In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C2+ and Airmotiv XC2, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Emotiva.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ | Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 3" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone | 2 x 6" woven fiber cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45 Hz – 28 kHz | 40 Hz – 27 kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 150 watts | Up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.40kg / 36.1lbs | 16.80kg / 37lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-5/8" x 31-15/16" x 10-1/2"
220.0 x 812.0 x 267.0mm | 8.5" x 31.5" x 10.25"
216 x 800 x 260 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Airmotiv C2+ and Airmotiv XC2 are 3-way speakers.
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+Emotiva Airmotiv XC2
MidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 3-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6-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 Airmotiv XC2 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 600 Hz, 3.1 kHz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Airmotiv XC2 has a frequency range of 40 Hz – 27 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv XC2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv C2+'s min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Airmotiv C2+ and Airmotiv XC2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Airmotiv C2+ sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Airmotiv XC2's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XC2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Airmotiv C2+ and the Airmotiv C2+ can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Airmotiv C2+ and Airmotiv XC2 have the same power range of Up to 150 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Airmotiv C2+ and Airmotiv XC2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv C2+ and Airmotiv XC2 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.
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Port
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XC2'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 Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 has external dimensions of 216 x 800 x 260 mm (8.5” x 31.5” x 10.25”).
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 12mm wider, 4mm taller and 7mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv XC2.
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 is approximately 2080.0cm2 / 322.4inch2. The Airmotiv C2+ requires 4% more surface area than the Airmotiv XC2 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 weighs 16.80kg / 37lbs. This makes the Airmotiv XC2 2% heavier than the Airmotiv C2+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C2+ and Airmotiv XC2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
27k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
216mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2080cm2
vs
2168cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
Up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45 Hz – 28 kHz |
40 Hz – 27 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
woven fiber cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
SBR |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz and 3200Hz |
600 Hz, 3.1 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
216.0mm (8.5") |
| Width |
812.0mm (32") |
800.0mm (31.5") |
| Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
16.40kg (36.1lbs) |
16.80kg (37lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Both are Emotiva, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 digs deeper - 40Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+: bi-amping; Emotiva Airmotiv XC2: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is cheaper - $499 against $599, about 17% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ B Emotiva Airmotiv XC2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.