In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C1+ and ES35, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Polk ES35 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Polk ES35 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 Polk ES35 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv C1+ is a 3-way design whereas the ES35 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+ |
Polk ES35 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
6 x 3-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 ES35 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 6 x 3" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz whereas ES35 has a frequency range of 66-40k 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 ES35's min frequency of 66Hz.
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 ES35 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. 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 ES35.
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. ES35 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
Polk ES35's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv C1+ and ES35 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.
Polk ES35 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 Polk ES35'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 Polk ES35 has external dimensions of 107.0 x 621.0 x 154.0mm ( 4-3/16 x 24-7/16 x 6-1/16inch) .
Polk ES35 is 90mm shorter and 56mm less deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ but it is also 100mm wider.
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 Polk ES35 is approximately 956.3cm2 / 148.2inch2. The Airmotiv C1+ requires 14% more surface area than the ES35 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Polk ES35 weighs 6.36kg / 14lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C1+ 33% heavier than the ES35.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C1+ and ES35'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 Polk ES35?
Here are the items that come with the ES35:
LCR loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetWall-mount templateOwners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
66 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
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 |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
107mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
956cm2 (621x154mm)
vs
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES35 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 120 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
66-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
3" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
107.0mm (4.2") |
| Width |
521.0mm (20.5") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
| Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
154.0mm (6.1") |
| Weight |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
6.36kg (14lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |