In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C1+ and Revel C426Be, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Revel C426Be first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ and Revel C426Be 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 Revel C426Be 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 Revel C426Be are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
Revel C426Be |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
4 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 Revel C426Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide Tweeter , a 5-1/4" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Revel C426Be has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Revel C426Be 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
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 Revel C426Be 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 Revel C426Be's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Revel C426Be 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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 180 watts less than the Revel C426Be.
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. Revel C426Be 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
Revel C426Be's Binding post terminals
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 Revel C426Be'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 Revel C426Be has external dimensions of 313.0 x 982.0 x 358.0mm ( 12-5/16 x 38-5/8 x 14-1/16inch) .
Revel C426Be is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 461mm wider, 116mm taller and 148mm 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 Revel C426Be is approximately 3515.6cm2 / 544.9inch2. The Airmotiv C1+ requires 69% less surface area than the Revel C426Be 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 Revel C426Be weighs 33.05kg / 72.7lbs. This makes the Revel C426Be 291% heavier than the Airmotiv C1+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C1+ and Revel C426Be'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 Revel C426Be?
Here are the items that come with the Revel C426Be:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleFeet assembly2 Port plugsOwners Manual
 Height |
197mm
vs
313mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
vs
3515cm2 (982x358mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
4950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
Revel C426Be |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Revel |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 120 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
aluminum with Deep Ceramic Composite coating |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens and waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
5-1/4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
313.0mm (12.3") |
| Width |
521.0mm (20.5") |
982.0mm (38.7") |
| Depth |
210.0mm (8.3") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Weight |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
33.05kg (72.7lbs) |
| 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 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |