In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and Motion LX16, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 1 and MartinLogan LX16 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Reva 1 | MartinLogan LX16 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-20k Hz | 60-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 5 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/2" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"
318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm | 11.0" x 6.4" x 9.5"
280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 1 and MartinLogan LX16 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* |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
MartinLogan LX16 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both Reva 1 and Motion LX16 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Reva 1MartinLogan LX16
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
MartinLogan LX16 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0 x 1.4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the Motion LX16 features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz whereas Motion LX16 has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Reva 1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Motion LX16's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Reva 1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Motion LX16 which has a nominal impedance of 5 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reva 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Motion LX16's is rated at 92 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the MartinLogan LX16 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 1, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Motion LX16 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 140 watts less than the Motion LX16.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reva 1 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Motion LX16 has a Custom 5-way binding posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
MartinLogan LX16's Custom 5-way binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reva 1 has a bottom firing port whereas Motion LX16 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to MartinLogan LX16 with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale Reva 1's and MartinLogan LX16's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm (12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch) whereas MartinLogan LX16 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 165.0 x 242.0mm (11.0 x 6.4 x 9.5inch).
Wharfedale Reva 1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9mm wider, 38mm taller and 43mm deeper than MartinLogan LX16.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and MartinLogan LX16 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and MartinLogan LX16 Size and External Dimensions
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 Wharfedale Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan LX16 is approximately 399.3cm2 / 61.9inch2. The Reva 1 requires 24% more surface area than the Motion LX16 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and MartinLogan LX16 on a Media Console
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 Wharfedale Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the MartinLogan LX16 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the Reva 1 4% heavier than the Motion LX16.
Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 and Motion LX16's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale Reva 1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of MartinLogan LX16?
Here are the items that come with the Motion LX16:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Magnetic grille
- 4 Rubber bumpers
- User's Manual (En/Fr)
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
5 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
280mm
vs
318mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
399cm2
vs
495cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
480USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
MartinLogan Motion LX16 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
MartinLogan |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-20k Hz |
60-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0 x 1.4" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Folded Motion |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
n/a |
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
318.0mm (12.5") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Width |
174.0mm (6.9") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
285.0mm (11.2") |
242.0mm (9.5") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood composite laminate |
Piano Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Cherry (dark) |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
3/18-16 threaded insert |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-30" |
28-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/Registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs w/Registration |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Reva 1 costs roughly 1.7x what MartinLogan LX16 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Wharfedale Reva 1 digs deeper - 52Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | MartinLogan LX16 is more sensitive (92dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale Reva 1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | MartinLogan LX16 takes more power (200W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | MartinLogan LX16 is easier to place; Wharfedale Reva 1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1: bi-amping. MartinLogan LX16 sits in a wider range (18 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | MartinLogan LX16 is cheaper - $480 against $799, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Reva 1 B MartinLogan LX16
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper MartinLogan LX16 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Reva 1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and MartinLogan LX16 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.