In this review, we will be comparing Gold 500 6G and Motion XT F200, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G and MartinLogan Motion XT F200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 2 x 8" HDT C-CAM Woofer
- 44 Hz – 60 kHz Frequency Response
- 88.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 300watts
- Weight:26.56kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1156.0" x 15-1/16" x 18-11/16"( 383.0 x 1156.0 x 475.0mm )
MartinLogan Motion XT F200 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 27-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-600watts
- Weight:39.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1289.0" x 13-3/4" x 16-1/2"( 1289 x 349 x 419mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G and MartinLogan Motion XT F200 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* |
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G |
MartinLogan Motion XT F200 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Good |
(* 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 Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G and MartinLogan Motion XT F200 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 Gold 500 6G and Motion XT F200 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G |
MartinLogan Motion XT F200 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
Gold 500 6G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 8" HDT C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 700 Hz - 2600 Hz. On the other hand, the Motion XT F200 features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300Hz and 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Gold 500 6G has a frequency range of 44 Hz – 60 kHz whereas Motion XT F200 has a frequency range of 27-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the Motion XT F200 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Gold 500 6G's min frequency of 44Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G
MartinLogan Motion XT F200
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
Gold 500 6G and Motion XT F200 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Gold 500 6G sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the Motion XT F200's is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G, 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 Gold 500 6G and the Gold 500 6G can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Gold 500 6G can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Gold 500 6G has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS , 300 watts less than the Motion XT F200.
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 Gold 500 6G and Motion XT F200 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
MartinLogan Motion XT F200's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G's and MartinLogan Motion XT F200's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G has external dimensions of 383.0 x 1156.0 x 475.0mm ( 15-1/16 x 45-1/2 x 18-11/16) whereas MartinLogan Motion XT F200 has external dimensions of 1289 x 349 x 419mm ( 50-3/4inch x 13-3/4inch x 16-1/2inch ) .
MartinLogan Motion XT F200 is 34mm narrower and 56mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G but it is also 133mm taller.
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 Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G is approximately 5491.0cm2 / 851.1inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 is approximately 1462.3cm2 / 226.7inch2. The Gold 500 6G requires 276% more surface area than the Motion XT F200 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G weighs 26.56kg / 58.4lbs and the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 weighs 39.00kg / 85.8lbs. This makes the Motion XT F200 47% heavier than the Gold 500 6G.
Here is a comparison of how Gold 500 6G and Motion XT F200's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G
MartinLogan Motion XT F200
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gold 500 6G:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers 6 Grilles 4 Jumper-plates (pre-installed) 4 Port plugs 2 Base plates 8 Outrigger feet 8 rubber feet (pre-installed in outrigger feet) 8 Spikes (pre-installed in outrigger fee) 8 Large machine screws 24 Small machine screws Hex-key Quick Setup Guide Important Safety Instructions
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1156mm
vs
1289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
600 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1462cm2
vs
5491cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5498USD
vs
7499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Monitor Audio Gold 500 6G |
MartinLogan Motion® XT F200 |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
20-600 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
44 Hz – 60 kHz |
27-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
HDT C-CAM |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Folded Motion XT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
700 Hz - 2600 Hz |
300Hz and 2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
2 Base plates| 8 Outrigger feet| 8 rubber feet (pre-installed in outrigger feet)| 8 Spikes |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1156.0mm (45.5") |
1289.0mm (50.7") |
| Width |
383.0mm (15.1") |
349.0mm (13.7") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
419.0mm (16.5") |
| Weight |
26.56kg (58.4lbs) |
39.00kg (85.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Macassar Wood Veneer, High-Gloss Black, Satin White |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |