In this review, we will be comparing Platinum 300 3G 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 Platinum 300 3G and MartinLogan Motion XT F200 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G 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.
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Drivers
Both Platinum 300 3G and Motion XT F200 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
MartinLogan Motion XT F200 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
Platinum 300 3G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 8" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 650 Hz - 3000 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
Platinum 300 3G has a frequency range of 17-60k Hz whereas Motion XT F200 has a frequency range of 27-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the Platinum 300 3G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion XT F200's min frequency of 27Hz.
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 Platinum 300 3G
MartinLogan Motion XT F200
Impedance and Sensitivity
Platinum 300 3G and Motion XT F200 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Platinum 300 3G sensitivity is rated at 88dB and the Motion XT F200's is at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G, 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 Platinum 300 3G and the Platinum 300 3G 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.
Platinum 300 3G can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Platinum 300 3G has a max power handling value of 400 watts RMS , 200 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 Platinum 300 3G and Motion XT F200 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Platinum 300 3G has a rear firing port whereas Motion XT F200 has a bottom firing ports. MartinLogan Motion XT F200's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G with its rear-firing port.
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 Platinum 300 3G's and MartinLogan Motion XT F200's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G has external dimensions of 1131.1 x 429.8 x 525 mm ( 44.5 x 16.9 x 20.6-inch) 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 81mm narrower and 106mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G but it is also 158mm 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 Platinum 300 3G is approximately 2257.5cm2 / 349.9inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 is approximately 1462.3cm2 / 226.7inch2. The Platinum 300 3G requires 54% 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 Platinum 300 3G weighs 53.60kg / 117.9lbs and the MartinLogan Motion XT F200 weighs 39.00kg / 85.8lbs. This makes the Platinum 300 3G 37% heavier than the Motion XT F200.
Here is a comparison of how Platinum 300 3G 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 Platinum 300 3G
MartinLogan Motion XT F200
Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
1131mm
vs
1289mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Max Input Power |
600 watts
vs
400 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Base Surface Area |
1462cm2 (349x419mm)
vs
2257cm2 (430x525mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
5498USD
vs
17900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Monitor Audio Platinum 300 3G |
MartinLogan Motion® XT F200 |
Brand |
Monitor Audio |
MartinLogan |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 400 watts |
20-600 watts |
Sensitivity |
88dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
17-60k Hz |
27-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
RDT III |
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 |
4" |
6.5" |
Crossover Frequency |
650 Hz - 3000 Hz |
300Hz and 2600Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
1289.0mm (50.7") |
Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
349.0mm (13.7") |
Depth |
525.0mm (20.7") |
419.0mm (16.5") |
Weight |
53.60kg (117.9lbs) |
39.00kg (85.8lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Piano Black, Piano Ebony, Satin White |
Gloss Black, Walnut, and Satin White |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |