In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C2+ and A135C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and JBL Stage A135C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ and JBL Stage A135C 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 JBL Stage A135C 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv C2+ is a 3-way design whereas the A135C 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 C2+ |
JBL Stage A135C |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
2 x 3-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
6 x 3-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 A135C features a 1" aluminum dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter and 6 x 3" polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz whereas A135C has a frequency range of 75-40k 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 A135C's min frequency of 75Hz.
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 A135C 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 A135C's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A135C, 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.
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. A135C has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Airmotiv C2+ has a rear firing port whereas A135C has a side firing ports.
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 JBL Stage A135C'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 JBL Stage A135C has external dimensions of 105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm ( 4-1/8 x 29-3/8 x 7-5/16inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 65mm wider, 115mm taller and 81mm deeper than JBL Stage A135C.
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 JBL Stage A135C is approximately 1389.4cm2 / 215.4inch2. The Airmotiv C2+ requires 56% more surface area than the A135C 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 JBL Stage A135C weighs 7.46kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C2+ 120% heavier than the A135C.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C2+ and A135C'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 JBL Stage A135C?
Here are the items that come with the A135C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille4 Leveling feet4 Rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Card
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Nominal Impedance |
6 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 |
105mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1389cm2 (747x186mm)
vs
2168cm2 (812x267mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
JBL Stage A135C |
Brand |
Emotiva |
JBL |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
45 Hz – 28 kHz |
75-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
3" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
polycellulose |
Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
3" |
N/A" |
Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz and 3200Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
105.0mm (4.1") |
Width |
812.0mm (32") |
747.0mm (29.4") |
Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
186.0mm (7.3") |
Weight |
16.40kg (36.1lbs) |
7.46kg (16.4lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |