In this review, we will be comparing Motion 50XTi and Silver C250 7G, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan 50XTi and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan 50XTi | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT | 1" gold dome C-CAM |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum | 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 65-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 88.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-300 watts | 80-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.86kg / 30.5lbs | 10.63kg / 23.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-11/16" x 23" x 13-5/8"
196.0 x 585.0 x 347.0mm | 8-1/16" x 18-15/16" x 10-3/4"
205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan 50XTi and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 50XTi |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| 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 50XTi and Silver C250 7G are 3-way speakers.
MartinLogan 50XTiMonitor Audio Silver C250 7G
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
MartinLogan 50XTi |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Motion 50XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 900Hz and 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Silver C250 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) Woofer.
Frequency Response
Motion 50XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas Silver C250 7G has a frequency range of 65-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Motion 50XTi can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Silver C250 7G'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 50XTi is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Silver C250 7G 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 50XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion 50XTi sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Silver C250 7G's is rated at 88.5 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 50XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G, 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 50XTi can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Silver C250 7G has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Motion 50XTi.
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.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion 50XTi features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Silver C250 7G has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan 50XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's Binding post 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 50XTi's and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's external dimensions. MartinLogan 50XTi has external dimensions of 196.0 x 585.0 x 347.0mm (7-11/16 x 23 x 13-5/8inch) whereas Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G has external dimensions of 205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm (8-1/16 x 18-15/16 x 10-3/4inch).
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is 103mm narrower and 73mm less deeper than MartinLogan 50XTi but it is also 9mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan 50XTi and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan 50XTi and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 50XTi is approximately 2030.0cm2 / 314.7inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is approximately 1320.7cm2 / 204.7inch2. The Motion 50XTi requires 54% more surface area than the Silver C250 7G which gives it a small disadvantage 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 50XTi weighs 13.86kg / 30.5lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G weighs 10.63kg / 23.4lbs. This makes the Motion 50XTi 30% heavier than the Silver C250 7G.
Here is a comparison of how Motion 50XTi and Silver C250 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 50XTi?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 50XTi:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver C250 7G:
- Center-channel loudspeakers
- Grille
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
196mm
vs
205mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1320cm2
vs
2030cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion 50XTi |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
80-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
65-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25 x 2.4" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion XT |
gold dome C-CAM |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
900Hz and 2200Hz |
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 |
196.0mm (7.7") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
585.0mm (23") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
347.0mm (13.7") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
13.86kg (30.5lbs) |
10.63kg (23.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
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 | A | MartinLogan 50XTi digs deeper - 50Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | MartinLogan 50XTi is more sensitive (94dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | MartinLogan 50XTi takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is easier to place; MartinLogan 50XTi is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | A | MartinLogan 50XTi: bi-amping. MartinLogan 50XTi sits in a wider range (18 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,200 vs $1,100 a pair). |
A MartinLogan 50XTi B Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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?
MartinLogan 50XTi has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. 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. Match it to your room: we rate MartinLogan 50XTi the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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.