In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C1+ and Story, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and KLH. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and KLH Story first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and KLH Story 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 KLH Story 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 Story 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+ |
KLH Story |
|
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 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 Story features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" woven Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Story has a frequency range of 48-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Story can go slightly deeper then 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
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 Story 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 Story's is rated at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KLH Story a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv C1+, 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 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 Story.
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. Story has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 KLH Story'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 KLH Story has external dimensions of 181.0 x 486.0 x 251.0mm ( 7-1/8 x 19-1/8 x 9-7/8inch) .
KLH Story is 35mm narrower and 16mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ but it is also 41mm 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 C1+ is approximately 1094.1cm2 / 169.6inch2 and base area of the KLH Story is approximately 1219.9cm2 / 189.1inch2. The Airmotiv C1+ requires 10% less surface area than the Story 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 KLH Story weighs 7.27kg / 16lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C1+ 16% heavier than the Story.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C1+ and Story'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 KLH Story?
Here are the items that come with the Story:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Foam ports4 Self-adhesive rubber feetManual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
vs
1219cm2 (486x251mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
480USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
181mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
KLH Story |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 120 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
48-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
n/a |
| 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") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Width |
521.0mm (20.5") |
486.0mm (19.1") |
| Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
251.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
7.27kg (16lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |