Martin Logan Updates Their Folded-Tweeter “Motion” Series

Martin Logan may be known for their giant electrostatic loudspeakers (I tend to see the statement Neolith at audio shows most often) but slightly downriver from the ElectroMotion series lies the ribbon-tweeter-and-aluminum-cone Motion line – soon to be updated with new bits.

The line of speakers consists of 7 options for two-channel and theatre use, with the top floor stander Motion 60XTi starting now at $3,200/pair ($200 more than the last gen) down to 5.25-inch 15i bookshelf for $800/pair (no increase). Most of the upgrades appear to be in the outward looks, perhaps helping to increase the gap between the budget Emotiva options that share a similar tech.

The standout bullet point from the feature set is of course the folded ribbon tweeter. In Martin Logan’s case it comes as the Folded Motion and Folded Motion XT, with the XT included in the 60XTi, 50XTi, and 35XTi models and claims of “40% larger radiating surface and 80×30-degree controlled dispersion”. Hard dome tweeter have a bad rap in some circles, so the option here is an interesting proposal from the Motion Line. The new speakers all feature a new “i” at the end of the model name and proprietary “Vojtko” crossover networks, named after ML’s chief technologist Joe Vojtko.

The new lineup will become available in October of this year, the price point distribution breaks out like this: Motion 60XTi Floorstander – $1599.99/each (US), Motion 40i Floorstander – $1,099.99/each, Motion 20i Floorstander – $849.99/each, Motion 35XTi bookshelf – $649.99/each, Motion 15i bookshelf – $399.99/each.

If you want a little more backstory on the Martin Logan company as a whole, there is a podcast interview with Gayle Sanders (Martin) that gives a peek behind the curtain from the upstart beginnings of the audio landmark. It is an interesting interview which touches on a lot of stories from the wee early years of hifi and especially early electrostatic speaker technologies.