In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv B2+ and RP-600M II, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Emotiva and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Klipsch RP-600M II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ | Klipsch RP-600M II |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1" Hybrid Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.25" woven fiber cone | 6.5" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-28k Hz | 44-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 94.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 125 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.10kg / 15.6lbs | 8.20kg / 18lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-3/4" x 8-1/2" x 11-1/2"
324.0 x 216.0 x 293.0mm | 15-13/16" x 8" x 13-1/16"
402.0 x 204.0 x 332.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Klipsch RP-600M II 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+ |
Klipsch RP-600M II |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
Drivers
Both Airmotiv B2+ and RP-600M II are 2-way speakers.
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+Klipsch RP-600M II
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 B2+ |
Klipsch RP-600M II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 RP-600M II features a 1" titanium Hybrid Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1500 Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv B2+ has a frequency range of 40-28k Hz whereas RP-600M II has a frequency range of 44-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv B2+ can go slightly deeper then the RP-600M II's min frequency of 44Hz.
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 B2+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-600M II 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.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv B2+ sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the RP-600M II's is rated at 94.5 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-600M II a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv B2+, 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.
Airmotiv B2+ can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas RP-600M II has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Airmotiv B2+.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Airmotiv B2+ and RP-600M II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RP-600M II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv B2+ and RP-600M II 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
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 B2+'s and Klipsch RP-600M II'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 Klipsch RP-600M II has external dimensions of 402.0 x 204.0 x 332.0mm (15-13/16 x 8 x 13-1/16inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is 78mm shorter and 39mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-600M II but it is also 12mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Klipsch RP-600M II in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ and Klipsch RP-600M II 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 Klipsch RP-600M II is approximately 677.3cm2 / 105.0inch2. The Airmotiv B2+ requires 7% less surface area than the RP-600M II 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 B2+ and Klipsch RP-600M II 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 Klipsch RP-600M II weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs. This makes the RP-600M II 15% heavier than the Airmotiv B2+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv B2+ and RP-600M II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-600M II?
Here are the items that come with the RP-600M II:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
324mm
vs
402mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
632cm2
vs
677cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-600M II |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 125 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
94.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-28k Hz |
44-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
SBR |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
Hybrid Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
1500 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
324.0mm (12.8") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Width |
216.0mm (8.5") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
293.0mm (11.5") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
7.10kg (15.6lbs) |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ digs deeper - 40Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-600M II is more sensitive (94dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch RP-600M II is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ takes more power (125W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is easier to place; Klipsch RP-600M II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv B2+: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-600M II: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is cheaper - $499 against $749, about 33% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ B Klipsch RP-600M II
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-600M II is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $250 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.