In this review, we will be comparing Motion 35XTi and Motion 15i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan 35XTi and MartinLogan 15i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan 35XTi | MartinLogan 15i |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 60-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 5 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-250 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.40kg / 18.5lbs | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.5" x 7.5" x 11.8"
343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm | 11.4" x 6.8" x 9.4"
290.0 x 173.0 x 240.0mm |
|---|
Motion 35XTi and Motion 15i are members of MartinLogan's Motion series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
MartinLogan Motion Series
History
What size room are the MartinLogan 35XTi and MartinLogan 15i 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 35XTi |
MartinLogan 15i |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Motion 35XTi and Motion 15i are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan 35XTiMartinLogan 15i
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 35XTi |
MartinLogan 15i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas Motion 15i has a frequency range of 60-25k 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.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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 35XTi is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 15i 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 35XTi can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 92 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 35XTi can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Motion 15i has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.
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 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 35XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
MartinLogan 15i's Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion 35XTi and Motion 15i 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
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 35XTi's and MartinLogan 15i's external dimensions. MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm (13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch) whereas MartinLogan 15i has external dimensions of 290.0 x 173.0 x 240.0mm (11.4 x 6.8 x 9.4inch).
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 35XTi and MartinLogan 15i in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan 35XTi and MartinLogan 15i 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 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 15i is approximately 415.2cm2 / 64.4inch2. The Motion 35XTi requires 39% more surface area than the Motion 15i which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of MartinLogan 35XTi and MartinLogan 15i 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 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs and the MartinLogan 15i weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 56% heavier than the Motion 15i.
Here is a comparison of how Motion 35XTi and Motion 15i's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 35XTi?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 35XTi:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 15i?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 15i:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
 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 |
 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) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion 35XTi |
MartinLogan Motion 15i |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
60-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25 x 2.4" |
1.0 x 1.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion XT |
Folded Motion |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
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 |
343.0mm (13.5") |
290.0mm (11.4") |
| Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
173.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
8.40kg (18.5lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
| 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 |
24-26" |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in MartinLogan's Motion series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | MartinLogan 35XTi digs deeper - 50Hz against 60Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 92dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | MartinLogan 15i is the easier load at 5 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | MartinLogan 35XTi takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan 15i is easier to place; MartinLogan 35XTi is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | MartinLogan 35XTi: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | MartinLogan 15i is cheaper - $900 against $1,500, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A MartinLogan 35XTi B MartinLogan 15i
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
The usual trade-off: MartinLogan 35XTi measures better, MartinLogan 15i costs about about 67% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper MartinLogan 15i much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate MartinLogan 35XTi the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and MartinLogan 15i for a small room.
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.