In this review, we will be comparing Motion CI MW4-LCR and Studio 6 66LCR, two Passive In-wall speakers from MartinLogan and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR and JBL Studio 6 66LCR first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter
- 2 x 4" Fiberglass Woofer
- 78-25kHz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 134.0" x 11.8750" x 2.6875"( 134.0 x 302.0 x 69.0mm )
JBL Studio 6 66LCR Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" PolyPlas Woofer
- 45-20kHz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:10-150watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 443.0" x 7.1250" x 3.7500"( 443.0 x 181.0 x 96.0mm )
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR and JBL Studio 6 66LCR 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 CI MW4-LCR |
JBL Studio 6 66LCR |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR and JBL Studio 6 66LCR 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 CI MW4-LCR and Studio 6 66LCR are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR |
JBL Studio 6 66LCR |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Motion CI MW4-LCR features a 1" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 4" Fiberglass Woofer . On the other hand, the Studio 6 66LCR features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" PolyPlas Woofer .
Frequency Response
Motion CI MW4-LCR has a frequency range of 78-25kHz whereas Studio 6 66LCR has a frequency range of 45-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Studio 6 66LCR can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion CI MW4-LCR's min frequency of 78Hz.
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 In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall Speakers
MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR
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 CI MW4-LCR is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Studio 6 66LCR which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion CI MW4-LCR sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Studio 6 66LCR's is rated at 94 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 6 66LCR a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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 CI MW4-LCR can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Motion CI MW4-LCR has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Studio 6 66LCR.
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
Motion CI MW4-LCR features Spring posts type posts and Studio 6 66LCR has a Spring posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 CI MW4-LCR's and JBL Studio 6 66LCR's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR has external dimensions of 134.0 x 302.0 x 69.0mm ( 5.2500-inch x 11.8750-inch x 2.6875-inch) whereas JBL Studio 6 66LCR has external dimensions of 443.0 x 181.0 x 96.0mm ( 17.4375-inch x 7.1250-inch x 3.7500-inch) .
MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR is 309mm shorter and 27mm less deeper than JBL Studio 6 66LCR but it is also 121mm wider.
What's in the Box of MartinLogan Motion CI MW4-LCR?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion CI MW4-LCR:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleTorx-bitUser-feets ManualCutout Template
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 6 66LCR?
Here are the items that come with the Studio 6 66LCR:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide