In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by MartinLogan. MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 is a On-wall speaker whereas the Motion 30i is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 and MartinLogan 30i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " AMT Tweeter
- 6 x 4" Aluminium Woofer
- 120-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-140watts
- Weight:5.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 6-3/8" x 48-1/16" x 2" ( 162.0 x 1220.0 x 51.0mm )
MartinLogan 30i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 65-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:8.18kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 6-15/16" x 16-5/8" x 11-1/16" ( 177.0 x 423.0 x 281.0mm )
Motion SLM X3 and Motion 30i are members of MartinLogan's Motion series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
MartinLogan Motion Series
History
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 and MartinLogan 30i 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 SLM X3 |
MartinLogan 30i |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 SLM X3 and MartinLogan 30i 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 SLM X3 and Motion 30i are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 |
MartinLogan 30i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Motion SLM X3 features a " Folded Motion AMT Tweeter and 6 x 4" Aluminium Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3,000 Hz. On the other hand, the Motion 30i features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Motion SLM X3 has a frequency range of 120-25k Hz whereas Motion 30i has a frequency range of 65-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the Motion 30i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion SLM X3's min frequency of 120Hz.
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 On-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
On-wall Speakers
High Frequency
On-wall Speakers
MartinLogan Motion SLM X3
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 SLM X3 and Motion 30i have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Motion SLM X3 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Motion 30i's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan 30i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Motion SLM X3 and the Motion SLM X3 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
On-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 SLM X3 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Motion SLM X3 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS , 60 watts less than the Motion 30i.
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 SLM X3 features Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts type posts and Motion 30i has a Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan 30i's Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts terminals
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 SLM X3's and MartinLogan 30i's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 has external dimensions of 162.0 x 1220.0 x 51.0mm ( 6-3/8 x 48-1/16 x 2inch) whereas MartinLogan 30i has external dimensions of 177.0 x 423.0 x 281.0mm ( 6-15/16 x 16-5/8 x 11-1/16inch) .
MartinLogan Motion SLM X3 is 15mm shorter and 230mm less deeper than MartinLogan 30i but it is also 797mm wider.
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 SLM X3 is approximately 622.2cm2 / 96.4inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 30i is approximately 1188.6cm2 / 184.2inch2. The Motion SLM X3 requires 48% less surface area than the Motion 30i which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 30i?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 30i:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information