In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C2+ and Carina CC241.4, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and ELAC Carina CC241.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and ELAC Carina CC241.4 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 C2+ and ELAC Carina CC241.4 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
Both Airmotiv C2+ and Carina CC241.4 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
ELAC Carina CC241.4 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
-inch
|
Midrange
|
2 x 3-inch |
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the Carina CC241.4 features a " JET folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5-1/4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" aluminum-cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Carina CC241.4 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Airmotiv C2+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Carina CC241.4'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 C2+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Carina CC241.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 C2+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv C2+ sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Carina CC241.4's is rated at 87 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina CC241.4, 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 C2+ can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Carina CC241.4 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
Airmotiv C2+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Carina CC241.4 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv C2+ and Carina CC241.4 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.
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 C2+'s and ELAC Carina CC241.4's external dimensions. 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) whereas ELAC Carina CC241.4 has external dimensions of 205.0 x 621.0 x 243.0mm ( 8-1/16 x 24-7/16 x 9-9/16inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 191mm wider, 15mm taller and 24mm deeper than ELAC Carina CC241.4.
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 C2+ is approximately 2168.0cm2 / 336.0inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina CC241.4 is approximately 1509.0cm2 / 233.9inch2. The Airmotiv C2+ requires 44% more surface area than the Carina CC241.4 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 C2+ weighs 16.40kg / 36.1lbs and the ELAC Carina CC241.4 weighs 10.20kg / 22.4lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C2+ 61% heavier than the Carina CC241.4.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C2+ and Carina CC241.4'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 ELAC Carina CC241.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina CC241.4:
Center-channel loudspeaker2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)Operating Instructions
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
205mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1509cm2 (621x243mm)
vs
2168cm2 (812x267mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
ELAC Carina CC241.4 |
Brand |
Emotiva |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
30-120 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
45 Hz – 28 kHz |
50-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
aluminum-cone |
Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
- |
Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
JET folded ribbon |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
3" |
5-1/4" |
Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz and 3200Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
Width |
812.0mm (32") |
621.0mm (24.4") |
Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
243.0mm (9.6") |
Weight |
16.40kg (36.1lbs) |
10.20kg (22.4lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |