MartinLogan Motion AFX Speakers

Introduction

• Refer servicing to a qualified technician.
• To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose this module to moisture.
• Turn amplifier off should any abnormal conditions occur.
• Do not drive speaker beyond its rated power.

The lightning bolt flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of potentially “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be sufficient to constitute a risk of electric shock.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

In accordance with the European Union WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directive effective August 13, 2005, we would like to notify you that this product may contain regulated materials which upon disposal, according to the WEEE directive, require special reuse and recycling processing. For this reason Martin Logan has arranged with our distributors in European Union member nations to collect and recycle this product at no cost to you.

To find your local distributor please contact the dealer from whom you purchased this product, email [email protected] or visit the distributor locator at www.martinlogan.com.

Please note, only this product itself falls under the WEEE directive. When disposing of packaging and other related shipping materials we encourage you to recycle these items through the normal channels.

CONNECTION

WARNING! Turn your amplifier off before making or breaking any signal connections!

Use the best speaker cables you can. The length and type of speaker cable used in your system will have an audible effect. Under no circumstance should a wire of gauge higher (thinner) than #16 be used. In general, the longer the length used, the greater the necessity of a lower gauge, and the lower the gauge, the better the sound, with diminishing returns setting in around #8 to

12.

A variety of cables are available whose manufacturers claim better performance than standard heavy gauge wire. We have verified this in many cases, and the improvements available are often more noticeable than the differences between wires of different gauge. The effects of cables may be masked if equipment is not of the highest quality.

Connections are done on the rear panel of the speaker. Use spade connectors for optimum contact and ease of installation. Hand tighten the binding posts, but do not overtighten—do not use a tool to tighten the binding posts.

Be consistent when connecting the speaker cables. Take care to assign the same color cable lead to the (+) terminal on both the left and right channel speakers.

SETUP AND INSTALLATION

WARNING! Installation other than that described in the body of this document requires specific documentation from MartinLogan.

BREAK IN

Allow approximately 72 hours of break-in at 90 dB (moderate levels) before any critical listening.

COMPATIBILITY

The Motion AFX is designed to sit on top of floorstanding and bookshelf speakers in MartinLogan’s Motion series. At the time of this manual’s publication these models include the Motion 15, 20, 35XT, 40, and 60XT. The Motion AFX will also work with other brands of speakers with a relatively flat top. Note: The Motion AFX is not recommended for use on top of MartinLogan’s electrostatic speakers, as the electrostatic panels will block the radiation of the AFX’s sound towards the ceiling. The Motion AFX can be used with electrostatic speaker if placed within 3 feet of the electrostats and in such a way that their sound is capable of radiating directly towards the ceiling.

INSTALLATION

Dolby Atmos® enabled speakers reflect sound off your ceiling to create overhead sound. For proper function, please consider the following when installing your Motion AFX speakers.

• Add Motion AFX speakers in pairs (2 or 4 speak-ers). If using only 2 Motion AFX they must be placed with your front left/right speakers. If using 4, they must be placed with your front left/right and back surround left/right or side surround left/right if you do not have back speakers.
• Make sure the Motion AFX’s output is not blocked and points at the ceiling and towards the primary listening position.
• Place the Motion AFX on top of your front or rear surround speakers or within 3 feet (0.9 meters) of these speakers.
• Place the Motion AFX slightly above ear height.
• Avoid placing the Motion AFX higher than one-half the height of your ceiling.
• For optimal performance, use the Motion AFX in a room with a flat ceiling and with a ceiling height of 14 feet (4.3 meters) or less, ideally with a height between 7.5 and 12 feet (2.3 and 3.7 meters).
• To avoid unwanted proximity effects, place the Motion AFX, at minimum, 3 feet (0.9 meters) from the listening position, and ideally 5 feet (1.5 meters) or more.
• For extremely detailed setup information we recommend reviewing the Dolby Atmos® setup guides available on the Dolby website (search for “speaker setup” on dolby.com).

Note: This speaker is not magnetically shielded and therefore should not be placed directly beside or atop a CRT television.

BASS MANAGEMENT

When manually setting up bass management in your processor or receiver, please set the height channels to small or 120 Hz if small is not available. The Motion AFX is not designed for full-range operation.

SPEAKER LEVELS AND CALIBRATION

Some processors and receivers allow adjustment of speaker’s levels and room correction/calibration. To optimize your home theater experience, you should perform these adjustments with the Motion AFX. For more information please refer to the instructions for your processor or receiver.

TROUBLESHOOTING

No Output

• Check that all system components are turned on and source material is playing.
• Check speaker wires and connections.
• Check all interconnecting cables.
• If you are unable to resolve your problem, please contact your dealer or MartinLogan customer service (see below).

CONTACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE

MartinLogan customer service is available Monday–Friday between the hours of 8am–5pm (central time) by calling 785-749-0133 or by emailing [email protected].

GENERAL INFORMATION

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Your speakers are provided with an automatic Limited 90 Day Warranty coverage. You have the option, at no additional charge, to receive a Limited 5 Year Warranty coverage. For your convenience MartinLogan offers online warranty registration at www.martinlogan.com.

MartinLogan may not honor warranty service claims unless we have a completed Warranty Registration card on file! If you did not receive a Certificate of Registration with your new speakers you cannot be assured of having received new units. If this is the case, please contact your authorized MartinLogan dealer.

SERIAL NUMBER

Serial number is located on back of the speaker, directly beneath the binding posts. The serial number may also be found on the product carton.

SERVICE

Should you use your MartinLogan product in a country other than the one in which it was originally purchased, we ask that you note the following:

1. The appointed MartinLogan distributor for any given country is responsible for warranty servicing only on units distributed by or through it in that country in accordance with its applicable warranty.
2. Should a MartinLogan product require servicing in a country other than the one in which it was originally purchased, the end user may seek to have repairs performed by the nearest MartinLogan distributor, subject to that distributor’s local servicing policies, but all cost of repairs (parts, labor, transportation) must be borne by the owner of the MartinLogan product.
3. If, after owning your speaker for six months, you relocate to a country other than the one in which you purchased your speaker, your warranty may be transferable. Contact MartinLogan for details.

SPECIFICATIONS

• FREQUENCY RESPONSE : 90–20,000 Hz ± 3 dB
• SENSITIVITY : 87 dB @ 2.83 volts/meter
• IMPEDANCE : 4 Ohms. Compatible with 4, 6 or 8 Ohm rated amplifiers.
• CROSSOVER FREQUENCY: 2,000 Hz
• HIGH-FREQUENCY DRIVER : 0.75” (1.9cm) aluminum dome
• LOW-FREQUENCY DRIVERS: 5.25” (13.4cm) polypropylene cone with stamped steel basket.
• CABINET: Sealed
• COMPONENTS: Custom air core and low DCR steel laminate inductors. Polyester film capacitors in series and low DF electrolytic caps in parallel
• RECOMMENDED AMPLIFIER POWER: 20–200 watts
• BINDING POST INPUTS: Custom 5-way tool-less binding posts
• WEIGHT: 8 lbs. (3.6 kg)
• DIMENSIONS (H x W x D): 7.7” x 6.8” x 10” (19.5cm x 17.3cm x 25.4cm)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I clean my speakers?****

Use a dust free cloth (such as a micro fiber cloth) or a soft brush to remove dust from your speakers. Do not spray any kind of cleaning agent on or in close proximity to the drivers.

Could you suggest a list of suitable electronics and cables ideal for MartinLogan speakers?****

We have no favorites and use electronics and cables quite interchangeably. We would suggest listening to a number of brands—and above all else—trust your ears. Dealers are always the best source for information when purchasing additional audio equipment.

Is there likely to be any interaction between my speakers and the television in my A/V system?****

Yes. These speakers are not shielded and should be kept at least 2 feet away from a CRT television.

Will exposure to sunlight affect the life or performance of my speakers?****

We recommend against placing any loudspeaker in direct sunlight. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause deterioration of cabinet, speaker cones, etc. Small exposures to UV will not cause a problem. Filtering of UV rays through glass will greatly reduce the negative effects.

Does MartinLogan make good speakers?****

A great-sounding and reasonably priced entry-level audiophile speaker is the MartinLogan Motion 40i. One of the best floorstanding speakers under $2,500, it stands out for its sleek appearance, accurate, punchy, and controlled bass, clear and dramatic mids, and sparkling treble.

Where should Dolby Atmos speakers be placed?****

Place Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers at or slightly above the height of your ears when seated for the best effect and to reduce direct radiating audio at listener level. Keep the Dolby Atmos capable speakers from being placed higher than half the height of your wall.

What does Dolby Atmos do?****

Dolby Atmos immerses you in a spatial sound experience that draws you in deeper so you can hear more and feel more, whether you’re playing a game, watching your favorite movie or television show, or playing that new song repeatedly.

Where are MartinLogan speakers manufactured?****

Our electrostatic speakers are hand-built in Mississauga, Ontario, at MartinLogan’s North American manufacturing site by a highly skilled group of manufacturing specialists.

Do you need 7 speakers for Dolby Atmos?****

Although a compelling experience can be achieved with just two Dolby Atmos- capable speakers, modules, or overhead speakers, we advise using four if at all possible. This will produce genuine overhead sounds that are more precisely localized.

How many channels is best for Dolby Atmos?****

A Dolby Atmos setup requires at least two height channels. As a result, Dolby Atmos requires a minimum of 2.0 channels, or a stereo speaker system with two overhead/height speakers. For the optimum 3D experience, Dolby suggests using four height speakers.

Which is better Dolby 7.1 or Atmos?****

Dolby Atmos enhances standard Surround 7.1 systems’ sound quality by including overhead sound and better calibration software.

Which is better stereo or Dolby Atmos?****

No matter how many post-production channels an engineer uses, they must mix everything down to just two tracks in stereo—left and right. Dolby Atmos, on the other hand, supports 128 unique channels. Additionally, it can produce discrete audio that may be played on up to 34 different speakers in a home theatre.

Will any speaker work for Atmos?****

For the optimum sound, Dolby advises using at least four height speakers, though any speakers will work. Better yet, since all modern Blu-ray players support Dolby Atmos, you won’t need a specialized player. It’s also important to note that Dolby Atmos is compatible with all of your HDMI cords.

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