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MartinLogan Motion XT C100 vs Sonus Sonetto Center II Comparison

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MartinLogan Motion XT C100

Passive Center Channel | 42-25k Hz

MartinLogan Motion® XT C100
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Sonus Sonetto Center II

Passive Center Channel | 42-25k Hz

Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II
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MartinLogan Motion XT C100 MartinLogan Motion X...
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Sonus Sonetto Center II Sonus Sonetto Center...
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MartinLogan Motion X...
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Sonus Sonetto Center...
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MartinLogan Motion XT C100 vs Sonus Sonetto Center II Speaker Comparison

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.

MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
  • 42-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 93 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 5ohms
  • Power Range:20-300watts
  • Weight:15.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 203.0" x 24" x 14-1/2"( 203 x 610 x 368mm )

Sonus Sonetto Center II Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 2 x 6" aluminum cone Woofer
  • 6" Midrange
  • 42-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 91 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:50-300watts
  • Weight:16.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 289.0" x 30" 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the MartinLogan Motion XT C100 and Sonus Sonetto Center II 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

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.

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.

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

Motion XT C100
Sonetto CII
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

MartinLogan Motion XT C100
Sonus Sonetto Center II
Min
Average
Max

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 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

Motion XT C100
Sonetto CII
Min
Average
Max

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.

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

Both Motion XT C100 and Sonetto CII features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

MartinLogan Motion XT C100 Terminals
MartinLogan Motion XT C100's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Sonus Sonetto Center IIBinding post Terminals
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

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 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
Sonus Sonetto Center II
Min
Average
Max

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

  • Reasons to choose MartinLogan Motion® XT C100 over Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II
    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

    Reasons to choose Sonus Faber Sonetto Center II over MartinLogan Motion® XT C100

    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)
    MartinLogan Motion XT C100 vs Sonus Sonetto Center II Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    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

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