MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X Subwoofer Review: ⚡️ A True Thunderer

The MartinLogan brand is more familiar to Russian buyers for electro-acoustic systems, but this American company has long been making subwoofers quite successfully. Thus, the Dynamo series has already undergone its fourth update two years ago. This test included the flagship model with the index 1600X.

Today, there are five models in the Dynamo series: the junior 400th, the 600X, the 800X, the 1100X, and, finally, the flagship 1600X. All models (except the 400th) have modern subwoofer-building technologies on board: control via an application via Bluetooth, a DSP processor, wireless transmission of an audio signal, as well as ARC – a system for correcting the signal for a specific room.

The last abbreviation may evoke associations with Anthem and its correction system, which it has long and successfully used in receivers and processors, in sophisticated home cinema connoisseurs. That’s right – today Anthem, Paradigm, and MartinLogan are part of one group of companies, and the developments are used by all brands, which in our case is only for the good. I would not be surprised if Paradigm subwoofers (by the way, in similar sizes they will be more expensive than MartinLogan) use technologies similar to Dynamo. But I can’t check – I have no experience using modern Paradigm.

Transformation

So, our flagship has a class D amplifier on board, producing 1.8 kW at peak. The constant power is not specified on the website, but an internet search led to a figure of 900 W, which is very close to the truth. The 15-inch speaker is installed in a closed black (and only black!) case and in the standard configuration faces the floor. But with a “flick of the wrist” (no, you still have to twist the screws) down-firing turns into front-firing – i.e. the speaker moves to the front panel.

You need to rearrange the legs, for which a special key and grill are included in the kit, to close the front panel. Unusual, right? Such a transformation may make sense with various floor covering combinations that are not very favorable for bass. However, it must be admitted that the previous generation of Dynamo also had this option. However, it did not have the new inverted suspension, which “ensures a more linear movement of the diffuser.” MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X Subwoofer

By default, the wireless transmitter/receiver is not included in the kit – you need to buy a special SWT-X wireless kit consisting of a low-level signal transmitter and a receiver with a USB interface, which is inserted into a special slot on the subwoofer (deep enough and does not interfere with anything). The kit is supplied from the factory already paired, for me it worked a couple of minutes after power was supplied.

The subwoofer has a standard set of interfaces for low-level connection, including a stereo RCA input and an LFE input. The high cinema level is emphasized by the presence of a balanced LFE input on XLR. There is a high-level signal input here, but it is implemented on “bananas” and cannot be used simultaneously with the low-level one. If you want to use it separately for cinema and separately for stereo – connect via LFE and via stereo input simultaneously.

All of the above-mentioned richness is located on the rear panel, where there is also a nice volume control, a 12V trigger, a USB input for working with ARC on a computer, and an App/Local switch that allows you to choose whose controls are more important – the front panel or the app.

UPDATE: My apologies to readers – during my test, I misinterpreted the paragraph in the subwoofer’s manual regarding the simultaneous operation of the high-level and LFE inputs. These inputs can work simultaneously, but you cannot use both the high-level and low-level stereo inputs at the same time. I went into detail about this type of connection and described my impressions of using it. MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X Subwoofer

Setting

The owner of such a subwoofer will need two applications – at least at the time of setup. Control is via Subwoofer Control, but the ARC correction system is configured via the ARC Mobile application. I’ll start with the second one – it amazed me with its simplicity, speed, and efficiency.

After launching, the application finds all compatible devices, whether they are on the local network or accessible via Bluetooth. (where the next test took place), in addition to the 1600X subwoofer, two more components from Anthem installed in cinema systems were immediately found. That is, the application is universal and works not only with subwoofers.

However, now we are only interested in subwoofers, and there are two setup options – use the built-in microphone of the mobile device itself or contact the dealer to purchase (rent) a high-quality external microphone PBK (Perfect Bass Kit), which will need to be connected to a computer with the Anthem Genesis program installed. MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X Subwoofer

I went the first way (as I think the vast majority of Dynamo owners did). The app takes five measurements at different points around the listening position, generating the necessary signals through the subwoofer and giving hints on what to do. The whole setup took no more than five minutes, the results are below. So far, the summary is that everything is simple, fast, and understandable even for an ordinary unprepared user.

The subwoofer was connected to the Denon AVR-X4400H AV receiver via LFE, and the mid-size Tannoy Revolution XT 8F floor-standing speakers served as a stereo pair. The test material was the film “Call of Conscience” with a very dense and large-scale soundtrack, through which a considerable number of subwoofers have already passed. It was interesting to make the first impressions without using ARC and Denon’s own auto-tuning system – I set all the processing settings in the receiver myself.

Undermining

The “Play” button – and the American infantrymen ran up the slope to fight the Japanese. If you remember, the first attack is rich in gunfire, grenade explosions, and explosive packs. The sensations are very realistic: dense, clear, and powerful – it feels like the subwoofer is larger and more powerful than it is. The room is filled with action, and it is clear that this is far from the limit. The sound picture itself is dynamic, the punch is excellent, and it penetrates to the depths. MartinLogan Dynamo 1600X Subwoofer

The explosion of a Japanese Dota sounds so loud that you want to shed tears, and then watch it again, and if the neighbors come over, watch it a third time with them, and let them shed tears too. I am truly fascinated by how the Dynamo 1600X fits into the sound picture and makes it truly large-scale and realistic. These are the kinds of effects that people go to big movie theaters for, getting such a storm of emotions is an excellent characteristic for a home subwoofer!

I wipe away my tears and turn on the optimized setting with ARC. The bass becomes even clearer, and the texture and, oddly enough, even more “meat” appear (although it is very difficult to make such an association with the sounds of gunshots and explosions). The subwoofer’s capabilities are more than enough: you can not only increase/decrease the level of low frequencies but also adjust the scale of the sound picture. The control from the application is very convenient – it is laconic, but everything is in its place, everything is logical and simple. Even the SVS application, which I liked, has more complicated screens. Here is the golden mean.

I would like to note that all these impressions were obtained with a classic wired connection. I also tested the wireless connection for functionality, it worked without problems within the test room, but the sound seemed less clear and somewhat “blurred” to me – albeit just a little.

At the same time, I have repeatedly come across reviews online that “there is no difference in sound quality with or without a wire.” Perhaps there were some external factors — I don’t know. But if there is no particular need to buy a wireless transmitter — it is better to spend money on a good subwoofer cable, you will definitely not lose anything.

Conclusion

The summary will be very short: Dynamo 1600X is a very cool cinema subwoofer for almost any home theater. It has a very lively, soul-stirring (literally felt!) bass, perfectly adapts to the features of the room (of course, there may be nuances here), and has all the modern conveniences and capabilities dictated by the market. And with all this, it has a very reasonable price for its equipment.

Specification

Advantages: Excellent cinema bass, all the latest wireless technologies, flexible configuration, and great app for control.

Flaws: Restrictions when connecting via high-level input, wireless receiver/transmitter must be purchased separately.

Price: 125,000 rubles

Passport details

Acoustic design: closed enclosure

Speaker: 15 inches (380 mm)

Frequency range: 20–200 Hz

Amplifier: 900W (1.8kW peak) class D

Adjustments: level, phase, cutoff frequency

Inputs: LFE, 2 x RCA, 1 x XLR, high-level banana

Features: three presets, ARC room correction system

Dimensions: 510x454x486 mm

Weight: 25.9 kg