In this review, we will be comparing Motion B10 and Motion XT B100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion B10 and MartinLogan Motion XT B100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Motion B10 | MartinLogan Motion XT B100 |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Woven Fiberglass | 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-25k Hz | 45-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 5 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.60kg / 14.5lbs | 9.30kg / 20.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/2" x 7" x 9-3/4"
318 x 178 x 248mm | 14-1/2" x 8" x 12-1/2"
368 x 203 x 318mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion B10 and MartinLogan Motion XT B100 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 Motion B10 |
MartinLogan Motion XT B100 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 B10 and Motion XT B100 are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan Motion B10MartinLogan Motion XT B100
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 Motion B10 |
MartinLogan Motion XT B100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Motion XT B100 features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Motion B10 has a frequency range of 56-25k Hz whereas Motion XT B100 has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Motion XT B100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion B10's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 B10 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the Motion XT B100 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 Motion XT B100 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion B10 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Motion XT B100's is rated at 93 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT B100 a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Motion B10, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Motion XT B100 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Motion B10 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Motion XT B100.
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.
MartinLogan Motion XT B100
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion XT B100 features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Motion B10 has a Custom 5-way binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion B10's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
MartinLogan Motion XT B100's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion B10 and Motion XT B100 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 Motion B10's and MartinLogan Motion XT B100'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 MartinLogan Motion XT B100 has external dimensions of 368 x 203 x 318mm (14-1/2-inch x 8inch x 12-1/2inch).
MartinLogan Motion XT B100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 50mm taller and 70mm deeper than MartinLogan Motion B10.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Motion B10 and MartinLogan Motion XT B100 in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Motion B10 and MartinLogan Motion XT B100 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 Motion B10 is approximately 441.4cm2 / 68.4inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Motion XT B100 is approximately 645.5cm2 / 100.1inch2. The Motion B10 requires 32% less surface area than the Motion XT B100 which gives it a small advantage 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 Motion B10 and MartinLogan Motion XT B100 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 Motion B10 weighs 6.60kg / 14.5lbs and the MartinLogan Motion XT B100 weighs 9.30kg / 20.5lbs. This makes the Motion XT B100 41% heavier than the Motion B10.
Here is a comparison of how Motion B10 and Motion XT B100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
MartinLogan Motion XT B100
 Nominal Impedance |
5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
318mm
vs
368mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
441cm2
vs
645cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1598USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion® B10 |
MartinLogan Motion® XT B100 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
5 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-25k Hz |
45-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Fiberglass |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2370Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
368.0mm (14.5") |
| Width |
178.0mm (7") |
203.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
248.0mm (9.8") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Weight |
6.60kg (14.5lbs) |
9.30kg (20.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Both are MartinLogan, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | MartinLogan Motion XT B100 digs deeper - 45Hz against 56Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 93dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | MartinLogan Motion B10 is the easier load at 5 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | MartinLogan Motion XT B100 takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan Motion B10 is easier to place; MartinLogan Motion XT B100 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | MartinLogan Motion XT B100: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | MartinLogan Motion B10 is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,598, about 25% less. |
A MartinLogan Motion B10 B MartinLogan Motion XT B100
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 Motion XT B100 measures better, MartinLogan Motion B10 costs about about 33% 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 56Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper MartinLogan Motion B10 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate MartinLogan Motion B10 the better fit for a small room, and MartinLogan Motion XT B100 for a large room and a very large 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.