In this review, we will be comparing SONIK CINEMA and Airmotiv XC2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from DALI and Emotiva.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI SONIK CINEMA and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
DALI SONIK CINEMA Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber Woofer
- 46-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 89.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:9.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 172.0" x 22-1/2" x 8-7/16"( 172.0 x 572.0 x 215.0mm )
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 40 Hz – 27 kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 150watts
- Weight:16.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 216.0" x 31.5" x 10.25"( 216 x 800 x 260 mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the DALI SONIK CINEMA and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 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 SONIK CINEMA is a 2-way design whereas the Airmotiv XC2 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 |
DALI SONIK CINEMA |
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-1/4-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
SONIK CINEMA features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5-1/4" Wood fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the Airmotiv XC2 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 600 Hz, 3.1 kHz.
Frequency Response
SONIK CINEMA has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas Airmotiv XC2 has a frequency range of 40 Hz – 27 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv XC2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SONIK CINEMA's min frequency of 46Hz.
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
SONIK CINEMA is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv XC2 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 XC2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SONIK CINEMA sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the Airmotiv XC2's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the DALI SONIK CINEMA a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XC2, 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.
SONIK CINEMA can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SONIK CINEMA has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Airmotiv XC2.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Airmotiv XC2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SONIK CINEMA has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
SONIK CINEMA has a front firing port whereas Airmotiv XC2 has a rear firing ports. DALI SONIK CINEMA's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 with its rear-firing 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 DALI SONIK CINEMA's and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2's external dimensions. DALI SONIK CINEMA has external dimensions of 172.0 x 572.0 x 215.0mm ( 6-3/4inch x 22-1/2inch x 8-7/16inch ) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 has external dimensions of 216 x 800 x 260 mm ( 8.5” x 31.5” x 10.25”) .
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 228mm wider, 44mm taller and 45mm deeper than DALI SONIK CINEMA.
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 DALI SONIK CINEMA is approximately 1229.8cm2 / 190.6inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 is approximately 2080.0cm2 / 322.4inch2. The SONIK CINEMA requires 41% less surface area than the Airmotiv XC2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of DALI SONIK CINEMA?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SONIK CINEMA:
LCR loudspeaker Grille 8 Self-adhesive feet Manual Quick Start Guide Registration Card