MartinLogan Motion 2i Bookshelf Speaker - Black - Each

The Smallest MartinLogan

The Motion 2i is the smallest speaker MartinLogan makes. A Folded Motion tweeter with a 2.8 by 1.25 inch diaphragm sits above a 3.5-inch poly-cone woofer in a sealed, curved, gloss black cabinet 10 inches tall. It mounts on a wall or sits on a shelf, and it is sold by the each.

The Folded Motion tweeter is the reason to buy a Motion speaker. A pleated film diaphragm squeezes air between its folds, so it needs about 90 percent less travel than a 1-inch dome. That means low distortion and fast transients, the same idea MartinLogan uses in its electrostatic panels.

Built for Surround and Desktop Duty

The 2i is sealed rather than ported, so it can sit close to a wall without bass problems. A threaded insert on the back takes a wall bracket or stand mount, and the cabinet can be flipped for high positions. A Vojtko crossover hands over to the tweeter at 3,800 Hz.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of You

MartinLogan quotes 110 Hz to 23 kHz within 3 dB and 86 dB sensitivity. Impedance is 6 ohms, compatible with amplifiers rated for 4, 6 or 8 ohms. Recommended power is 20 to 100 watts, and dispersion is 80 degrees both ways. The 110 Hz limit means the 2i always works with a subwoofer.

How Much Room It Takes

Each cabinet is 4.7 inches wide, 10 tall and 4.6 deep, and weighs 3.4 pounds. The finish is high-gloss black with MartinLogan's perforated steel grille. Push-style terminals accept bare wire, and their caps come off for banana plugs.

What Reviewers Are Saying

We have not found a published written review of the Motion 2i on its own. Reviewers who cover the Motion i series treat the 2i as its surround speaker, and MartinLogan itself sells it in that role in packaged systems.

Who Is This Speaker Best For?

• You need surround or height speakers for a Motion system — the 2i shares the Folded Motion tweeter with the Motion 4i and Motion 6i center channel, and mounts flat to a wall
• You want a desktop speaker with a subwoofer — the sealed cabinet is happy close to a wall, and the tweeter gives desk-distance detail
• Space is very tight — under 5 inches wide and deep, and 3.4 pounds
• You want it as your only pair of speakers — not without a subwoofer; the 110 Hz limit leaves out the whole bass range
• You want bass in the box — the Motion 4i reaches 70 Hz and the Motion Foundation B1 reaches 48 Hz

How Do They Connect to Your System?

Speaker cable runs from your amplifier or receiver to the push terminals, red to red and black to black. Remove the rubber caps to use banana plugs. These are passive speakers, so there is nothing else to power.

Set your receiver's crossover for the 2i channels at 100 to 120 Hz so a subwoofer carries the bass. On a wall, aim the tweeter at the seats. On a desk, a small tilt toward your ears helps.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the setup. These are the categories most Motion 2i owners shop next.

• MartinLogan Dynamo 10 subwoofer — required for anything but surround duty
• Motion 6i center channel — the matching center for a Motion i home theater
• AV receivers — a receiver with room correction sets the crossover for you
• Wall-mount speaker brackets — for the threaded insert on the back

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the price for one speaker or a pair?

One speaker. Order two for a stereo or surround pair, or four for surrounds and heights.

Do I need a subwoofer?

Yes, unless the 2i is a surround channel. It reaches 110 Hz, so a subwoofer has to carry everything below.

How do I mount it on a wall?

A threaded insert on the back accepts a wall bracket or a stand mount. The speaker can be mounted upside down for high positions.

How much amplifier does it need?

MartinLogan recommends 20 to 100 watts. At 86 dB sensitivity it wants a little more power than the larger Motion models, but any receiver channel is fine.

How is the 2i different from the Motion 4i?

The 4i has a larger tweeter, a 4-inch ported woofer and bass to 70 Hz, and it includes a wall bracket. The 2i is smaller, sealed and reaches 110 Hz.

Does it come with a grille?

Yes. The perforated steel grille is part of the cabinet design.

See It in Action

MartinLogan introduces the Motion i series:

Techno Dad reviews Motion i speakers with a Dynamo subwoofer:

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