The MartinLogan Motion 40 i is not a revolution, but an evolution. I mean that positively, because evolution or new does not necessarily mean better. The Americans have especially improved the appearance, which is my humble opinion by the way. The design has now become a bit more interior-friendly with more attention to detail. In terms of performance, it is still a very fine speaker series with the transparent display of the impressive electrostats combined with the easier placement of more conventional speaker designs. I was already very pleased with the previous iteration of the Motion series, but the Motion 40 i has definitely conquered a place in my living room.

MartinLogan Motion The American brand MartinLogan, mainly known for the electrostats, renowned for their super-fast and analytical reproduction, not very long ago, the Motion series took over. The focus is mainly on appearance, but not exclusively.

The Motion- series is one that is more aimed at the listener who is looking for conventional loudspeakers and therefore does not directly have electrostats on the wish list. Because the Motions are mainly quite conventional. A speaker cabinet, with one or more woofers, sometimes a midrange and a tweeter. However, the series does reflect the expertise gained in the development of electrostats. Because the technology of the Folded Motion tweeter that can be found in the Motion series has similarities with the electostat and certainly has its advantages; the rendering is lightning fast and above all very light and transparent.

The Motion series consists of three floor uprights: the Motion 30 i, the 40 i of this review, and the 60 XTi. There are also two bookshelf models – the Motion 15 i and the Greater Motion 35 XTi – and two center speakers; the 30 i and the 50 XTi. In addition to these new models, there are finally a Motion FX for surround channels and a Motion AFX Dolby Atmos certified speaker for use in a home cinema.

The XT (i) designation refers to the tweeter model being used. The XT Folded Motion tweeter in the Motion 60 XTi, 50 XTi and 35 XTi is in fact 40 percent longer than the Folded Motion tweeter in the other models. A big advantage of this is that the vertical radiation of the sound is somewhat more limited with only 35 degrees, which in turn ensures that less reflections come from the ceiling or floor. The non-XT models have a radiance on both the horizontal and vertical axis 099 degrees, which is also not very broad. Turning the MartinLogan Motion 40 i is really a must for a good focus and stereo image.

Bellows If you look closely at the Folded Motion tweeter, it almost looks like an old-fashioned bellows. You know, one of those things to light a fire. These tweeters are small wonders of technology and the Folded Motion tweeter is also known as AMT (Air Motion Transformer). A treble driver such as Oskar Heil was invented and patented. However, this patent has expired from 2004, which means that many audio brands have embraced the technique and in the case of MartinLogan there are certainly similar properties as with the electrostats of the American brand. Yet the technique is fundamentally different.

The recipe; a very thin woven material over which aluminum conductors are placed which is folded into a kind of wafer shape and placed in front of very strong magnets, so that the wafer shape is in a constant and well distributed magnetic field.

The aluminum pattern on the thin wafer shape has its own circuit through which small currents (the signal from an amplifier) ​​are carried, which ensures that those folds repel and attract each other, as it were. This creates a kind of bellows through which air is squeezed out between the ridges. After all, sound consists of air waves and this is a very efficient way of reproducing high tones with low radiation behavior, which in turn ensures less reflections.

Motion 40 i The Motion 40 , the previous model, I have previously reviewed. That was a very positive experience at the time with a score of 4.5 out of 5. For me, sound quality is of course the most important, but the eye is definitely something too. Especially when used in a living room.

The Motion 40 I personally thought it worked out quite well, but the visual renewal of the new Motion series can really be seen and in my eyes it is very successful. The previously large black front is now nicely interrupted by a metal strip with the MartinLogan logo on it. Nice detail is that the metal strip has a small color difference depending on the color of the speaker cabinet itself.

Tricolore In my living room the matt white version with a beautiful silver stripe was housed. However, the variants with a glossy black exterior have a gray colored strip. The Americans call that gray color, how American do you want it, gunmetal gray. And there is another ‘red walnut’ version where the metal strip is champagne colored.

What also immediately stood out when unpacking, is that the white speakers now also really bright white. The previous Motion series had a bit of a pink tinge through the white, which may not color nicely next to a white piece of furniture, which is the case with me. That is why the white variants here at home are very popular with both myself and my wife.

Fabrics grilles All in all they are small, but important details in my opinion. It all looks a little better. In addition, there is no longer a large metal grille for optional attachment, but there are now two fabric grilles per floor stand. A smaller one for above the metal strip and one below. And this is the first time that I am not quite sure whether I like them better with or without a grille. Often the enthusiast (and nerd) thinks in me: leave out those grilles. But now it is still very tasty with grilles on it. Anyway, they are attached with magnets, so they are right away.

Another small visual difference with the previous series is that the caps on the woofers are now flattened. This looks a bit different, a bit tighter. In addition, it also has a function. The new dust caps provide a slightly stiffer construction and therefore also somewhat tighter reproduction.

Specifications, price and availability The dimensions, cabinet construction, the crossover used and the connection terminals are all the same as the previous series. For full (technical) specifications, I would like to refer to the site of importer Look & Listen . The Motion 40 i costs € 1. 099 each and has been available for quite some time.

Listening to the Motion 40 i During the many weeks that the Motions were here, there was – of course – a lot of listening to music. Many different music genres have also passed through and as with the Motion 40 which was the case, also stands out with the slightly renewed 40 i how well they go with everything. The match with the used Anthem amplifier can certainly be called a happy one, but that is no different from when I listened to the previous model. So in that respect it’s a perfect comparison, as the only thing that has changed in my setup is the speaker itself.

There is just enough of everything. Just enough lows, just enough definition and calm in the midrange, and just enough highs. The bass goes nice and far and the Anthem keeps the woofer well under control. The midrange is really fantastic when reproducing voices and the highs are very light and fast. The tweeters are unparalleled in displaying micro details. It is impossible to describe all listening experiences, so I just pick out two albums that I have listened a lot of times recently.

Mariecke Borger – Bright Sky Colleague Eric de Boer recently reviewed Mariecke Borger’s album. If something fantastic was displayed on the Motion 40 i, then the that album. Mariecke’s voice is nicely placed in front of the speakers. She seems – nice and cliché – right in front of me in my living room with the music as a nice accompaniment to her person.

At the intro of the first track Bright Sky also immediately catches the eye that light-footed character of the MartinLogans. The bit of percussion in the song is finely detailed and the heavier drum used in the opening track has good energy with fine timing and also offers plenty of weight. The bass tones are anything but messy or uncontrolled. guitar are very easy to distinguish in a natural way. The recording is of course excellent, but the speakers do a lot of money to create that – cliché alarm – real reproduction of instruments. Everything is in perfect balance.

Tame Impala – The Slow Rush Another album which I have often listened to the recent work of the Australian band Tame Impala. The track Lost in Yesterday was also a modest hit in the Netherlands and was played frequently on NPO Radio 2. It is a very poppy, psychedelic and melodic album with tight beats, synthesizers, electric pianos and vocoders. Really something completely different from Mariecke Borger’s acoustic, country-like album. Furthermore, the new album does not differ much from their previous album in terms of music type Currents from 2015, but that aside. I like music and that’s what it’s all about, people: music!

The stereo spread on this album is very fine. The soundstage is wide. Wider than the setup and also further back than the speakers are away from me. The Motion 40 i really does a very impressive job. Again, that light-footed representation. Especially all those electronic sounds from vocoders and synths seem to flutter like butterflies between the speakers and beyond. With a lot of peace, a lot of nuance and a lot of control.

Conclusion It should come as no surprise that the couple MartinLogan Motion 40 i liked it well, as already in the introduction can be read. Very good indeed. The Motion 40 i has definitely conquered its place in my living room. I get a smile on my face every time I listen to music from these speakers. You don’t hear the equipment, but space is made for experience and listening fun. And that’s what it’s all about. No hi-fi, but myfi.

At the previous Motion 40 of MartinLogan I mentioned having to place it far from the wall and the stability as disadvantages. I have not experienced that distance to the wall as a problem, but the feet could have been a bit more stable again, but that does not affect the sound quality. Compared to the previous iteration they have been marginally improved in sound and a lot improved in looks. They are especially tighter in the bass and the midrange is just a bit quieter, which makes for better imaging, if you can remember such a thing. But in my opinion that is just that cherry on the apple sauce.

MartinLogan Motion 40 i

1. 099, 00 euro p / pc | MartinLogan | Look & Listen

Rating 5 out of 5