In this review, we will be comparing TSi100 and Motion 35XTi, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and MartinLogan. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk TSi100 and MartinLogan 35XTi first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk TSi100 and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 Polk TSi100 and MartinLogan 35XTi 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 TSi100 and Motion 35XTi are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk TSi100 |
MartinLogan 35XTi |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.25 x 2.4-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Motion 35XTi features a 1.25 x 2.4" Folded Motion XT Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz whereas Motion 35XTi has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Motion 35XTi can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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
TSi100 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Motion 35XTi 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 Motion 35XTi can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. TSi100 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Motion 35XTi's is rated at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the MartinLogan 35XTi a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk TSi100, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
TSi100 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Motion 35XTi.
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 35XTi features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both TSi100 and Motion 35XTi 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 Polk TSi100's and MartinLogan 35XTi's external dimensions. Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm ( 11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch) whereas MartinLogan 35XTi has external dimensions of 343.0 x 192.0 x 300.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.5 x 11.8inch) .
MartinLogan 35XTi is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14.2mm wider, 63.6mm taller and 41mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk TSi100 and MartinLogan 35XTi in scale.
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 Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan 35XTi is approximately 576.0cm2 / 89.3inch2. The TSi100 requires 20% less surface area than the Motion 35XTi which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs and the MartinLogan 35XTi weighs 8.40kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the Motion 35XTi 85% heavier than the TSi100.
Here is a comparison of how TSi100 and Motion 35XTi's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of TSi100:
2 Black bookshelf speakers Detachable cloth grille (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Wall-Mount template Online registration sheet Polk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 35XTi?
Here are the items that come with the Motion 35XTi:
Bookshelf loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) Users Manual Warranty/Registration Information
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
Height |
279mm
vs
343mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
460cm2 (177x259mm)
vs
576cm2 (192x300mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
General |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
MartinLogan Motion 35XTi |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
MartinLogan |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
20-100 watts |
20-250 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
61-24k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Organic Fiber |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.25 x 2.4" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Folded Motion XT |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
2200Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
279.4mm (11") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
Width |
177.8mm (7") |
192.0mm (7.6") |
Depth |
259.0mm (10.2") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
Weight |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
8.40kg (18.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Black, Cherry |
Gloss Black, Matt White, Red Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
Keyhole |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
16-30" |
24-26" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |