MartinLogan Motion 30i is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Center Channel speaker by MartinLogan. It was released in 2018. Center channel speaker is an important component of a home theater system set-up as it delivers the listener significant part of the on-screen dialogue from your television. It features a 1.0 x 1.4" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 65-25k Hz and a sensitivity of 91 dB. MartinLogan 30i has an MSRP of 900$ but can often be found around 675$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the MartinLogan 30i is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
MartinLogan's Motion Series of Loudspeakers
Motion 30i is a member of MartinLogan's Motion series of Passive speakers. The Motion range are MartinLogan's popular speakers using the brand's Folded Motion tweeter in conventional cabinets. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 10 MartinLogan Motion models compared »
MartinLogan Motion Series Speakers
MartinLogan Motion Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the MartinLogan 30i Speaker
MartinLogan 30i has a Frequency response range of 65-25k Hz and Power Range of 20-200 watts.
Here we have a comparison of how Motion 30i's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
MartinLogan 30i's Folded Motion Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the MartinLogan 30i?
The crossover frequency of the Motion 30i is set to 400Hz and 2600Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
MartinLogan 30i Crossover is set to 400Hz and 2600Hz
Impedance and Sensitivity
MartinLogan 30i's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms and has a sensitivity of
91 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the MartinLogan Motion 30i is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the MartinLogan Motion 30i with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
91dB of the MartinLogan Motion 30i is considered a high sensitivity compared to average stereo speaker which makes Motion 30i an easy to drive from Sensitivity perspective. If you are planning to power your speaker with a Tube amp which are generally very low power, the MartinLogan 30i will be a good choice. Work out how loud the MartinLogan 30i plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
What amplifier does the MartinLogan 30i need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
12–190 W
per channel into 4 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,000, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Motion 30i features Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
MartinLogan 30i Back View
Recommended Break In
Allow 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB.
MartinLogan 30i External Dimensions and Weight
MartinLogan 30i has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 6-15/16 x 16-5/8 x 11-1/16inch (177.0 x 423.0 x 281.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of MartinLogan 30i is approximately 1188.6cm2 / 184.2inch2.
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →
WeightThe MartinLogan 30i weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Motion 30i's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Weight
Center Channel Speakers under $1000
Cabinet type and Materials
MartinLogan 30i has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Lacquer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
MartinLogan 30i - Side View
Speaker Feet
MartinLogan 30i comes with 4 Rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on.
It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
MartinLogan 30i Feet
Port Position
MartinLogan 30i is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
MartinLogan 30i is available in White.
Does the MartinLogan 30i come with a Grille?
Motion 30i comes with magnetic grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the Motion 30i is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
What's in the Box of MartinLogan 30i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Motion 30i:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Users Manual
- Warranty/Registration Information
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the MartinLogan Motion 30i.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the MartinLogan Motion 30i, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for MartinLogan 30i
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the MartinLogan Motion 30i speaker:
Official Brochure for MartinLogan 30i
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the MartinLogan Motion 30i speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for MartinLogan 30i
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.