In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 5.25-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 5.25-inch first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch 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
Both Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 5.25-inch are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 5.25-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv B1+ has a frequency range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz whereas YU Passive 5.25-inch has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Airmotiv B1+ can go slightly deeper then the YU Passive 5.25-inch's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
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 5.25-inch which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv B1+ sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the YU Passive 5.25-inch's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv B1+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 5.25-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
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 5.25-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 5.25-inch has external dimensions of 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm ( 10.7 x 6.9 x 8.1inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 2mm taller and 5mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-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 5.25-inch is approximately 358.8cm2 / 55.6inch2. The Airmotiv B1+ requires 6% more surface area than the YU Passive 5.25-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:
Size Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Kanto YU Passive 5.25-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 5.25-inch weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv B1+ and YU Passive 5.25-inch's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch?
Here are the items that come with the YU Passive 5.25-inch:
8 x Rubber Feet Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
272mm
vs
274mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
358cm2 (175x205mm)
vs
380cm2 (181x210mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48 Hz – 28 kHz |
50-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| 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") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
175.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
| 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 |