In this review, we will be comparing Motion XT C100 and Revel Performa3 C208, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Revel Performa3 C208 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Revel Performa3 C208 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 XT C100 and Revel Performa3 C208 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Motion XT C100 is a 2-way design whereas the Revel Performa3 C208 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Motion XT C100 features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1300Hz and 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Revel Performa3 C208 features a 1" aluminum dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 8" anodized aluminum cone with cast frames Woofer .
Frequency Response
Motion XT C100 has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas Revel Performa3 C208 has a frequency range of 50Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Motion XT C100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Revel Performa3 C208's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
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 XT C100 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the Revel Performa3 C208 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion XT C100 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Revel Performa3 C208's is rated at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel Performa3 C208, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 XT C100 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Motion XT C100 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Revel Performa3 C208.
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 XT C100 features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Revel Performa3 C208 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion XT C100's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Revel Performa3 C208's Binding post 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 XT C100's and Revel Performa3 C208's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion XT C100 has external dimensions of 203 x 610 x 368mm ( 8inch x 24inch x 14-1/2inch ) whereas Revel Performa3 C208 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 737.0 x 348.0mm ( 12-1/16 x 29 x 13-11/16inch) .
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is 127mm narrower and 104mm shorter than Revel Performa3 C208 but it is also 20mm 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 XT C100 is approximately 2244.8cm2 / 347.9inch2 and base area of the Revel Performa3 C208 is approximately 2564.8cm2 / 397.5inch2. The Motion XT C100 requires 12% less surface area than the Revel Performa3 C208 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 XT C100 weighs 15.40kg / 33.9lbs and the Revel Performa3 C208 weighs 23.41kg / 51.5lbs. This makes the Revel Performa3 C208 52% heavier than the Motion XT C100.
Here is a comparison of how Motion XT C100 and Revel Performa3 C208's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
What's in the Box of Revel Performa3 C208?
Here are the items that come with the Revel Performa3 C208:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Short feet2 Long feet2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners Manual
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
203mm
vs
307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2244cm2 (610x368mm)
vs
2564cm2 (737x348mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
5 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
2998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion® XT C100 |
Revel Performa3 C208 |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
50-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
5 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
50Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
anodized aluminum cone with cast frames |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25 x 2.4" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion XT |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1300Hz and 2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
203.0mm (8") |
307.0mm (12.1") |
| Width |
610.0mm (24") |
737.0mm (29") |
| Depth |
368.0mm (14.5") |
348.0mm (13.7") |
| Weight |
15.40kg (33.9lbs) |
23.41kg (51.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |