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Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Comparison

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Emotiva Airmotiv C1+

Passive Center Channel | 50 Hz – 28 kHz

Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
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Emotiva Airmotiv C2+

Passive Center Channel | 45 Hz – 28 kHz

Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
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Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
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Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
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Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
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Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
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Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C1+ and Airmotiv C2+, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Emotiva

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
  • 3" Midrange
  • 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer
  • 50 Hz – 28 kHz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:Up to 120watts
  • Weight:8.45kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 197.0" x 20-1/2" x 8-1/4"( 197.0 x 521.0 x 210.0mm )

Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
  • 3" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone Woofer
  • 3" Midrange
  • 45 Hz – 28 kHz Frequency Response
  • 92 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:Up to 150watts
  • Weight:16.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.0" x 31-15/16" x 10-1/2"( 220.0 x 812.0 x 267.0mm )

Airmotiv C1+ and Airmotiv C2+ 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 C1+ and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ 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+ Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ 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 C1+ and Airmotiv C2+ are 3-way speakers.

Driver Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 25×32 mm-inch 25×32 mm-inch
Midrange 1 x 3-inch 2 x 3-inch
Woofer 2 x 5.25-inch 2 x 6.5-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 Airmotiv C2+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 3200Hz.

Frequency Response

Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Airmotiv C2+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv C1+'s min frequency of 50Hz.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Airmotiv C1+
Airmotiv C2+
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
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 C1+ and Airmotiv C2+ have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Airmotiv C1+ sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Airmotiv C2+'s is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv C1+, 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 C1+ and the Airmotiv C1+ can provide this impedance level.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Airmotiv C1+
Airmotiv C2+
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 C1+ can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Airmotiv C2+.

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.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Both Airmotiv C1+ and Airmotiv C2+ features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ Terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Airmotiv C1+ and Airmotiv C2+ 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 C2+  Port
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ 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 C1+'s and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+'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 Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ has external dimensions of 220.0 x 812.0 x 267.0mm ( 8-5/8 x 31-15/16 x 10-1/2inch) .

Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 291mm wider, 23mm taller and 57mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv C1+.

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 Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is approximately 2168.0cm2 / 336.0inch2. The Airmotiv C1+ requires 50% less surface area than the Airmotiv C2+ 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 Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ weighs 16.40kg / 36.1lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C2+ 94% heavier than the Airmotiv C1+.

Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C1+ and Airmotiv C2+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
Min
Average
Max

Reasons to choose Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ over Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
Height 197mm vs 220mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 1094cm2 vs 2168cm2 Takes less floor space
Price per pair* 299USD vs 499USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ over Emotiva Airmotiv C1+

Max Input Power 150 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity 92 dB vs 89 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response 45 Hz vs 50 Hz Generates deeper bass
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ vs Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
Brand Emotiva Emotiva
Speaker Type Center channel speaker Center channel speaker
Power Range Up to 120 watts Up to 150 watts
Sensitivity 89 dB 92 dB
Impedance 4 ohms 4 ohms
Frequency Response 50 Hz – 28 kHz 45 Hz – 28 kHz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 2 2
Woofer Size 5.25" 6.5"
Woofer Composition woven fiber cone woven fiber cone
Tweeter Size 25×32 mm" 25×32 mm"
Tweeter Type folded ribbon folded ribbon
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver 3" 3"
Crossover Frequency 550 Hz and 2600Hz 350 Hz and 3200Hz
Firing Direction rear rear
Physical Specs
Height 197.0mm (7.8") 220.0mm (8.7")
Width 521.0mm (20.5") 812.0mm (32")
Depth 210.0mm (8.3") 267.0mm (10.5")
Weight 8.45kg (18.6lbs) 16.40kg (36.1lbs)
Enclosure Bass reflex Bass reflex
Finish HDF HDF
Available Colors Black Black
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

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