In this review, we will be comparing AE307 and Airmotiv C2+, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Acoustic Energy and Emotiva. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE307 and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the AE307 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE307 and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ 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 AE307 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.
| Driver |
AE307 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
AE307 features a 1.1" aluminium dome with waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.2" ceramic aluminium sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2560Hz. 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
AE307 has a frequency range of 42Hz - 30kHz whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the AE307 can go slightly deeper then the Airmotiv C2+'s min frequency of 45Hz.
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
AE307 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. AE307 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Airmotiv C2+'s is rated at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to AE307, 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.
AE307 can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the AE307.
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 AE307 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
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 AE307's and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+'s external dimensions. AE307 has external dimensions of 175.0 x 460.0 x 260.0mm ( 6.9 x 18.1 x 10.2inch) 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 352mm wider, 45mm taller and 7mm deeper than AE307.
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 AE307 is approximately 1196.0cm2 / 185.4inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is approximately 2168.0cm2 / 336.0inch2. The AE307 requires 45% 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 AE307 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ weighs 16.40kg / 36.1lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C2+ 82% heavier than the AE307.
Here is a comparison of how AE307 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 |
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
175mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1196cm2 (460x260mm)
vs
2168cm2 (812x267mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.2 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Acoustic Energy AE307 |
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 |
89 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42Hz - 30kHz |
45 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.2" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
ceramic aluminium sandwich |
woven fiber cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with waveguide |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2560Hz |
350 Hz and 3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
175.0mm (6.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
460.0mm (18.1") |
812.0mm (32") |
| Depth |
260.0mm (10.2") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
16.40kg (36.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
high density MDF |
HDF |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss White, Piano Gloss Black, Real Walnut wood veneer |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |