In this review, we will be comparing AE107 MII and Airmotiv C2+, 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 C2+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | AE107 Mark II | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with waveguide | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2 x 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.2" paper cone | 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55Hz - 26kHz | 45 Hz – 28 kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 175 watts | Up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.60kg / 10.1lbs | 16.40kg / 36.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.9" x 15" x 9.8"
175.0 x 380.0 x 250.0mm | 8-5/8" x 31-15/16" x 10-1/2"
220.0 x 812.0 x 267.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the AE107 Mark II and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ 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:
| Listening Environment* |
AE107 Mark II |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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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 C2+ 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.
AE107 Mark IIEmotiva Airmotiv C2+
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
AE107 Mark II |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 C2+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
AE107 MII has a frequency range of 55Hz - 26kHz whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Airmotiv C2+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AE107 MII's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. 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 C2+ 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 C2+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. AE107 MII sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Airmotiv C2+'s is rated at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to AE107 Mark II, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
AE107 MII can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the AE107 MII.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both AE107 MII and Airmotiv C2+ 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.
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 C2+'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 C2+ has external dimensions of 220.0 x 812.0 x 267.0mm (8-5/8 x 31-15/16 x 10-1/2inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 432mm wider, 45mm taller and 17mm deeper than AE107 Mark II.
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 C2+ is approximately 2168.0cm2 / 336.0inch2. The AE107 MII requires 56% less surface area than the Airmotiv C2+ 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 C2+ weighs 16.40kg / 36.1lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C2+ 257% heavier than the AE107 MII.
Here is a comparison of how AE107 MII and Airmotiv C2+'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
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
175mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
950cm2
vs
2168cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE107 Mark II |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
| Brand |
Acoustic Energy |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 175 watts |
Up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55Hz - 26kHz |
45 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
6.5" |
| 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 |
350 Hz and 3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
175.0mm (6.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
380.0mm (15") |
812.0mm (32") |
| Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Weight |
4.60kg (10.1lbs) |
16.40kg (36.1lbs) |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
AE107 Mark II is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (175W vs 150W). |
| Size |
depends |
AE107 Mark II is easier to place; Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
B |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+: bi-amping. Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
AE107 Mark II is cheaper - $399 against $499, about 20% less. |
A AE107 Mark II
B Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ measures better, AE107 Mark II costs about 20% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper AE107 Mark II much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, AE107 Mark II is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.