In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C2+ and Chora Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and Focal Chora Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ | Focal Chora Center |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 3" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone | 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45 Hz – 28 kHz | 59-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 150 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.40kg / 36.1lbs | 8.91kg / 19.6lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 8-5/16" x 20-7/8" x 10-11/16"
212.0 x 531.0 x 272.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and Focal Chora Center 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+ |
Focal Chora Center |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv C2+ is a 3-way design whereas the Chora Center 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.
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+Focal Chora Center
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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+ |
Focal Chora Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 3-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 Chora Center features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium inverted dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Chora Center has a frequency range of 59-28k 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 Chora Center's min frequency of 59Hz.
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+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Chora Center 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 C2+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv C2+ sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Chora Center's is rated at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Chora Center, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Chora Center can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Chora Center.
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
Airmotiv C2+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Chora Center has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Focal Chora Center's Binding post terminals
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 Focal Chora Center'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 Focal Chora Center has external dimensions of 212.0 x 531.0 x 272.0mm (8-5/16 x 20-7/8 x 10-11/16inch).
Focal Chora Center is 281mm narrower and 8mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ but it is also 5mm 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 C2+ is approximately 2168.0cm2 / 336.0inch2 and base area of the Focal Chora Center is approximately 1444.3cm2 / 223.9inch2. The Airmotiv C2+ requires 50% more surface area than the Chora Center 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 Focal Chora Center weighs 8.91kg / 19.6lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C2+ 84% heavier than the Chora Center.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C2+ and Chora Center'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 Focal Chora Center?
Here are the items that come with the Chora Center:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 2 Grilles
- Rubber foot
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber pads
- User manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
789USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
212mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1444cm2
vs
2168cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
Focal Chora Center |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45 Hz – 28 kHz |
59-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Slatefiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz and 3200Hz |
2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Width |
812.0mm (32") |
531.0mm (20.9") |
| Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Weight |
16.40kg (36.1lbs) |
8.91kg (19.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Oak |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ digs deeper - 45Hz against 59Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Chora Center is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Focal Chora Center takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Focal Chora Center is easier to place; Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+: bi-amping. Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is cheaper - $499 against $789, about 37% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ B Focal Chora Center
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 59Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal Chora Center is the easier speaker to get right.
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.