan 30i
MartinLogan LX16
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 30i is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Motion LX16 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 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 Motion LX16's is rated at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan LX16 a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan 30i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Motion 30i
Motion LX16
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 30i and Motion LX16 has the same power range of 20-200 watts.

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 30i features Custom 5-way binding posts type posts and Motion LX16 has a Custom 5-way binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

MartinLogan 30i Terminals
MartinLogan 30i's Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts terminals

MartinLogan LX16Custom 5-way binding posts Terminals
MartinLogan LX16's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Motion 30i and Motion LX16 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 30i's and MartinLogan LX16'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 MartinLogan LX16 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm ( 11.0 x 6.4 x 9.5inch) .

MartinLogan LX16 is 258mm narrower and 39mm less deeper than MartinLogan 30i but it is also 103mm 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 MartinLogan LX16 is approximately 399.3cm2 / 61.9inch2. The Motion 30i requires 198% more surface area than the Motion LX16 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

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 MartinLogan LX16?

    Here are the items that come with the Motion LX16:
  • Bookshelf loudspeaker
  • Magnetic grille
  • 4 Rubber bumpers
  • User's Manual (En/Fr)

  • Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion 30i over MartinLogan Motion LX16
    Height 177mm vs 280mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces

    Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion LX16 over MartinLogan Motion 30i

    Sensitivity 92 dB vs 91 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 5 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Low Frequency Response 60 Hz vs 65 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Mounting Bracket Yes vs No Allows mounting on walls
    Base Surface Area 399cm2 vs 1188cm2 Takes less floor space
    MartinLogan 30i vs MartinLogan LX16 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General MartinLogan Motion 30i MartinLogan Motion LX16
    Brand MartinLogan MartinLogan
    Speaker Type Center channel speaker Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-200 watts 20-200 watts
    Sensitivity 91 dB 92 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 5 ohms
    Frequency Response 65-25k Hz 60-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5.25" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Aluminum Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1.0 x 1.4" 1.0 x 1.4"
    Tweeter Type Folded Motion Folded Motion
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 400Hz and 2600Hz 2700Hz
    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 177.0mm (7") 280.0mm (11")
    Width 423.0mm (16.7") 165.0mm (6.5")
    Depth 281.0mm (11.1") 242.0mm (9.5")
    Weight 8.18kg (18lbs) 5.40kg (11.9lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Lacquer Piano Lacquer
    Available Colors White Cherry (dark)
    Mounting Bracket No 3/18-16 threaded insert
    Recommended Stand Height n/a 28-31"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Yrs w/Registration
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Yrs w/Registration

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