In this review, we will be comparing AE107 MII and Airmotiv C1+, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Acoustic Energy and Emotiva. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE107 Mark II and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the AE107 Mark II and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE107 Mark II and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that AE107 MII is a 2-way design whereas the Airmotiv C1+ is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
AE107 Mark II |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
AE107 MII features a 1" fabric soft dome with waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.2" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv C1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550 Hz and 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
AE107 MII has a frequency range of 55Hz - 26kHz whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Airmotiv C1+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AE107 MII's min frequency of 55Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE107 MII is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv C1+ which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Airmotiv C1+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE107 MII sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Airmotiv C1+'s is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the AE107 Mark II a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv C1+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
AE107 MII can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the AE107 MII.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE107 MII and Airmotiv C1+ have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE107 Mark II's and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s external dimensions. AE107 Mark II has external dimensions of 175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm ( 6.9 x 15 x 9.8inch) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ has external dimensions of 197.0 x 521.0 x 210.0mm ( 7-3/4 x 20-1/2 x 8-1/4inch) .
AE107 Mark II is 141mm narrower and 22mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ but it is also 40mm deeper.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE107 Mark II is approximately 950.0cm2 / 147.3inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is approximately 1094.1cm2 / 169.6inch2. The AE107 MII requires 13% less surface area than the Airmotiv C1+ which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The AE107 Mark II weighs 4.60kg / 10.1lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ weighs 8.45kg / 18.6lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C1+ 84% heavier than the AE107 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE107 MII and Airmotiv C1+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
 Max Input Power |
175 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
175mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
950cm2 (380x250mm)
vs
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE107 Mark II |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
Up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55Hz - 26kHz |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper cone |
woven fiber cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with waveguide |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
175.0mm (6.9") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
380.0mm (15") |
521.0mm (20.5") |
| Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Weight |
4.60kg (10.1lbs) |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
HDF |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Satin Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |