In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv B1+ and SS-CS5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Emotiva and Sony.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Sony SS-CS5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ | Sony SS-CS5 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Super tweeter | — | 0.75" super tweeter |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" woven fiber cone | 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48 Hz – 28 kHz | 53-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 70 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-3/4" x 7-1/8" x 8-1/4"
274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm | 13.1" x 7.0" x 8.6"
335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Sony SS-CS5 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+ |
Sony SS-CS5 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Bad |
(* 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 Airmotiv B1+ is a 2-way design whereas the SS-CS5 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.
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+Sony SS-CS5
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
Sony SS-CS5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Super Tweeter
|
- |
0.75-inch |
|
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 SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv B1+ has a frequency range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz whereas SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k 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 SS-CS5's min frequency of 53Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Airmotiv B1+ is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the SS-CS5 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 SS-CS5's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sony SS-CS5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv B1+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
SS-CS5 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas Airmotiv B1+ has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the SS-CS5.
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 Airmotiv B1+ and SS-CS5 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
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 Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s and Sony SS-CS5'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 Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm (13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is 61mm shorter and 10mm less deeper than Sony SS-CS5 but it is also 3mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Sony SS-CS5 in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2. The Airmotiv B1+ requires 3% less surface area than the SS-CS5 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs. This makes the SS-CS5 13% heavier than the Airmotiv B1+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv B1+ and SS-CS5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
53 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
274mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
380cm2
vs
391cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
Sony SS-CS5 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Sony |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 70 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48 Hz – 28 kHz |
53-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
SBR |
Rubber |
| 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") |
335.0mm (13.2") |
| Width |
181.0mm (7.1") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
These sit in different price classes - Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ costs roughly 2x what Sony SS-CS5 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ digs deeper - 48Hz against 53Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
B |
Sony SS-CS5 takes more power (100W vs 70W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is easier to place; Sony SS-CS5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
Sony SS-CS5 is cheaper - $148 against $299, about 51% less; arguably a different class. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
B Sony SS-CS5
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?
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 51% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Sony SS-CS5 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 53Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Sony SS-CS5 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.