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Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Comparison

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Emotiva Airmotiv B2+

Passive Bookshelf | 40-28k Hz

Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
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Emotiva Airmotiv B1+

Passive Bookshelf | 48 Hz – 28 kHz

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
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Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
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Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
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Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
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Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
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Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv B2+ and Airmotiv B1+, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Emotiva

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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 )

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 )

Airmotiv B2+ and Airmotiv B1+ are members of Emotiva's Airmotiv series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Emotiva Airmotiv Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Bookshelf 48 Hz – 28 kHz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
Bookshelf 40-28k Hz 86 dB4Ω 1 x 6.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv T3+
  
Floor-standing 29 Hz – 28 kHz 91 dB4Ω 3 x 8"
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+
  
Center Channel 40 Hz – 28 kHz 92 dB4Ω 4 x 6.5"
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
  
Center Channel 50 Hz – 28 kHz 89 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+
  
Floor-standing 48-28 kHz 87 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
  
Center Channel 45 Hz – 28 kHz 92 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+
  
Floor-standing 37 Hz – 28 kHz 88 dB4Ω 2 x 6"
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
  
Floor-standing 35 Hz – 28 kHz 91 dB4Ω 2 x 8"

What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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 B2+ Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Near-field Average Good
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room Bad 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 B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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 B2+ and Airmotiv B1+ are 2-way speakers.

Driver Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 25×32 mm-inch 25×32 mm-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.25-inch 1 x 5.25-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 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.

Frequency Response

Airmotiv B2+ has a frequency range of 40-28k Hz whereas Airmotiv B1+ has a frequency range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv B2+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv B1+'s min frequency of 48Hz.

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 B2+
Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
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 B2+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv B1+ which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 B2+ can provide this impedance level.

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

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Airmotiv B2+
Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max

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.

Airmotiv B2+ can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv B1+ has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the Airmotiv B2+.

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.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Airmotiv B2+ and Airmotiv B1+ 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 B2+  Port
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ Port

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 B2+'s and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'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 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) .

Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 50mm taller and 83mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv B1+.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ in scale.

Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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 B2+ is approximately 632.9cm2 / 98.1inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is approximately 380.1cm2 / 58.9inch2. The Airmotiv B2+ requires 67% more surface area than the Airmotiv B1+ 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 B2+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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 B2+ weighs 7.10kg / 15.6lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs. This makes the Airmotiv B2+ 78% heavier than the Airmotiv B1+.

Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv B2+ and Airmotiv B1+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max

Reasons to choose Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ over Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Max Input Power 125 watts vs 70 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
Woofer Size 6.25 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response 40 Hz vs 48 Hz Generates deeper bass

Reasons to choose Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ over Emotiva Airmotiv B2+

Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
Height 274mm vs 324mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 380cm2 vs 632cm2 Takes less floor space
Price per pair* 299USD vs 499USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Brand Emotiva Emotiva
Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
Power Range Up to 125 watts Up to 70 watts
Sensitivity 86 dB 86 dB
Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
Frequency Response 40-28k Hz 48 Hz – 28 kHz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 1 1
Woofer Size 6.25" 5.25"
Woofer Composition woven fiber cone woven fiber cone
Woofer Surround Material SBR SBR
Tweeter Size 25×32 mm" 25×32 mm"
Tweeter Type folded ribbon folded ribbon
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No No
Crossover Frequency 2000Hz 2000Hz
Firing Direction rear rear
Physical Specs
Height 324.0mm (12.8") 274.0mm (10.8")
Width 216.0mm (8.5") 181.0mm (7.1")
Depth 293.0mm (11.5") 210.0mm (8.3")
Weight 7.10kg (15.6lbs) 4.00kg (8.8lbs)
Enclosure Bass reflex Bass reflex
Finish HDF HDF
Available Colors Black Black
Mounting Bracket No
Grille Yes Yes
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Biamp Inputs Yes n/a
Other
Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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