In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Emotiva. Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Airmotiv T-Zero+ is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Airmotiv B2+ and Airmotiv T-Zero+ are members of Emotiva's Airmotiv series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Emotiva Airmotiv Series History
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ 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 B2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ 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 Airmotiv T-Zero+ are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ |
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.25-inch
|
2 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 T-Zero+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv B2+ has a frequency range of 40-28k Hz whereas Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a frequency range of 48-28 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 T-Zero+'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
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Airmotiv B2+ and Airmotiv T-Zero+ have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Airmotiv B2+ sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Airmotiv T-Zero+'s is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv B2+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Airmotiv B2+ and the Airmotiv B2+ can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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 T-Zero+ has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 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 T-Zero+ 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.
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 T-Zero+'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 T-Zero+ has external dimensions of 969.0 x 969.0 x 267.0mm ( 38-1/8 x 38-1/8 x 10-1/2inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is 753mm narrower and 645mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ but it is also 26mm deeper.
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 T-Zero+ is approximately 2587.2cm2 / 401.0inch2. The Airmotiv B2+ requires 76% less surface area than the Airmotiv T-Zero+ which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.