In this review, we will be comparing Motion 60XTi and 704 S2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from MartinLogan and Bowers Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan 60XTi and B&W 704 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan 60XTi and B&W 704 S2 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan 60XTi and B&W 704 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Motion 60XTi and 704 S2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan 60XTi |
B&W 704 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Motion 60XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2200Hz. On the other hand, the 704 S2 features a 1" Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5" Aerofoil Woofer .
Frequency Response
Motion 60XTi has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz whereas 704 S2 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Motion 60XTi can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 704 S2's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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 60XTi is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 704 S2 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 60XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion 60XTi sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the 704 S2's is rated at 88 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 60XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 704 S2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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 60XTi can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas 704 S2 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 250 watts less than the Motion 60XTi.
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
Both Motion 60XTi and 704 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
MartinLogan 60XTi's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion 60XTi and 704 S2 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 60XTi's and B&W 704 S2's external dimensions. MartinLogan 60XTi has external dimensions of 1174.0 x 231.0 x 396.0mm ( 46-3/16 x 9-1/16 x 15-9/16inch) whereas B&W 704 S2 has external dimensions of 959.0 x 165.0 x 277.0mm ( 37.8-inch x 6.5-inch x 10.9-inch) .
MartinLogan 60XTi is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 66mm wider, 215mm taller and 119mm deeper than B&W 704 S2.
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 60XTi is approximately 914.8cm2 / 141.8inch2 and base area of the B&W 704 S2 is approximately 457.1cm2 / 70.9inch2. The Motion 60XTi requires 100% more surface area than the 704 S2 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 60XTi weighs 30.00kg / 66lbs and the B&W 704 S2 weighs 18.50kg / 40.7lbs. This makes the Motion 60XTi 62% heavier than the 704 S2.
Here is a comparison of how Motion 60XTi and 704 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 60XTi?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 60XTi:
Floorstanding loudspeaker2 Grilles4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)4 Spike feet (w/ nuts attached)2 Feet stabizers4 BoltsHex-keyUsers ManualWarranty/Registration Information
What's in the Box of B&W 704 S2?
Here are the items that come with the 704 S2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrillePlinth (base)2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Two-piece foam port plug4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nuts4 Screws4 Washers4 Lock washersHex-keyManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
959mm
vs
1174mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
457cm2 (165x277mm)
vs
914cm2 (231x396mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3500USD
vs
3750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion 60XTi |
Bowers & Wilkins 704 S2 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-400 watts |
30-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-25k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aerofoil |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25 x 2.4" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion XT |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1174.0mm (46.2") |
959.0mm (37.8") |
| Width |
231.0mm (9.1") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
396.0mm (15.6") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
30.00kg (66lbs) |
18.50kg (40.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
Rosewood, Gloss Black, Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |