In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C1+ and Q250c, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and KEF Q250c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and KEF Q250c 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 C1+ and KEF Q250c 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv C1+ is a 3-way design whereas the Q250c 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.
Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
KEF Q250c |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 Q250c features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Q250c has a frequency range of 68-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Airmotiv C1+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q250c's min frequency of 68Hz.
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
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 C1+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Q250c 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.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv C1+ sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Q250c's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q250c, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 C1+ can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q250c has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Airmotiv C1+.
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
Airmotiv C1+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q250c has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 KEF Q250c'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 KEF Q250c has external dimensions of 181.0 x 526.0 x 216.0mm ( 7-1/8 x 20-11/16 x 8-1/2inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is 5mm narrower and 6mm less deeper than KEF Q250c but it is also 16mm 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 KEF Q250c is approximately 1136.2cm2 / 176.1inch2. The Airmotiv C1+ requires 4% less surface area than the Q250c 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 KEF Q250c weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C1+ 13% heavier than the Q250c.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C1+ and Q250c'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 KEF Q250c?
Here are the items that come with the Q250c:
Center-channel loudspeaker 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owners Manual Warranty Information
Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Base Surface Area |
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
vs
1136cm2 (526x216mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Passive Radiator |
one 6.5-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Height |
181mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
KEF Q250c |
Brand |
Emotiva |
KEF |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
Up to 120 watts |
10-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
68-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
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 |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
Width |
521.0mm (20.5") |
526.0mm (20.7") |
Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
216.0mm (8.5") |
Weight |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
Available Colors |
Black |
Satin White, Satin Black, Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
optional |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |