In this review, we will be comparing Motion XT C100 and Sonetto CII, two Passive Center Channel speakers from MartinLogan and Sonus faber.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Sonus Sonetto Center II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Motion XT C100 | Sonus Sonetto Center II |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT | 1.15" high definition DAD Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2 x 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum | 2 x 6" aluminum cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-25k Hz | 42-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 5 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-300 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.40kg / 33.9lbs | 16.20kg / 35.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8" x 24" x 14-1/2"
203 x 610 x 368mm | 11.4" x 29.3" x 16"
289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Sonus Sonetto Center II 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 XT C100 |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Motion XT C100 is a 2-way design whereas the Sonetto CII 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.
MartinLogan Motion XT C100Sonus Sonetto Center II
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 XT C100 |
Sonus Sonetto Center II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6-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 Sonetto CII features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1.650 Hz.
Frequency Response
Motion XT C100 and Sonetto CII has exactly the same frequency range of 42-25k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 XT C100 is a 5 ohms speaker compared to the Sonetto CII which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Sonetto CII can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Motion XT C100 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Sonetto CII's is rated at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto Center II, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 300 watts RMS, though Motion XT C100 is rated 20-300 watts and Sonetto CII 50-300 watts.
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.
MartinLogan Motion XT C100
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Motion XT C100 and Sonetto CII features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
MartinLogan Motion XT C100's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Sonus Sonetto Center II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Motion XT C100 and Sonetto CII 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
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 XT C100's and Sonus Sonetto Center II's external dimensions. MartinLogan Motion XT C100 has external dimensions of 203 x 610 x 368mm (8inch x 24inch x 14-1/2inch) whereas Sonus Sonetto Center II has external dimensions of 289.0 x 743.0 x 409.0mm (12 x 30 x 16inch).
Sonus Sonetto Center II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 133mm wider, 86mm taller and 41mm deeper than MartinLogan Motion XT C100.
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 Sonus Sonetto Center II is approximately 3038.9cm2 / 471.0inch2. The Motion XT C100 requires 26% less surface area than the Sonetto CII 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 Sonus Sonetto Center II weighs 16.20kg / 35.6lbs. This makes the Sonetto CII 5% heavier than the Motion XT C100.
Here is a comparison of how Motion XT C100 and Sonetto CII'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 Sonus Sonetto Center II?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto CII:
- 1 Masks
- 1 Fabric dust guards
- 1 Basis
- 2 Jumpers
- 1 Manual
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
5 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
203mm
vs
289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2244cm2
vs
3038cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Motion® XT C100 |
Sonus faber Sonetto Center II |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
Sonus faber |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
5 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
aluminum cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.25 x 2.4" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Motion XT |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1300Hz and 2500Hz |
1.650 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
203.0mm (8") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Width |
610.0mm (24") |
743.0mm (29.3") |
| Depth |
368.0mm (14.5") |
409.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
15.40kg (33.9lbs) |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (42Hz vs 42Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is more sensitive (93dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is the easier load at 5 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size |
depends |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is easier to place; Sonus Sonetto Center II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
MartinLogan Motion XT C100: bi-amping; Sonus Sonetto Center II: bi-amping. Sonus Sonetto Center II sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
Sonus Sonetto Center II is cheaper - $2,199 against $2,998, about 27% less. |
A MartinLogan Motion XT C100
B Sonus Sonetto Center II
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?
The usual trade-off: MartinLogan Motion XT C100 measures better, Sonus Sonetto Center II costs about 27% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Sonus Sonetto Center II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, MartinLogan Motion XT C100 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.