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- Review count2
- Helpfulness votes38
- First reviewDecember 23, 2011
- Last reviewDecember 26, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating5
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes2
- First review commentMarch 5, 2016
- Last review commentMarch 5, 2016
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bigdogaxis's Reviews
This bookshelf speaker features dual Folded Motion tweeters and a 5-1/4" paper cone woofer for enhanced dynamic range. The Precision Vojtko crossover ensures customized sound.
Customer Rating
5
FX for Your Effects
on December 26, 2011
Posted by: bigdogaxis
from houston
I auditioned the MartinLogan Vantage towers as well as the ML Stage to upgrade my home theater front stage. Coming from the Klipsch F series, I was astonished at the clarity in which ML speakers present instrument and voice. My main concerns then turned to movie sound reproduction which would require LFE and surrounds.
The front stage was impressive as expected; however, it was the surrounds that took me by surprise. I heard sounds in the reference movie that I never knew existed. By reference, I mean comparing new equipment against my current equipment using well known video and audio media. I had to know more about the surrounds.
The MartinLogan FX Surround is from the Motion series using a folded motion tweeter and 5-1/4" woofer designed to match the timbre of the ESL speaker line, too. The FX is specifically for use as surround effects speaker. The FR covers 74-25000 Hz so they are perfect for your THX reference level system. The speaker comes with a bracket for mounting firmly in a corner (my preference) or a wall.
So, spec-wise, they match up with most very other dipole surround available. If anyone ever designs a clarity specification for audio equipment, then you may never have to set foot in another audio store again. For now, take your reference disc along and audition these speakers for yourself. No review will ever give justice to speakers of this caliber.
What's great about it: It's a MartinLogan
What's not so great: Nada
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
5
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+24points
24of 24voted this as helpful.
Learn more about Magnolia Premium Installation This bookshelf speaker features a 4" paper cone woofer that is doped for stability and damping and a 1-1/2" Folded Motion tweeter for stunning dynamic range and clarity.
Posted by: bigdogaxis
from houston
All MartinLogan speakers require a "break in" period of 72 hours @ 82 db. When I get new MLs, I play them for 3 days straight because I'm impatient. I bought the Motion 4 speakers for my 9.2 Height channels.
These are not made for sitting in a bookshelf. The Motion 4 are satellite speakers that come with a well engineered bracket for standard or tilted vertical mount. The logo piece can move from the woofer side to the tweeter side so your speakers don't look upside down in the tilted orientation. The binding posts are easy to load and quite robust.
The Motion 4s provide such clarity within their FR range of 70Hz - 25 kHz @ 90 db, that they match well with the ESL models. My calibration set the Motion 4 crossover at 80Hz which is exactly where THX redirects the <80Hz signal to the subwoofer. I am so satisfied with the performance that I am going to replace our outdated BOSE 3-2-1 system with a Motion 4/Dynamo 3.1 setup in another room.
Buy them and rest assured that you just purchased the best speaker value for the price.
What's great about it: Great value
What's not so great: Only one color, one finish
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
MartinLogan - Dynamo 500 10" 360-Watt Powered Subwoofer - Black
(287)
MartinLogan - Dynamo 700W 10" 600-Watt Subwoofer - Black
(352)Sound Quality
5
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+14points
14of 14voted this as helpful.
bigdogaxis's Review Comments
This Denon In-Command AVRX7200WA receiver features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy wireless media streaming. Includes HDMI 4K Ultra HD and 3D pass-through technologies for compatibility with 3D TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles and 4K Ultra HD TVs.
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Good sound, but lacking in areas
By Mike
+ Clean clear sound
+ Remote control via web browser and phone app
+ Phono input
+ Selectable audio (analog, optical, etc.) and video (HDMI, component, etc.) for any input device (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.)
+ Remote control via web browser and phone app
+ Phono input
+ Selectable audio (analog, optical, etc.) and video (HDMI, component, etc.) for any input device (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.)
- Quirky HDMI operation
- No analog record out
- Minimal customization of surround mode parameters
- No printed manual
- No analog record out
- Minimal customization of surround mode parameters
- No printed manual
I found myself in a predicament when my 12 year-old Denon AVR-5803 blew a channel and wouldn't turn on. I had been waiting for a new receiver with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. None were available at the time, but the Denon AVR-X7200WA had Atmos and promised an upgrade to DTS:X when it became available. Ten weeks in and DTS:X has yet to appear for the AVR-X7200WA.
The AVR-X7200WA has clean unrestrained sound for music in both stereo and surround. CDs, DVD-Audio and SACD disks all sound great. It has a phono input, which seems to be a rare thing these days, and my vinyl sounds great as well. I'm still in the process of ripping my vinyl to digital, and the AVR-X7200WA doesn't have any 'analog out' jacks, per se, but I found a work around, after running into a brick wall with Denon support on this. I found that the Zone 2 output can be used for this purpose, that is if you're not using that output for its intended purpose. The results have been acceptable.
If you connect the AVR-X7200WA to your home network, it can be controlled, to some degree, from a PC or phone app, if you have Wi-Fi enabled. The full functionality of the supplied RC-1194 remote control is lacking, but you can control most basic functions, like adjusting volume, sound modes and switching input devices, and the interfaces let you know the sound level setting and sound modes. Adjusting, and saving, settings, such as surround parameters, can't be done.
One nice thing is the ability to assign audio and video inputs to a given 'device'. For instance, I was able to assign Coaxial2 and Component1 as the audio and video inputs, respectively, for my media player.
One disappointment has been the quirky HDMI operation of the AVR-X7200WA. Frequently, and randomly, both video and audio will stop periodically after switching to a component while the TV is set to HDMI. I have to turn the TV off and on to correct the problem. Doing the same with the AVR-X7200WA, also corrects the problem, but takes longer.
Another issue for me is the lack of surround customization, for instance, being able to adjust parameters for delay, echo, etc., and save them, for a given surround setting, as I had been able to do with previous receivers.
Also, the manual for the AVR-X7200WA is only supplied on CD and online, meaning if you need to reference it while using your new receiver, you need to print your own 300+ page copy, or scroll through pages on your electronic device. In a word, inconvenient.
After finally getting the speakers installed in the ceiling for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X use, I found that there is no indication the receiver is using Atmos. At best, the sound mode indicates 'Dolby Surround'. It turns out some older Blu-ray players, like my Oppo BDP-93, are not compatible with an Atmos data stream. Not the fault of the AVR-X7200WA, but I will need to spend more money to get Atmos.
Recommended, with reservations.
bigdogaxis
houston
Set OPPO to bitstream for Atmos
March 5, 2016
For Dolby Atmos, set BDP-93 audio out to bitstream. I am interested if you hear a difference in the processing once the Atmos lights up. I have the Denon 4311ci in 7.2.2 DD PLIIz mode which sounds very good with Atmos discs. I am wondering if my setup vs Atmos is discernible.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
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