Martin Logan has a wide range of loudspeakers with some of them carrying a hefty price tag and today we will be looking at the Martin Logan Motion 40. It is a modestly priced floor-standing speaker that uses Martin Logan‘s signature Folded Motion tweeter and has garnered plenty of accolades ever since its debut. Their remarkable sonic prowess will require equally talented receivers to match with them.
To find such matching receivers, we will need to learn more about the strengths and limitations (if any) of the Martin Logan Motion 40 floor-standing speakers. With a better understanding of their sonic characteristics, we can then share with you a list of the best receivers which you can go for and pair them with this pair of lovely floor-standers.
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Sonic Characteristics and Strengths of Martin Logan Motion 40
The Martin Logan Motion 40 looks elegantly beautiful and even the speaker grille feels premium. This pair of floor-standing speakers will look nice in most house interiors and listening rooms. Aesthetically, the Motion 40 will match well with most modern receivers. Looking through the translucent speaker grille, you will see the iconic Folded Motion tweeter at the top, followed by a 5.5″ (140mm) aluminum cone mid-frequency transducer and two 6.5″ (165mm) aluminum cone woofers. When you look at the back of the speaker cabinet, right at the bottom you will see a large rear-firing bass port. You can either place them nearer to the rear walls for a more reinforced bass output or move them away for more balanced performance.
The speaker sensitivity of the Martin Logan Motion 40 is rated at 92dB which is really high. The frequency response is equally impressive as well, 40Hz-25kHz (-/+3dB). The impedance of the Motion 40 speakers is at 4 Ohms and the recommended amplifier power is from 20-300 Watts per channel. This does indicate that the Martin Logan Motion 40 floor-standers are not that easy to drive and we should probably look for receivers that have high power outputs. We should also include an active subwoofer into the mix if you are planning to use them for home theater use.
More Details at Amazon – MartinLogan Motion 40 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
The bass performance of the Martin Logan Motion 40 is superb, they came through taut and agile, with enough punch to provide that satisfying impact. The low ends are rich and detailed as well but it is not deep enough for home theater use. You will need to add a powered subwoofer for that subterranean bass reproduction and deep rumbling lows. For music, the Martin Logan Motion 40’s low-frequency performance is sufficient and works cohesively with the rest of the higher frequencies. Effortlessly delivering a large soundstage that is wide and deep, filling the listening room with rich sonic details.
The imaging is accurate, it has great focus and is highly defined, able to remain stable even when the going gets tough. Really impressive for a loudspeaker at this price range. The Martin Logan Motion 40 tweeter reproduces very clean highs and intricate details with clarity. The lively and bright sonic characteristics along with the wide dynamics do help to provide an engaging listening experience without being overly harsh-sounding. The revealing nature and sonic prowess of the Martin Logan Motion 40 also make them very suitable for a home theater performance.
It is an amazing all-rounder but we do find they excel more in music playbacks though. The Martin Logan Motion 40 is definitely an exemplary choice as left and right main speakers in your home theater setup, with the right subwoofer, you will be in for an exhilarating home movie experience. The Motion 40 speakers will also do wonders in a stereo setup. Their midrange reproduction can be quite warm and lush which is excellent for turntable users. We have the necessary information and data we need to start listing out the best receivers which we can go for and match with the Martin Logan Motion 40 floor-standing speakers.
Martin Logan Motion 40 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 3-Way (Rear-Firing Bass Port)
- Drive Units: Folded Motion tweeter, 5.5″ (140mm) aluminum cone mid-frequency transducer, two 6.5″ (165mm) aluminum cone woofers
- Frequency Response (-/+3dB): 40Hz–25kHz
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-300 Watts
- Impedance: 4 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 92dB
- Dimensions: 1079mm x 192mm x 326mm | 42.5″ x 7.6″ x 12.8″
- Weight: 22.2kg (49lbs)
Best Receivers to match with Martin Logan Motion 40
The Denon AVR-X3700H is probably the best all-rounder AV receiver to match with your Martin Logan Motion 40. The sonic characteristics of the Denon AVR are quite similar matched with the Motion 40 speakers as well but do not add brightness to the overall sound reproduction. The AVR-X3700H is a fantastic AV receiver for both movies and music playbacks. It can process 8K video signals and decode 3D Audio formats, providing an immersive home cinematic experience. The midrange reproduction of this Denon AVR will suit nicely with the Martin Logan Motion 40 floor-standing speakers.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-X3700H AV Receiver – 3D Audio, Alexa + HEOS
For more musicality, going with Marantz SR6015 will be a great choice as it is a 9.2 channel 8K UHD AV receiver that is extensively tuned by Marantz sound masters. Ensuring the SR6015 does its job really well when it comes to music performance. The sonic signatures of the Marantz SR6015 are also well suited for music playbacks, with their smooth and warm sound delivery. The spacious soundstage and lush midrange reproduction of the Martin Logan Motion 40 speakers will complement the SR6015 AVR amazingly well. The Marantz SR6015 is also talented when it comes to providing an immersive cinematic experience.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz SR6015 with 3D Audio, HEOS Built-in and Voice Control
The Peachtree Audio Nova300 is a powerful integrated amplifier with a rated power output of 450 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms, which allows it to drive the Martin Logan Motion 40 with ease and unlocking the speakers’ full potentials. Furthermore, the Nova300 amp is sanely priced and comes with a plethora of features such as a premium D/A converter ES9018K2M SABRE32 reference DAC, Home Theater Bypass, and many more. The overall sound reproduction is detailed, clean, and a tad warm, with brilliant finesse as well. The Peachtree Audio Nova300 can easily drive the Martin Logan Motion 40 speakers to very high volumes without making them sound overly bright. At this price point, it is well worth your time to hear them out.
More Details at Amazon – Peachtree Audio Nova300 with DAC
If you prefer a stereo setup for your home theater entertainment without compromising the musicality and have a smooth warm sound quality then the Marantz NR1200 will be an amazing choice to pair with the Martin Logan Motion 40 speakers. For a more all-rounded performance, the Denon DRA-800H will be a fantastic stereo receiver choice. Both receivers are able to process 4K UHD video signals and you can connect up to 2 subwoofers which will significantly improve the overall bass performance. The sonic characteristics of the Denon DRA-800H are more neutral with a hint of warmth which will match well with the Martin Logan Motion 40 floor-standers.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz NR1200 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Heos + Alexa
As Martin Logan Motion 40 speakers scale well with power, you might want to add external power amplifiers instead as most receivers are not really powerful enough to fully drive them. There are a few brands that built high-performance power amps and are also sanely priced. Emotiva will be one such brand, you might want to check out their entry-level BasX A2 stereo amplifier which has an RMS power output of 250 Watts into 4 Ohms. Parasound will be another solid performer and we will suggest checking out their higher-end Halo series power amplifiers. The A 23+ is a powerful 2 channel amplifier with high bias Class A/AB operation that outputs up to 300 Watts into 4 Ohms with both channels been driven.
We cannot deny how important an active subwoofer role is in a home theater system. It not only supplements the bass but also helps reduce the demand on your receiver. You can choose to integrate an active subwoofer that is the same brand as the Martin Logan Motion 40 speakers such as the MartinLogan Dynamo 800 X or go with subwoofer specialists like SVS, Rythmik Audio, and HSU Research. We would suggest the latter as they will provide more performance and value at a similar price range. You might want to check out SVS SB-1000 Pro which is a powerful sealed subwoofer and is excellent for music performance.
More Details at Amazon – MartinLogan Dynamo 800 X 300 Watt Powered Subwoofer
More Details at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
To Conclude
If you already have an existing receiver and just want more power, you might just want to get an external power amplifier but you will need to check if your current receiver has Preout connections. The receivers that are mentioned here are some of the best to match with your Martin Logan Motion 40 floor-standing speakers. They are certainly worth your time to check them out and you should arrange an audition to listen to them, see if you like what you hear before making your final decision.
