In this review, we will be comparing Motion B10 and P300, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MartinLogan and Buchardt. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion B10 and Buchardt P300 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion B10 and Buchardt P300 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 Motion B10 and Buchardt P300 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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Drivers
Both Motion B10 and P300 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
MartinLogan Motion B10 |
Buchardt P300 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
0.74-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Motion B10 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woven Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2370Hz. On the other hand, the P300 features a 0.74" Custom fine weave soft fabric textile with CDC aluminum waveguide aluminum waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Motion B10 has a frequency range of 56-25k Hz whereas P300 has a frequency range of 37-40k HZ. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the P300 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion B10's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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 B10 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the P300 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 P300 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion B10 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the P300's is rated at 86 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion B10 a more sensitive speaker compared to Buchardt P300, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
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.
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 Motion B10's and Buchardt P300's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion B10 has external dimensions of 318 x 178 x 248mm ( 12-1/2inch x 7inch x 9-3/4inch ) whereas Buchardt P300 has external dimensions of 365.0 x 180.0 x 280.0mm ( 14.4 x 7 x 11inch) .
Buchardt P300 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 2mm wider, 47mm taller and 32mm deeper than MartinLogan Motion B10.
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 Motion B10 is approximately 441.4cm2 / 68.4inch2 and base area of the Buchardt P300 is approximately 504.0cm2 / 78.1inch2. The Motion B10 requires 12% less surface area than the P300 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 Motion B10 weighs 6.60kg / 14.5lbs and the Buchardt P300 weighs 6.30kg / 13.9lbs. This makes the Motion B10 5% heavier than the P300.
Here is a comparison of how Motion B10 and P300's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
318mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
441cm2 (178x248mm)
vs
504cm2 (180x280mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1450USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Passive Radiator |
one 5x8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
General |
MartinLogan Motion® B10 |
Buchardt P300 |
Brand |
MartinLogan |
Buchardt |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-200 watts |
50 - 200 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
86 dB |
Impedance |
5 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
56-25k Hz |
37-40k HZ |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6" |
Woofer Composition |
Woven Fiberglass |
paper |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
0.74" |
Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
aluminum waveguide |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2370Hz |
2900Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
365.0mm (14.4") |
Width |
178.0mm (7") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
Depth |
248.0mm (9.8") |
280.0mm (11") |
Weight |
6.60kg (14.5lbs) |
6.30kg (13.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
n/a |
15mm Fiberboard HMR.E2 Moisture-proof with internal bracing |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Black, White, Peach, Ocean, Olive |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
n/a |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |