In this review, we will be comparing Motion MP10 and Q150, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from MartinLogan and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion MP10 and KEF Q150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Motion MP10 | KEF Q150 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" Woven Fiberglass | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 81-25k Hz | 51-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 5 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14" x 8" x 5"
356 x 203 x 127mm | 11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9"
303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion MP10 and KEF Q150 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 MP10 |
KEF Q150 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Motion MP10 and Q150 are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan Motion MP10KEF Q150
TweeterWoofer
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 MP10 |
KEF Q150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Motion MP10 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Woven Fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz. On the other hand, the Q150 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Motion MP10 has a frequency range of 81-25k Hz whereas Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Q150 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion MP10's min frequency of 81Hz.
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 MP10 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the Q150 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion MP10 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Q150's is rated at 86 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion MP10 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, 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 MP10 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Q150 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Motion MP10.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion MP10 features Post type posts and Q150 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion MP10's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion MP10 and Q150 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.
KEF Q150 Port
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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 MP10's and KEF Q150's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion MP10 has external dimensions of 356 x 203 x 127mm (14inch x 8inch x 5inch) whereas KEF Q150 has external dimensions of 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm (11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch).
KEF Q150 is 23mm narrower and 53mm shorter than MartinLogan Motion MP10 but it is also 151mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Motion MP10 and KEF Q150 in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Motion MP10 and KEF Q150 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 MP10 is approximately 257.8cm2 / 40.0inch2 and base area of the KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The Motion MP10 requires 48% less surface area than the Q150 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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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 MP10 and KEF Q150 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 MP10 weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs and the KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs. This makes the Q150 27% heavier than the Motion MP10.
Here is a comparison of how Motion MP10 and Q150's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q150?
Here are the items that come with the Q150:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Base Surface Area |
257cm2
vs
500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
5 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
81 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
303mm
vs
356mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion® MP10 |
KEF Q150 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
5 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
81-25k Hz |
51-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Fiberglass |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2100Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
356.0mm (14") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
203.0mm (8") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
127.0mm (5") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
5.60kg (12.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - MartinLogan Motion MP10 costs roughly 1.7x what KEF Q150 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
KEF Q150 digs deeper - 51Hz against 81Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
MartinLogan Motion MP10 is more sensitive (92dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
KEF Q150 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
A |
MartinLogan Motion MP10 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
MartinLogan Motion MP10 is easier to place; KEF Q150 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
B |
KEF Q150 is cheaper - $600 against $998, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A MartinLogan Motion MP10
B KEF Q150
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 81Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate MartinLogan Motion MP10 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF Q150 for near-field listening and 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.