In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv B2+ and HD3, two Bookshelf speakers from Emotiva and Audioengine. The main difference between these two speakers is that the Audioengine HD3 is a Powered speaker which means that it has a built-in amplifier inside the speaker body so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp whereas the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is a Passive speaker so has to be matched with an amplifier to get any sound from it.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Audioengine HD3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 6.25" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 40-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 125watts
- Weight:7.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 324.0" x 8-1/2" x 11-1/2"( 324.0 x 216.0 x 293.0mm )
Audioengine HD3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 30-watt RMS( 60-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite Woofer
- 65-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:1.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 231.8" x 4.25" x 7.25"( 231.8 x 108.0 x 177.8mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Audioengine HD3 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 B2+ and HD3 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ |
Audioengine HD3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.25-inch
|
1 x 2.75-inch
|
Airmotiv B2+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the HD3 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 2.75" Kevlar/Glass-Aramid Composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv B2+ has a frequency range of 40-28k Hz whereas HD3 has a frequency range of 65-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv B2+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HD3's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Airmotiv B2+ has a rear firing port whereas HD3 has a front firing ports. Audioengine HD3's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ with its rear-firing port.
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ 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 B2+'s and Audioengine HD3's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ has external dimensions of 324.0 x 216.0 x 293.0mm ( 12-3/4-inch x 8-1/2-inch x 11-1/2-inch) whereas Audioengine HD3 has external dimensions of 231.8 x 108.0 x 177.8mm ( 9.125 x 4.25 x 7.25inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 108mm wider, 92.2mm taller and 115.2mm deeper than Audioengine HD3.
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 B2+ is approximately 632.9cm2 / 98.1inch2 and base area of the Audioengine HD3 is approximately 192.0cm2 / 29.8inch2. The Airmotiv B2+ requires 230% more surface area than the HD3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Audioengine HD3?
Here are the items that come with the HD3:
Powered speakerPassive speaker2 Grilles (pre-installed)AC power supply (attached 6-feet DC cord)6-feet AC power cordBluetooth antenna5-feet microUSB-to-USB cable6.5-feet Speaker cable (banana connectors on each end)5-feet Stereo minijack cable2 Microfiber speaker bagsMIcrofiber cable bagQuickstart GuideProduct Line Brochure