In this review, we will be comparing Motion MP10 and Motion B10, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by MartinLogan Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion MP10 and MartinLogan Motion B10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Motion MP10 and Motion B10 are members of MartinLogan's Motion(4th Gen) series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
MartinLogan Motion(4th Gen) Series History
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion MP10 and MartinLogan Motion B10 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 MP10 and MartinLogan Motion B10 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Motion MP10 and Motion B10 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Motion MP10 |
MartinLogan Motion B10 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-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 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.
Frequency Response
Motion MP10 has a frequency range of 81-25k Hz whereas Motion B10 has a frequency range of 56-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Motion B10 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion MP10's min frequency of 81Hz.
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 MP10 and Motion B10 have the same Impedance of 5 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 92 dB.
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.
Motion MP10 and Motion B10 has the same power range of 20-200 watts.
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 MP10 features Custom 5-way binding posts type posts and Motion B10 has a Custom 5-way binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion MP10's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
MartinLogan Motion B10's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion MP10 and Motion B10 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 Motion MP10's and MartinLogan Motion B10's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion MP10 has external dimensions of 356 x 203 x 127mm ( 14inch x 8inch x 5inch ) whereas MartinLogan Motion B10 has external dimensions of 318 x 178 x 248mm ( 12-1/2inch x 7inch x 9-3/4inch ) .
MartinLogan Motion B10 is 25mm narrower and 38mm shorter than MartinLogan Motion MP10 but it is also 121mm deeper.
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 MartinLogan Motion B10 is approximately 441.4cm2 / 68.4inch2. The Motion MP10 requires 42% less surface area than the Motion B10 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 MP10 weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs and the MartinLogan Motion B10 weighs 6.60kg / 14.5lbs. This makes the Motion B10 50% heavier than the Motion MP10.
Here is a comparison of how Motion MP10 and Motion B10's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Base Surface Area |
257cm2 (203x127mm)
vs
441cm2 (178x248mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
998USD
vs
1198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
81 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
318mm
vs
356mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion® MP10 |
MartinLogan Motion® B10 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
5 ohms |
5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
81-25k Hz |
56-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Fiberglass |
Woven Fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.0 x 1.4" |
1.0 x 1.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
Folded Motion Ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2100Hz |
2370Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
356.0mm (14") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Width |
203.0mm (8") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
127.0mm (5") |
248.0mm (9.8") |
| Weight |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
6.60kg (14.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| 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 |