SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS by TYPE
    • Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    • Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    • Passive Center Channel Speakers
    • Passive In-wall Speakers
    • All Passive Speakers
    • Powered Subwoofers
    • Powered Stereo Speakers
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ vs Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+

Passive Bookshelf | 48 Hz – 28 kHz

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch

Passive Bookshelf | 60-20k Hz

Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
CHECK PRICE
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
See at AMAZON
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Kanto YU Passive 4-i...
See at AMAZON
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
See at AMAZON
Kanto YU Passive 4-i...
See at AMAZON
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ vs Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 4-inch, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Emotiva and Kanto.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
  • 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer
  • 48 Hz – 28 kHz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:Up to 70watts
  • Weight:4.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 274.0" x 7-1/8" x 8-1/4"( 274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm )

Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Kevlar Woofer
  • 60-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Weight:2.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.0" x 5.5" x 7.5"( 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm )

What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch 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* Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
Near-field Good Good
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room No way No way

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 4-inch are 2-way speakers.

Driver Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 25×32 mm-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5.25-inch 1 x 4-inch

Airmotiv B1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the YU Passive 4-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer .

Frequency Response

Airmotiv B1+ has a frequency range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz whereas YU Passive 4-inch has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Airmotiv B1+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU Passive 4-inch's min frequency of 60Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Airmotiv B1+
YU Passive 4-inch
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
Min
Average
Max

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

Airmotiv B1+ is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the YU Passive 4-inch 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 YU Passive 4-inch can provide this impedance level.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Airmotiv B1+
YU Passive 4-inch
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 4-inch 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 B1+  Port
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ has external dimensions of 274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm ( 10-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 8-1/4inch) whereas Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ( 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) .

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 41mm wider, 54mm taller and 20mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 4-inch.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch in scale.

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ vs Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Size and External Dimensions

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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is approximately 380.1cm2 / 58.9inch2 and base area of the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The Airmotiv B1+ requires 43% more surface area than the YU Passive 4-inch which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ vs Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 4-inch on a Media Console
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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs. This makes the Airmotiv B1+ 60% heavier than the YU Passive 4-inch.

Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 4-inch's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch?

Here are the items that come with the YU Passive 4-inch:
  • 8 x Rubber Feet
  • Manual

  • Reasons to choose Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ over Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 5.25 inches vs 4 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 48 Hz vs 60 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 28k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency

    Reasons to choose Kanto YU Passive 4-inch over Emotiva Airmotiv B1+

    Height 220mm vs 274mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 266cm2 vs 380cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 200USD vs 299USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ vs Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
    Brand Emotiva Kanto
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Sensitivity 86 dB 86 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms
    Frequency Response 48 Hz – 28 kHz 60-20k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5.25" 4"
    Woofer Composition woven fiber cone Kevlar
    Woofer Surround Material SBR n/a
    Tweeter Size 25×32 mm" 1"
    Tweeter Type folded ribbon Soft-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2000Hz n/a
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 274.0mm (10.8") 220.0mm (8.7")
    Width 181.0mm (7.1") 140.0mm (5.5")
    Depth 210.0mm (8.3") 190.0mm (7.5")
    Weight 4.00kg (8.8lbs) 2.50kg (5.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass reflex bass reflex
    Finish HDF n/a
    Available Colors Black Black,White
    Mounting Bracket No
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 2 years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 2 years

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction