Martin Logan Motion 12
OK, I've been looking for new fronts for a bit now and when Newegg put these on sale for $230 each I decided to make the leap. I only had reviews to go by and had not heard them live. Kinda risky I know but after reading multiple reviews on them I just felt like they seemed to be the sound I was seeking. Build quality is great too.
Well, they arrived Friday and I'd just like to say they turned out to be pretty much exactly what I was looking for sound wise. Smooth, detailed natural sound without a hint of brightness, nice sound stage, great mids and solid bass to boot. When I first hooked them up and was listening the wife sitting next to me asked if the center channel was on when it wasn't. When I said no she got up to check because she didn't believe me. In stereo mode I didn't feel I needed the sub going and never turned it on all weekend. They are 30" from the back wall to the front of the speakers and 30"+ from the side wall toed in a bit in an open floor plan vaulted slanted ceiling. Still fill the room nicely imo.
If I had the money I'd buy another pair right now. The fact they recommend 72 hours at 90db break in before critical listening means they will only get better as I only have about 12 hrs in them so far. I'm excited about that. Yes, the folded motion tweeter does have a little different sound initially, but after listening to them for hours straight that disappears and I wondered if this sound is actually closer to real than a domed tweeter sound. Me likee.
My preference is for a bit of airiness, natural, smooth and controlled with no brightness. I was looking for a better version of my Mirage M490 and M190is that I like a lot. I definitely found it.
Additional FYI they are driven by an Integra 7.3 100wpc HTR that can handle 4 ohm speakers. Actually after changing the setting to 4 ohm the receiver runs much cooler than it did when set to 6 ohm.
Some reviews say they are "tippy", which is true if you just set them on the carpet with the feet designed for hard floors. They do more easily tip forward that way, but just putting in the provided spikes and raising the fronts a bit over the rears and they are just as solidly planted as any other speaker.
Anyway, the Newegg $230 per speaker shipped deal is going away after today so if you were on the fence about these I'd get off the fence and buy them. You won't be sorry imo.
Well, they arrived Friday and I'd just like to say they turned out to be pretty much exactly what I was looking for sound wise. Smooth, detailed natural sound without a hint of brightness, nice sound stage, great mids and solid bass to boot. When I first hooked them up and was listening the wife sitting next to me asked if the center channel was on when it wasn't. When I said no she got up to check because she didn't believe me. In stereo mode I didn't feel I needed the sub going and never turned it on all weekend. They are 30" from the back wall to the front of the speakers and 30"+ from the side wall toed in a bit in an open floor plan vaulted slanted ceiling. Still fill the room nicely imo.
If I had the money I'd buy another pair right now. The fact they recommend 72 hours at 90db break in before critical listening means they will only get better as I only have about 12 hrs in them so far. I'm excited about that. Yes, the folded motion tweeter does have a little different sound initially, but after listening to them for hours straight that disappears and I wondered if this sound is actually closer to real than a domed tweeter sound. Me likee.
My preference is for a bit of airiness, natural, smooth and controlled with no brightness. I was looking for a better version of my Mirage M490 and M190is that I like a lot. I definitely found it.
Additional FYI they are driven by an Integra 7.3 100wpc HTR that can handle 4 ohm speakers. Actually after changing the setting to 4 ohm the receiver runs much cooler than it did when set to 6 ohm.
Some reviews say they are "tippy", which is true if you just set them on the carpet with the feet designed for hard floors. They do more easily tip forward that way, but just putting in the provided spikes and raising the fronts a bit over the rears and they are just as solidly planted as any other speaker.
Anyway, the Newegg $230 per speaker shipped deal is going away after today so if you were on the fence about these I'd get off the fence and buy them. You won't be sorry imo.
Post edited by theshawn on
Comments
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Thnx for the update. I have heard motion 12s and i agree a very nice sounding speaker. Oh yeah it was at ur place
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Yeah it was! Thanks for the backup sir.
Bring that Parasound over sometime and we can make the break in process go quicker. lol -
Congrats on the 12's as they are leaps beyond the 10's due to that very special dipole mid they put in them
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Nice write up. I almost bought those for my H/T too and what center are you using with them?
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@polkfarmboy - Thanks, and yes they do have nice mids! Having only heard the 12's now I wouldn't know about the 10's but saw a nice write up on Amazon from a guy who chose B&W 683 towers over the Motion 12 and mentioned the 10's being much less appointed sound wise. After researching them for days this one review actually put me over the top in giving these a try because I feel B&W is about as good as it gets for the sound I like. I figured if this guy choose B&W but the Motion 12 were his choice before he listened to the B&W then at this price I had a strong feeling I'd like these, or at least be a lot closer to my ideal sound at a price point I could afford.
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Conrad, thanks, after this purchase I'm not timber matched that's for sure. My center is a Def Tech C1 at the moment. I haven't actually watched a movie with the new ML's yet so we'll find out how off I guess. The fronts these replaced were Def Tech DR7 towers. Eventually I'll acquire a ML Motion center to timber match, but it's not a priority at the moment. That could change I guess if it's a big difference I wasn't expecting.
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I have looked at the Motion series and have wondered something. How do they keep the metal grills from ringing? I don't seem to notice ringing when music is playing through them but if you tap them, they ring.Stan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601 -
I'm not sure about the ringing as I haven't tapped them while playing, but they are magnetically attached both top and bottom and snap pretty securely imo. The top have actual specific magnet attachment spots while the bottoms actually have the magnets attaching to the screws around the speakers which I found interesting.
