(October 4, 2019) MartinLogan recently used two different industry showcase platforms – Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and CEDIA 2019 – to unleash multiple new speaker models. The company's all-new Motion Series of loudspeakers is designed to target enthusiast-grade buyers, while the all-new Masterpiece CI Series is crafted with the custom install segment in mind.
Kicking things off, let’s take a closer look at the company’s new Motion Series, which is comprised of seven new models. MartinLogan says the Motion Series benefits from tried and true technologies found in past Motion Series speakers while benefiting from new lines, styling, and three different finishes. Sound is driven by Folded Motion and Folded Motion XT tweeters, aluminum core midrange drivers and woofers, Vojtko crossover networks, 5-way tool-less binding posts, and more.
Headlining the Motion Series is the all-new flagship 60XTi ($1,599 each). It features a Folded Motion XT Tweeter, a 6.5” aluminum cone midrange, an 8” aluminum cone woofer, and rear-firing ports. It resides over two other floor-standing models (40i and 20i) priced at $1,099/each and $849/each, respectively. Buyers will also find two bookshelf (35XTi and 15i) and center channel (50XTi and 30i) models, rounding out an impressively attractive lineup.
For those wanting more discrete architectural speaker options, MartinLogan has unveiled its Masterpiece CI Series of five in-wall designs. The flagship Statement 40XW is priced at a whopping $20,000 each, featuring forty drivers in a line source configuration. This configuration is anchored by eight 6.5” unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone woofers, 16 3.5” matching mid-range drivers, and 16 Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeters. Such a large array radically reduces each driver’s ceiling level of performance, resulting in “highly accurate and distortion-free performance” when pushed to extreme levels."
The next price range in the Masterpiece CI Series hovers at $5,000 each, delivering access to the Monument 7XW. The least expensive in-wall options are the Icon 3XW in-wall and Sistine 4XC in-ceiling, priced at $2,000 each.
For more information about all of these speakers, refer to MartinLogan’s official press releases (below).
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Lawrence, Kansas, United States – MartinLogan is pleased to announce seven new Motion® Series loudspeakers for music or home cinemas. Since its introduction, the Motion Series has garnered acclaim for its performance and value. When it came time to introduce a new generation of the Motion Series, MartinLogan decided not to mess with a good thing. The new line of modern, multi-application speakers utilizes the same benchmark-performance technology as previous generations of the Motion Series, updated with a modern and stylish new design. The result is the same, but different; familiar, but unexpected.
Key Features:
- Folded Motion® and Folded Motion® XT tweeters
- Aluminum cone midrange drivers and woofers with concave dust caps that reinforce the strength and rigidity of the cone
- Proprietary Vojtko™ crossover networks featuring custom air core coil and low DCR steel laminate inductors. Polypropylene film capacitors in series and low DF electrolytic capacitors in parallel.
- Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts
- Three luxurious finishes and matching metallic trim, including gloss black with black grilles and gunmetal grey trim, matte white with silver grilles and silver trim, and red walnut with black grilles and champagne-colored trim
The Motion Legacy
The Motion Series is inspired by the performance of MartinLogan’s ultra-high-end electrostatic loudspeakers, and features cutting edge Folded Motion tweeter, exceptional components, and hand-built crossovers. They deliver a richly detailed audio experience at an unrivaled price.
Engineering, Without Compromises
What makes the Motion Series sound so amazing? MartinLogan's dedicated in-house engineering and design team started by utilizing and refining the most advanced, compact technologies and combining them with innovative engineering and time-honored cabinet construction techniques. The result is an emotionally engaging sound that rivals (and most times trounces) traditional loudspeakers of similar size and price. Our ‘no compromise’ philosophy gives Motion Series a unique sound you won’t find anywhere else.
<h4>Sound Inspired by Electrostatic Speakers</h4>
The success of the Motion Series is directly attributed to its close relation to MartinLogan’s legendary ultra-high-end electrostatic loudspeakers. The desire to transmute that level of performance into a more traditional speaker at a more affordable price drove the initial design imperatives that created the Motion Series.
Folded Motion® Tweeters
MartinLogan’s signature Folded Motion tweeter utilizes an extremely low mass diaphragm that “squeezes” air, thus demanding significantly less excursion than the typical 1-inch dome tweeter. Its folded design allows for a much larger surface area (compared to that of a regular 1-inch dome tweeter), controlled dispersion characteristics, and vanishingly low distortion. It’s a miracle of audio engineering that’s able to deliver much of the high-frequency detail and speed of a large, dynamic electrostatic panel in a small space.
Motion 60XTi, 50XTi, and 35XTi feature Folded Motion XT tweeters, with a 40% larger radiating surface and 80x30-degree controlled dispersion. This tweak increases audible bandwidth without sacrificing details and minimizes distortion to an unprecedented level while increasing efficiency and the tweeter’s already lightning-fast response time. The result—superior realism and alarming specificity is aurally astounding, and only by MartinLogan.
Powerful Aluminum Cone Mid-Frequency and Bass Drivers
Custom built, low-distortion drivers pair high-power magnet structures with aluminum cone diaphragms to deliver massive excursion and sound output, preserve minute bass details, and maximize power handling capability, all without a hint of distortion. A unique concave dust cap design reinforces the strength and rigidity of the cone while reducing break up modes.
The use of aluminum for cones maximizes rigidity and strength of the drivers without adding excessive weight. This, along with the exceptional damping properties of aluminum, ensures the smooth, non-resonant response necessary for seamless blending with high-resolution Folded Motion tweeters. An added benefit of aluminum is its outstanding thermal conduction capability which allows cones to serve as efficient heat sinks for voice coils.
To deliver accuracy in the critical midrange, mid-frequency drivers feature a specially engineered "stiff" suspension. Stiffening the suspension (the spider and surround) raises the driver's resonant frequency and optimizes its performance to achieve a natural roll-off and inherently operate within an ideal range for a mid-frequency reproduction (as opposed to a comparably sized woofer).
Low-Mounted Woofers Minimize Floor Bounce
Floorstanding Motion models utilize 2.5-way designs that feature woofers positioned low in the cabinet and close to the floor. This deliberate design addresses a phenomenon known as floor bounce where sound reflected off the floor (from drivers positioned high on a cabinet), and those aimed directly at the listener interfere with each other. Without addressing these issues, listeners would experience bloated bass and massive increases and decreases in sound levels throughout critical midrange frequencies. Through careful crossover design and driver positioning, floorstanding Motion speakers deliver a flat, balanced response through the bass and midrange regions. Such considerations are crucial when seeking to achieve accurate reproduction of vocals and instruments such as kick drums.
Proprietary Vojtko™ Crossover Networks
Premium Motion Series speakers feature proprietary Vojtko crossover networks using polypropylene and low-DF electrolytic capacitors, custom-wound inductors, and thermal and current protection. Vojtko crossovers are named after MartinLogan's chief audio technologist, Joe Vojtko. His unique approach to crossover design is as big of a part of the “MartinLogan Sound” as are electrostatic and Folded Motion thin-film driver technologies. A Vojtko crossover isn't so much a set of design requirements as it is a philosophy. Vojtko crossovers are designed in such a way that all drivers are kept within their optimal frequency range and balanced with one another. The drivers themselves are as much a part of a Vojtko crossover as are capacitors and resistors. Before the design of any crossover begins, drivers are carefully selected or designed to operate within a very intentional frequency range and with precise and predictable performance parameters. Vojtko crossovers are always built from high-quality parts, and care is taken to avoid overly complex topologies—a straightforward objective due to the careful selection of woofers and tweeters. The final (and most critical) aspect of a Vojtko Crossover is that final voicing is conducted in a space that is indicative of a real-world environment. This pragmatic approach allows MartinLogan speakers to sound their best in real-world rooms.
Modern Design Featuring Luxurious Finishes
Discreetly hidden behind fabric wrapped magnetic grilles, Folded Motion and aluminum cone drivers are held securely in place beneath matte black trim that masks tweeter and woofer mounting hardware for a clean, modern aesthetic. Solid cabinets, designed to eliminate fidelity robbing vibrations, are constructed from 18mm (0.7-inch) MDF with 31mm (1.2-inch) thick front baffles. Motion 60XTi and 50XTi feature additional internal bracing to further reduce cabinet resonance.
These new Motion Series speakers are available in three luxurious finishes and matching metallic trim—gloss black with black grilles and gunmetal grey trim, matte white with silver grilles and silver trim, and red walnut with black grilles and champagne-colored trim.
Custom 5-Way Tool-less Binding Posts
<h4>Premium gold-plated 5-way tool-less binding posts assure a stable connection while accommodating a wide range of connections. Select models feature two sets of binding posts accommodate bi-wire connections to increase signal carrying conductors and allow each portion of the crossover to be directly coupled to the amplifier.</h4>
These are the seven new models in MartinLogan’s Motion Series:
Floorstanding speakers:
- Motion 60XTi: A powerful floorstanding speaker featuring a Folded Motion® XT tweeter, 6.5-inch aluminum cone midrange driver, and dual 8-inch aluminum cone woofers with rear-firing bass ports. $1599.99/each (US) and $1,849.50/each (CAD) retail.
- Motion 40i: Floorstanding speaker featuring a Folded Motion® tweeter, 5.5-inch aluminum cone midrange driver, and dual 6.5-inch aluminum cone woofers with a rear-firing bass port. $1,099.99/each (US) and $1,349.50/each (CAD) retail.
- Motion 20i: A compact floorstanding speaker featuring a Folded Motion® tweeter and dual 5.5-inch aluminum cone woofers with a rear-firing bass port. $849.99/each (US) and $1,099.50/each (CAD) retail.
Bookshelf speakers:
- Motion 35XTi: Powerful bookshelf speaker featuring a Folded Motion® XT tweeter and 6.5-inch aluminum cone woofer with a rear-firing bass port. $649.99/each (US) and $799.50/each (CAD) retail.
- Motion 15i: Bookshelf speaker featuring a Folded Motion® tweeter and 5.25-inch aluminum cone woofer with a rear-firing bass port. $399.99/each (US) and $499.50/each (CAD) retail.
Center channel speakers
- Motion 50XTi: A powerful center channel speaker featuring a Folded Motion® XT tweeter and dual 6.5-inch aluminum cone woofers with a rear-firing bass port. $999.99/each (US) and $1,199/each (CAD) retail.
- Motion 30i: Center channel speaker featuring a Folded Motion® tweeter and dual 5.5-inch aluminum cone woofers with a rear-firing bass port. $749.99/each (US) and $899/each (CAD) retail.
CEDIA 2019 – Denver, Colorado – MartinLogan is pleased to announce the new Masterpiece CI Series of custom installation speakers including the flagship Statement 40XW line source in-wall speaker, three ultimate-performance in-wall speakers, and a sophisticated ultimate-performance in-ceiling speaker.
Masterpiece CI Series Key Features:
- Flagship Statement 40XW in-wall speaker features forty drivers in a line source configuration
- Folded Motion® XT Obsidian tweeters
- Powerful mid-frequency and bass drivers featuring unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cones with a Nomex® backer
- Proprietary Vojtko™ crossover networks featuring audiophile grade components
- Phenolic baffles (except for Sistine 4XC)
- Sealed back box enclosures
- Die-cast aluminum mounting-locks
- Spring-loaded binding posts
Flagship Class Performance In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers
From extreme home theater to transcendent 2-channel listening, Masterpiece CI is the pinnacle of discreet in-wall and in-ceiling loudspeaker design—state-of-the-art Truth in Sound. Featuring lightning-fast, low-distortion, Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeters, flagship-class Vojtko crossover networks, and unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone drivers with a Nomex® backer, the Masterpiece CI Series offers the biggest, boldest, and most lifelike performance possible—a tribute to the acoustic achievements of MartinLogan's original iconic masterpiece, our flagship floorstanding electrostatic speakers.
Benefits of Statement 40XW's Line Source Configuration
Designing an in-wall speaker with performance on par with MartinLogan's most ambitious floorstanding hybrid electrostatic speakers is an immense challenge. The power and effortlessness of electrostatic speakers is breathtaking—a living manifestation of Truth in Sound. The Statement 40XW is MartinLogan's answer—a triumph of engineering delivering a seamless melding of authoritative, accurate bass and mid-range with lightning-fast thin-film tweeters. Each channel features 40 drivers, including eight 6.5-inch unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone woofers with a Nomex® backer, 16 matching 3.5-inch midrange drivers, and 16 exquisite Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeters.
The use of 16 tweeters, 16 mid-range drivers, and eight woofers significantly contributes to the effortless sonic presentation of the Statement 40XW. All drivers, even superb drivers such as the carbon fiber cones and thin-film tweeters used in the speaker, begin to exhibit distortion when pushed hard. By using a large number of drivers operating in perfect unison, the movement required from each driver is a fraction of what it otherwise would be while still achieving impressive levels of overall output. The combination of such inherently high-resolution drivers and the reduction in demands on each results in a highly accurate and distortion-free performance during even the most demanding sonic passages.
Additionally, with large line source designs, as seating positions move further away from the speaker, sound levels don't drop off as quickly as they do with smaller, less efficient speakers. The ability of the Statement 40XW to deliver higher levels of sound over much greater distances results in an extremely uniform sound pressure throughout large rooms—especially beneficial in substantial home theaters with multiple rows of seating.
Folded Motion® XT Obsidian Tweeters
MartinLogan's signature Folded Motion tweeter, found throughout the Masterpiece CI Series, utilizes an extremely low mass diaphragm that "squeezes" air, thus demanding significantly less excursion than the typical 1-inch dome tweeter. Its folded design allows for a much larger surface area (compared to that of a regular 1-inch dome tweeter), controlled dispersion characteristics, and vanishingly low distortion. It's a miracle of audio engineering that's able to deliver much of the high-frequency detail and speed of a large, dynamic electrostatic panel in a small space. Folded Motion XT tweeters advance thin-film transducer technology even further, with a 40% larger radiating surface and 80x30-degree controlled dispersion. This tweak increases audible bandwidth without sacrificing details and minimizes distortion to an unprecedented level while increasing efficiency and the tweeter's already lightning-fast response time—the result—superior realism and alarming specificity that is aurally astounding, and only by MartinLogan. Masterpiece CI Series Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeters feature a black diaphragm.
Powerful Mid-Frequency and Bass Drivers Featuring Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Multi-section Cones With a Nomex® Backer
Custom built, low-distortion drivers pair high-power magnet structures with unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone diaphragms with a Nomex® backer to deliver massive excursion and sound output, preserve minute bass details and maximize power handling capability, all without a hint of distortion. The use of unidirectional carbon fiber yields a cone that is twice as strong as steel with a sixth of the density, providing exceptional rigidity without adding excessive weight. The multi-section design of Masterpiece CI drivers serves to reduce resonant modes within the driver, allowing for a smoother response. Nomex backers improve overall driver performance by damping the cone to prevent deleterious ringing and reduce break up modes—a crucial requirement for extremely rigid cone materials. These exceptional woofers ensure a smooth, non-resonant response necessary for seamless blending with the extreme accuracy of high-resolution Folded Motion tweeters.
To deliver accuracy in the critical midrange, mid-frequency drivers feature a specially engineered “stiff” suspension. Stiffening the suspension (the spider and surround) raises the driver’s resonant frequency and optimizes its performance to achieve a natural roll-off and inherently operate within an ideal range for a mid-frequency reproduction (as opposed to a comparably sized woofer).
Each cone includes a concave dust cap that adds additional strength and rigidity while further reducing break up modes. An inverted surround design maximizes clearance behind the grille cover to enhance driver excursion, clarity, and linearity.
Proprietary Vojtko™ Crossover Networks
Carefully hand-built using only the most exceptional polypropylene and polyester capacitors, custom wound and large steel laminate low-DCR inductors, and double thick PCBs, Masterpiece CI Series crossovers employ MartinLogan's proprietary Vojtko topology for vanishingly low distortion and seamless driver integration. This precision-tuned network preserves even the most microscopic sonic nuances while handling the full dynamics of any source.
Vojtko crossovers are named after MartinLogan's chief audio technologist, Joe Vojtko. His unique approach to crossover design is as big of a part of the "MartinLogan Sound" as are electrostatic and Folded Motion thin-film driver technologies. A Vojtko crossover isn't so much a set of design requirements as it is a philosophy. Vojtko crossovers are designed in such a way that all drivers are kept within their optimal frequency range and balanced with one another. The drivers themselves are as much a part of a Vojtko crossover as are capacitors and resistors. Before the design of any crossover begins, drivers are carefully selected or designed to operate within a very intentional frequency range and with precise and predictable performance parameters. Vojtko crossovers are always built from high-quality parts, and care is taken to avoid overly complex topologies—a straightforward objective due to the careful selection of woofers and tweeters. The final (and most critical) aspect of a Vojtko Crossover is that final voicing is conducted in a space that is indicative of a real-world environment. This pragmatic approach allows MartinLogan speakers to sound their best in real-world rooms.
Phenolic Baffle and Sealed Back Box Enclosure
Statement 40XW, Monument 7XW, Tribute 5XW, and Icon 3XW utilize baffles constructed from incredibly dense and durable phenolic resin polymer—an exceptional, acoustically superior substrate. Phenolic resin polymer, the same material used in the Neolith cabinet, offers extraordinary material consistency that naturally minimizes acoustically deleterious resonances and vibrations. This sealed design helps keep sound from leaking through the wall to unintended areas of the home, while also providing predictable airspace for the woofers to perform their best.
Statement 40XW incorporates a reinforced back box that embeds into the wall and a flush-mounted grille that installs even with the finished wall surface. This platform decouples the drivers from the wall surface while maintaining a clean aesthetic with a high level of fit and finish. The speaker is designed to work with either ½- or ⅝-inch wallboard in new construction or retrofit installations.
Sistine 4XC utilizes a dense, ejection molded back box with a sealed design that helps keep sound from leaking through the wall to unintended areas of the home, while also providing predictable airspace for the woofers to perform their best.
The most significant benefit of a built-in, acoustically inert and sealed back box is predictable volume and a construction methodology that removes the variables of the wall cavity size and construction quality from the acoustic equation, guaranteeing a consistent, accurate performance, regardless of installation. By maintaining complete control over driver performance, crossover design, and cabinet construction, Masterpiece CI in-wall and in-ceiling speakers can achieve an emotionally engaging experience on par with the rarified performance of the world’s most exceptional floorstanding speakers.
Simple Installation and Die-cast Aluminum Mounting Locks
Each speaker includes a full-size installation template featuring quick-reference instructions, and die-cut guides for marking the cutout hole. A simple, yet robust die-cast aluminum mounting-lock system maximizes strength while allowing quick, trouble-free installation. Pocketed screw holes help hold the drill steady, making installation a snap. When not in use, mounting locks are secured within a self-contained housing. When moved into place, they couple the chassis firmly to the ceiling or wall, increasing the rigidity of surfaces. If ever removed, the locks retract and latch back in their housings. Spring-loaded binding posts feature a large 4.5mm wire access hole and connect via banana plug, pin, or 10AWG bare wire.
Pre-installation brackets are available for every model in the Masterpiece CI Series, except for the Statement 40XW which requires unique considerations for installation.
These are the five models in MartinLogan’s new Masterpiece CI Series:
In-wall speakers:
- Statement 40XW features forty drivers in a line source configuration; sixteen lightning-fast Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeters, sixteen 3.5-inch unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone midrange driver with a Nomex® backer, and eight matching 6.5-inch woofers, seamlessly blended with a flagship-class Vojtko crossover network constructed from Neolith inspired audiophile-grade components.
- Monument 7XWfeatures seven drivers; A lightning-fast Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter, a 6.5-inch unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone midrange driver with a Nomex® backer, two matching 6.5-inch woofers, and three 6.5-inch passive radiators, seamlessly blended with a flagship-class Vojtko crossover network constructed from audiophile-grade components. A pre-installation bracket is available.
- Tribute 5XWfeatures five drivers; a lightning-fast Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter and dual 5.5-inch unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone woofers with a Nomex® backer and matching 6.5-inch passive radiators, seamlessly blended with a flagship-class Vojtko crossover network constructed from audiophile-grade components. A pre-installation bracket is available.
- Icon 3XW, the ultimate compact in-wall speaker, features three drivers; a lightning-fast Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter and dual 5.5-inch unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone woofers with a Nomex® backer, seamlessly blended with a flagship-class Vojtko crossover network constructed from audiophile-grade components. A pre-installation bracket is available.
In-ceiling speaker:
- Sitine 4XC, the world's most sophisticated and elegant in-ceiling architectural loudspeaker, sounds so clean and dynamic, you'd think it was a superb floorstanding design. Not surprising, since it features four drivers, including a Folded Motion XT Obsidian tweeter, dual 3.5-inch unidirectional carbon fiber multi-section cone midrange drivers with a Nomex® backer, and a matching 8-inch woofer seamlessly blended with a flagship-class Vojtko crossover network constructed from audiophile-grade components. A pre-installation bracket is available.
