MartinLogan Motion 4 Bookshelf Speaker (Piano Black, each) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The MartinLogan Motion 4 bookshelf speaker has been a pleasant surprise for me. I think it is a very good value and an excellent way to upgrade a home theater system.
Note that during listening sessions I compared the MartinLogan 4's with my current Yamaha HTIB system (similar to the Yamaha NS-SP1600 5.1-Channel Surround Speaker System (Black)). I also compared them in a retail store with similarly priced Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000 Bookshelf Speaker. When applicable I will note comparisons to these other products.
Features - The ML Motion 4 includes a unique Folded Motion Tweeter, which is a similar to the Heil tweeters used in the highly regarded ESS speakers of the 70's - 90's. These are paired with a 4" paper woofer and a rear bass port. The Motion 4 has a frequency response of 70 - 20 KHz +/- 3 dB and can handle up to 150 watts. The box also includes a wall mount mechanism.
Sound - In listening to the Motion 4s I was immediately impressed by the clarity of the sound. Compared to my previous Yamaha HTIB speakers I immediately heard a clarity in the midrange and treble that blew me away. To me the Motion 4 is a "forward" sounding speaker, and sometimes that might not be my preference, but in this case the overall sound is still natural and balanced, and the forward sound and clarity make these outstanding home theater speakers. (Note that more extended listening may soften the sound a bit as the speakers continue to break in.)
After switching between the Motion 4 and the Definitive 1000s during a store demo, they were both excellent choices, and I expect I'd be happy with either. But in the end the Definitive 1000s sounded just a tiny bit recessed or nasal compared to the Motion 4, and I found myself drawn to the overall tonal balance and clarity of the MLs.
One note on the Motion 4s or any small bookshelf / satellite speakers - to get a full range of sound for home theater or music a subwoofer is essential. The Motion 4 only gets down to 70 Hz, and attempting to turn up the bass controls to artificially pump up the low frequencies will just ruin the sound of these. If buying these for standalone use just accept the fact that you will not get as much bass as you with a set of full sized speakers with 8" or larger woofers.
Build - Very good. I'm used to wood or MDF enclosures on speakers, so the plastic used in the Motion 4s was a bit off-putting at first. But these speakers are very solid, weighing in at six pounds each, and unless the speakers are subject to very rough handling or drops I would not be concerned about their durability. The speakers come with recessed binding posts; I'm not thrilled with these, as they look very nice but make it a bit tricky to hook up speaker wire as the binding posts are hidden behind large push buttons. The overall curved shape of the Motion 4 is appealing, and while not tiny these are still small enough to be unobtrusive if needed.
Conclusion - great home theater speakers, esp. when paired with a highly quality subwoofer.

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Inspired by MartinLogan's ultra-high-end electrostatic loudspeakers, the Motion Series was created to provide stunning sound for your ultimate-performance home theater or stereo. MartinLogan's dedicated in-house engineers carefully crafted the Motion Series to create an extremely affordable and compact product line that seamlessly blends our exquisite Folded Motion transducers with powerful, compact bass technology. The result is a smooth, refined sound with stunning dynamic range and jaw-dropping clarity. Complementing Motion's sonic accuracy is elegant yet understated styling. Flawless high-gloss, piano black finishes and subtle curves, along with our signature perforated grille, give Motion Series speakers an elegant and timeless look. Tower models feature a real-wood veneer finish and a stylish aesthetic certain to blend with any decor. The curves also serve a purpose; they allow Motion compact bookshelves to mount at two different angles with the included wall bracket. This means you can point sound directly toward the desired listening area for high or low wall mounting applications. Beauty and brains! MartinLogan engineers were faced with a daunting task—create a compact speaker with low-end bass reproduction found in speakers much, much larger. After many sleepless night and a myriad of prototypes, they created the Folded Motion Cascading Bass Port. This brilliant solution allows a long tuned port, which is folded over itself (think of a trombone's tuning arm) to be compacted and squeezed into the Motion 4. The result is amazingly detailed low bass that can play at high volumes with minimum distortion—all thanks to the elegantly simple cascading fold that slows down and controls the air motion of the bass waves. Convenient push-style speaker terminals and curved inserts help guide speaker wire effortlessly into place. The rubber end caps on the terminal are also removable for the use of banana plugs instead of bare wire.

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