The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi is a high-performance floor-standing speaker that has gained attention for its blend of sleek aesthetics, innovative technology, and powerful audio output. If you’re considering adding this speaker to your home theater or music system, this in-depth review covers everything you need to know. From its design and build quality to sound performance and competitive comparisons, we’ll leave no stone unturned.

Overview of MartinLogan Motion 60XTi

The Motion 60XTi is the flagship model of MartinLogan’s Motion Series, representing the pinnacle of performance and design innovation in consumer audio technology. Designed for discerning audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts, it seamlessly merges cutting-edge technology with an elegant form factor. What sets the 60XTi apart is its Folded Motion XT tweeter, a hallmark of MartinLogan’s design philosophy, engineered to provide an unparalleled listening experience.

From its robust bass response to its crystal-clear high frequencies, the speaker offers versatility across genres and applications. Whether you’re streaming classical music, enjoying the latest blockbuster, or engaging in high-fidelity gaming, the Motion 60XTi caters to all your audio needs. Its dual aluminum-cone woofers and precise crossover network ensure consistent performance even at high volume levels. This speaker truly stands out as a centerpiece for any audio setup.

Its premium build and thoughtfully engineered components justify its premium price tag. MartinLogan’s reputation for longevity also ensures the 60XTi remains a worthwhile investment for years. Let’s explore this top-tier speaker’s specific features and capabilities.

Design and Build Quality

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It combines functionality with an aesthetic appeal that fits seamlessly into modern home environments. The cabinet design features a sleek, contemporary look with smooth, curved edges that exude sophistication. Available in Gloss Black, Matte White, and Red Walnut finishes, it offers versatility to match various interior decor styles.

The anti-resonance cabinet construction minimizes unwanted vibrations and enhances audio clarity. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that every note and beat is reproduced without distortion, even during intense bass-heavy tracks. The front-facing bass ports are functional and contribute to the speaker’s elegant appearance, allowing for versatile placement in rooms of varying sizes.

Furthermore, the sturdy base and robust construction give the Motion 60XTi a reassuring sense of stability. The speaker commands attention at nearly 50 inches tall while maintaining a compact footprint that doesn’t overwhelm your space. The magnetic grille adds to its minimalist design, allowing users to showcase the speaker’s drivers or keep them concealed.

The Motion 60XTi doesn’t just sound great—it looks great, too. Its combination of aesthetics and durability ensures it will remain a focal point in your home entertainment setup for years.

Sound Performance

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi is a powerhouse for audio performance, delivering a sound experience that exceeds expectations for a speaker in its price range. Its ability to reproduce a wide frequency range with precision and minimal distortion makes it a favorite among audiophiles.

High Frequencies: The Folded Motion XT tweeter reproduces high-frequency sounds with unparalleled accuracy. Unlike conventional dome tweeters, the XT tweeter has a larger surface area, which reduces distortion and allows for a quicker response. This translates to crystal-clear trebles that bring out the nuances in music, from delicate cymbal crashes to soaring vocals.

Midrange Clarity: The dedicated midrange driver ensures smooth transitions between high and low frequencies. This results in well-defined vocals and instruments, making the speaker particularly adept at handling complex tracks and dialogue-heavy movie scenes. You’ll feel like the singer or actor is in the same room.

Bass Depth: With dual 8-inch woofers, the Motion 60XTi delivers a deep, punchy bass that doesn’t overpower the rest of the audio spectrum. The low end remains tight and controlled when listening to bass-heavy electronic music or an orchestral symphony.

The overall soundstage is expansive, immersing you in a three-dimensional listening experience that rivals live performances.

Technology Behind the Sound

Innovative technology is at the heart of the MartinLogan Motion 60XTi’s superior performance. The company’s dedication to engineering excellence is evident in every component of this speaker, making it a standout choice for those seeking premium audio solutions.

Folded Motion XT Tweeter: This proprietary technology is the centerpiece of the 60XTi’s design. The tweeter’s folded diaphragm compresses air, requiring less excursion than traditional tweeters. This results in faster response times, reduced distortion, and a more detailed treble performance. Whether you enjoy a live recording or a studio mix, the high frequencies come through with unmatched clarity.

Woofer and Midrange Drivers: The speaker’s aluminum cone woofers and midrange drivers are designed for rigidity and lightness. This combination allows the drivers to move precisely, producing clear, distortion-free sound even at high volumes. The 8-inch woofers, in particular, excel at reproducing low-end frequencies with depth and impact.

Crossover Network: The Motion 60XTi features a precision-engineered crossover network that seamlessly blends the outputs of the tweeter, midrange driver, and woofers. This ensures that every frequency band is represented accurately, creating a balanced and cohesive sound signature.

These technologies work together to provide a robust and refined listening experience suitable for various audio applications.

Use Cases

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi’s versatility makes it an excellent choice for various applications, from dedicated home theater setups to high-end music systems.

• Home Theater Systems: When paired with other MartinLogan speakers, the Motion 60XTi creates a cinematic experience that rivals commercial theaters. Its ability to efficiently handle subtle and explosive sounds makes it ideal for action-packed blockbusters and dramatic scenes.
• Music Listening: For audiophiles, the Motion 60XTi offers a rich, detailed sound that enhances any music genre. Whether you’re into classical symphonies, jazz ensembles, or rock concerts, these speakers bring out the best in every track, making you feel like you’re attending a live performance.
• Multi-Functional Spaces: Thanks to its stylish design, the Motion 60XTi can seamlessly integrate into living rooms, home offices, or entertainment areas. Its impressive sound quality ensures it performs well in casual and critical listening scenarios.

From movies to music, the Motion 60XTi delivers a high-quality audio experience tailored to your needs.

Compatibility and Amplification

Proper pairing with amplification equipment is essential to unlock the full potential of the MartinLogan Motion 60XTi. With a sensitivity rating of 94 dB and a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, this speaker demands an amplifier or AV receiver capable of delivering sufficient power. The recommended amplifier power range is 20 to 300 watts, allowing flexibility for users with varying setups.

For those considering the 60XTi for a home theater system, ensure your AV receiver can support 4-ohm speakers. Receivers with lower output capabilities may need help to drive these speakers efficiently, leading to suboptimal performance. High-current amplifiers from brands like Denon, Marantz, or Yamaha are often ideal companions, providing the necessary headroom and stability.

When used in a stereo setup for music listening, pairing the 60XTi with a high-quality two-channel amplifier results in a more immersive and dynamic soundstage. While capable of adding warmth, tube amplifiers may need more power to exploit the speaker’s potential fully. Instead, consider solid-state amplifiers that deliver clean, consistent power across all frequencies.

Proper amplification ensures the Motion 60XTi performs as intended, delivering a powerful and nuanced audio experience, whether enjoying a quiet ballad or a high-energy blockbuster.

Pros and Cons

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi offers many benefits that solidify its position as a top-tier floor-standing speaker. However, like any product, it has limitations.

Pros:

• Exceptional Sound Clarity: The Folded Motion XT tweeter and dedicated midrange driver deliver stunning detail across the frequency spectrum, making this speaker suitable for everything from intricate classical compositions to intense action sequences.
• Premium Build Quality: The anti-resonance cabinet design and high-quality components ensure durability and performance over time. Its aesthetic appeal adds a touch of elegance to any space.
• Versatile Bass Performance: Dual 8-inch woofers provide impactful bass that remains controlled and distortion-free, even at high volumes.
• Wide Soundstage: The expansive soundstage immerses listeners in a three-dimensional audio experience, whether for movies, music, or games.
• Flexible Placement Options: The front-facing bass ports and slim profile make positioning the speakers in various room setups easy.

Cons:

• Amplification Requirements: The speaker requires a high-quality amplifier to achieve optimal performance, which may add to the overall investment cost.
• Price Point: The premium price tag, while justified, might deter budget-conscious buyers.
• Size and Weight: At nearly 50 inches tall and over 60 pounds, the Motion 60XTi may be challenging to maneuver or fit into smaller spaces.

The pros far outweigh the cons for those seeking uncompromising audio performance, but potential buyers should consider these factors to ensure a proper match for their needs and setup.

Comparisons with Competitors

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi competes with several notable speakers in the same price range, each offering unique strengths and weaknesses.

Klipsch RP-8000F

The Klipsch RP-8000F is known for its dynamic sound and horn-loaded tweeter technology. While it excels in delivering powerful bass and lively sound for movies and gaming, it can be overly bright for some listeners, particularly in music playback. In contrast, the Motion 60XTi offers a more refined treble performance and a balanced sound signature.

Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary Edition

Bowers & Wilkins’ 603 S2 stands out for its neutral tonal balance and understated design. It’s an excellent choice for critical listeners who prioritize accuracy. However, the Motion 60XTi outperforms it in bass depth and dynamic range, making it better suited for larger rooms and high-energy audio tracks.

KEF Q950

KEF’s Q950 boasts the innovative Uni-Q driver array, which provides excellent imaging and a cohesive soundstage. While the Q950 delivers strong mids and an immersive experience, it lacks the low-end authority and treble detail that the Motion 60XTi achieves with its Folded Motion XT tweeter and dual woofers.

Each competitor has strengths, but the Motion 60XTi consistently offers a well-rounded performance that appeals to a broad audience.

User Reviews

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi has garnered rave reviews from users and experts alike. Audiophiles highlight its detailed sound reproduction, mainly the crisp highs and well-defined mids. Many describe the listening experience as immersive, noting that the expansive soundstage and precise imaging make it feel as though they’re at a live performance.

Home theater enthusiasts praise the speaker’s ability to handle dynamic audio tracks, from subtle whispers to thunderous explosions, without losing clarity. The bass response is another frequently lauded feature, with users appreciating its depth and control even in bass-heavy tracks.

However, some users point out the importance of proper amplification. Those using lower-powered amplifiers report a noticeable drop in performance, emphasizing the need for a quality setup to maximize the speaker’s capabilities.

Overall, the consensus is overwhelmingly positive, with most users agreeing that the Motion 60XTi offers exceptional value for its price, provided the necessary amplification is in place.

Pricing and Value

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi is a premium product, with a price tag typically around $2,500 per pair. While this places it in the higher price bracket for floor-standing speakers, the value it offers is undeniable. Few speakers at this price point can match its design, technology, and performance.

The Motion 60XTi represents a long-term investment for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Its durable build and timeless design ensure it remains relevant as audio technology evolves. MartinLogan’s strong reputation for quality and customer support also adds to the speaker’s value proposition.

While the upfront cost may be steep for some, the speaker’s ability to deliver an unparalleled audio experience justifies the investment for those seeking high-fidelity sound.

Similar Products

Here’s a comparison table of speakers similar to the MartinLogan Motion 60XTi, highlighting their key specifications:

Speaker Model	Price per Pair	Frequency Response	Sensitivity	Impedance	Dimensions (H x W x D)	Weight
MartinLogan Motion 60XTi	$3,750	35Hz – 25kHz	94 dB	4 Ohms	46.5″ x 8.4″ x 14.6″	66 lbs.
Polk Audio Reserve R700	$2,198	38Hz – 38kHz	88 dB	8 Ohms	46.5″ x 10.6″ x 15.7″	79 lbs.
MartinLogan Motion 40i	$2,600	40Hz – 25kHz	92 dB	4 Ohms	41.5″ x 7.6″ x 13.4″	44.9 lbs.
Klipsch RP-8000F	$1,198	32Hz – 25kHz	98 dB	8 Ohms	43″ x 10.9″ x 17.5″	60 lbs.
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S2	$2,200	48Hz – 28kHz	88.5 dB	8 Ohms	41.5″ x 7.9″ x 13.4″	53 lbs.
KEF Q950	$1,800	44Hz – 28kHz	91 dB	8 Ohms	44.5″ x 12.2″ x 14.2″	45 lbs.

FAQs

What makes the MartinLogan Motion 60XTi unique?

The Folded Motion XT tweeter and dual 8-inch woofers provide exceptional clarity, wide soundstage, and deep bass, making it ideal for audiophiles and home theaters.

Is the Motion 60XTi suitable for music and movies?

Yes, it excels in both applications, offering detailed mids for music and dynamic range for movie soundtracks.

What amplifier is recommended?

A high-quality amplifier with 20–300 watts per channel and 4-ohm compatibility is recommended for optimal performance.

Can I use the Motion 60XTi in small rooms?

Yes, but ensure proper placement and acoustics to prevent overpowering the space.

How does it compare to other speakers?

Though it requires a higher investment, it outshines competitors like Klipsch RP-8000F and KEF Q950 in treble clarity and overall balance.

Is it easy to set up?

Correct placement and pairing with the right equipment are crucial for best results.

Conclusion

The MartinLogan Motion 60XTi stands out as a top-tier floor-standing speaker that delivers a harmonious blend of aesthetics, technology, and performance. Its Folded Motion XT tweeter, dual woofers, and precision crossover network make it a versatile choice for music and movies, offering an immersive and lifelike listening experience.

Though it requires careful pairing with high-quality amplification and represents a significant investment, the results are worth it. Whether you’re an audiophile seeking perfection in music playback or a movie enthusiast looking for cinematic sound, the Motion 60XTi delivers in every aspect.

If you’re looking for a speaker that combines cutting-edge engineering with timeless design, the MartinLogan Motion 60XTi is a compelling choice that promises to elevate your audio experience.