In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C1+ and CS-9040, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and Definitive Technology.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Definitive CS-9040 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ | Definitive CS-9040 |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone | 2 x 4.5" BDSS |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50 Hz – 28 kHz | 50-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 120 watts | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.45kg / 18.6lbs | 9.09kg / 20lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-3/4" x 20-1/2" x 8-1/4"
197.0 x 521.0 x 210.0mm | 6" x 20-13/16" x 12"
153.0 x 529.0 x 305.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Definitive CS-9040 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 C1+ |
Definitive CS-9040 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv C1+ is a 3-way design whereas the CS-9040 is a 2-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 C1+Definitive CS-9040
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 C1+ |
Definitive CS-9040 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
Airmotiv C1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550 Hz and 2600Hz. On the other hand, the CS-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" BDSS Woofer.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz whereas CS-9040 has a frequency range of 50-40k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 C1+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the CS-9040 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 C1+ can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
CS-9040 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the CS-9040.
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
Airmotiv C1+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. CS-9040 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 C1+'s and Definitive CS-9040's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ has external dimensions of 197.0 x 521.0 x 210.0mm (7-3/4 x 20-1/2 x 8-1/4inch) whereas Definitive CS-9040 has external dimensions of 153.0 x 529.0 x 305.0mm (6 x 20-13/16 x 12inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is 8mm narrower and 95mm less deeper than Definitive CS-9040 but it is also 44mm taller.
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 C1+ is approximately 1094.1cm2 / 169.6inch2 and base area of the Definitive CS-9040 is approximately 1613.5cm2 / 250.1inch2. The Airmotiv C1+ requires 32% less surface area than the CS-9040 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 C1+ weighs 8.45kg / 18.6lbs and the Definitive CS-9040 weighs 9.09kg / 20lbs. This makes the CS-9040 8% heavier than the Airmotiv C1+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C1+ and CS-9040's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Definitive CS-9040?
Here are the items that come with the CS-9040:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Owners Manual
- What Obsession Sounds Like card
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
1094cm2
vs
1613cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
549USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
upward firing one 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
153mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
Definitive Technology CS-9040 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 120 watts |
50-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
50-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
BDSS |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
153.0mm (6") |
| Width |
521.0mm (20.5") |
529.0mm (20.8") |
| Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
9.09kg (20lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Definitive CS-9040 costs roughly 1.8x what Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Definitive CS-9040 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Definitive CS-9040 takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C1+: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is cheaper - $299 against $549, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ B Definitive CS-9040
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?
Definitive CS-9040 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 84% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Definitive CS-9040 appeals to you. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Definitive CS-9040 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.