Short answer: the MartinLogan Motion 4i, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #114 of 168 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 2.8/5, at $476.70. The Triangle Borea BR02 ranks #119, rated 2.7/5, at $299, $177.70 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 168 bookshelf speakers; for better sound, the Ascend Acoustics HTM-200SE2 ranks #7 at $368.
The case for the MartinLogan Motion 4i: Best treated as a satellite: crossing it to a subwoofer lifts its predicted preference score from 2.73 to 6.36, so the shallow bass matters far less in a 2.1 or home-theater setup. The catch: Bass-shy to the point of needing a subwoofer: the measured -3dB point is 159.7Hz, so on its own it produces almost nothing below roughly 160Hz.
The case for the Triangle Borea BR02: Compact 2-way standmount design well suited for tight desktop setups or small rooms. Watch for: Shares the series upper-midrange dip and energetic mid-treble, resulting in lean vocal presentation and sibilance on bright recordings.
Buy the MartinLogan Motion 4i. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $177.70 you would save on the Triangle Borea BR02 does not close the gap.
About the ratings: the Triangle Borea BR02’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 2.5 to 2.9, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| MartinLogan Motion 4i | Triangle Borea BR02 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $476.70 per pair | $299.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #114 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #119 of 168 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 67.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way bookshelf speaker | - |
| Enclosure | ported, rear | - |
| Drivers | 1” x 1.4” Folded Motion tweeter, 4” paper cone woofer | 1” (25mm) EFS silk dome tweeter, 5.25” (13cm) natural cellulose paper mid-woofer |
| Crossover Frequency | 2,900 Hz | 2900Hz |
| Coverage | 80° x 80° | - |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 23kHz (±3dB, Manufacturer specified) | 51Hz - 22kHz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 159.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) | 51Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 89dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 8 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 20-150W | - |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 5.6” x 5.7” (320 x 143 x 145 mm) (H x W x D) | 12.2”H x 6.9”W x 10.8”D (310 x 176 x 274 mm) |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.72 kg) | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) each |
| Country | United States (design) | - |
| Measurement Source | Audio Science Review | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.73 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.36 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear port |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How MartinLogan Motion 4i compares with other leading options:
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs MartinLogan Motion 4i
- JBL Stage 250B vs MartinLogan Motion 4i
- MartinLogan Motion 4i vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- GR-Research LGK 2.0 vs MartinLogan Motion 4i
- GR-Research LGK 2.0 vs Triangle Borea BR02
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
MartinLogan Motion 4i: $476.70 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Best treated as a satellite: crossing it to a subwoofer lifts its predicted preference score from 2.73 to 6.36, so the shallow bass matters far less in a 2.1 or home-theater setup. Directivity is the strong point, with sound-power deviation (NBD 0.426) lower than its on-axis figure (0.547), meaning the off-axis output tracks the front more evenly than most budget cabinets and the image stays stable around the room. The Folded Motion tweeter measures cleanly for the price, and 87.5dB measured sensitivity (2.83V/1m) means modest amplifiers drive it easily. Measured bass extension of 159.7Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.5dB.
Cons: Bass-shy to the point of needing a subwoofer: the measured -3dB point is 159.7Hz, so on its own it produces almost nothing below roughly 160Hz. The balance is bright and uneven, deviating 2.7dB across 300Hz-5kHz with a clear upward tilt, and the review’s verdict is a “bass-shy, bright” speaker. A port resonance near 850Hz and high woofer distortion add audible roughness through the midrange, and impedance dips below 3 ohms, so it wants an amplifier comfortable with low-impedance loads.
Full MartinLogan Motion 4i review and specifications →
| Released | May 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 67.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 159.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way bookshelf speaker |
| Country | United States (design) |
| Coverage | 80° x 80° |
| Crossover Frequency | 2,900 Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 5.6” x 5.7” (320 x 143 x 145 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1” x 1.4” Folded Motion tweeter, 4” paper cone woofer |
| Enclosure | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 23kHz (±3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Measurement Source | Audio Science Review |
| Recommended Power | 20-150W |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.36 |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.72 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Triangle Borea BR02: $299.00 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Triangle Borea BR03 (larger bookshelf, rated 2.8/5), the Triangle Borea BR04 (larger bookshelf, estimated 3/5), the Triangle Borea BR07 (smallest floorstanding, estimated 3/5), the Triangle Borea BR08 (floorstanding, estimated 3.2/5), the Triangle Borea BR09 (floorstanding, estimated 3.3/5), the Triangle Borea BR10 (largest floorstanding, estimated 3.3/5), the Triangle Borea BRC01 (smaller center, estimated 3.4/5) and the Triangle Borea BRC2 (larger center, estimated 3.3/5).
Pros: Compact 2-way standmount design well suited for tight desktop setups or small rooms. High sensitivity of 89dB allows it to reach good volume levels with modest amplifier power. Wide high-frequency dispersion creates an open, expansive soundstage.
Cons: Shares the series upper-midrange dip and energetic mid-treble, resulting in lean vocal presentation and sibilance on bright recordings. Low-frequency extension is limited with bass rolling off above 51Hz, and minimum impedance drops to 3.6 ohms.
Full Triangle Borea BR02 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (manufacturer specified) |
|---|---|
| Crossover Frequency | 2900Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 12.2”H x 6.9”W x 10.8”D (310 x 176 x 274 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) EFS silk dome tweeter, 5.25” (13cm) natural cellulose paper mid-woofer |
| Frequency Response | 51Hz - 22kHz (+/- 3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.6 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs (4.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear port |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons