In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by MartinLogan. MartinLogan Motion SLM XL is a On-wall speaker whereas the Motion LX16 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion SLM XL and MartinLogan LX16 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Motion SLM XL | MartinLogan LX16 |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1x1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 100-25k Hz | 60-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 5 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.08kg / 9lbs | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 34.1" x 6.4" x 1.89"
866.1 x 162.6 x 48.0mm | 11.0" x 6.4" x 9.5"
280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm |
|---|
Motion SLM XL and Motion LX16 are members of MartinLogan's Motion series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
MartinLogan Motion Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Motion SLM XL and Motion LX16 are 2-way speakers.
MartinLogan Motion SLM XLMartinLogan LX16
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 SLM XL |
MartinLogan LX16 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1x1.4-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Motion SLM XL features a 1x1.4" Folded Motion Ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 4" Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion LX16 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Motion SLM XL has a frequency range of 100-25k Hz whereas Motion LX16 has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the Motion LX16 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion SLM XL's min frequency of 100Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the On-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
On-wall 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 SLM XL is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Motion LX16 which has a nominal impedance of 5 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 SLM XL can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion SLM XL sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Motion LX16's is rated at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion SLM XL a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan LX16, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
On-wall Speakers
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 SLM XL
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Motion SLM XL features Custom 5-way binding posts type posts and Motion LX16 has a Custom 5-way binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan LX16's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
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 SLM XL's and MartinLogan LX16's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion SLM XL has external dimensions of 866.1 x 162.6 x 48.0mm () whereas MartinLogan LX16 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm (11.0 x 6.4 x 9.5inch).
MartinLogan Motion SLM XL is 2.4mm narrower and 194mm less deeper than MartinLogan LX16 but it is also 586.1mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of MartinLogan Motion SLM XL and MartinLogan LX16 in scale.
Comparison image of MartinLogan Motion SLM XL and MartinLogan LX16 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 SLM XL is approximately 78.0cm2 / 12.1inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan LX16 is approximately 399.3cm2 / 61.9inch2. The Motion SLM XL requires 80% less surface area than the Motion LX16 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 SLM XL and MartinLogan LX16 on a Media Console
What's in the Box of MartinLogan LX16?
Here are the items that come with the Motion LX16:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Magnetic grille
- 4 Rubber bumpers
- User's Manual (En/Fr)