In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C3+ and RC-64 III, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Klipsch RC-64 III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ | Klipsch RC-64 III |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1-3/4" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" woven fiber cone | 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40 Hz – 28 kHz | 57-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 200 watts | up to 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.80kg / 59lbs | 25.00kg / 55lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-5/8" x 54-3/4" x 12-1/4"
220.0 x 1391.0 x 312.0mm | 8" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"
204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Klipsch RC-64 III 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 C3+ |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
| 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv C3+ is a 3-way design whereas the RC-64 III 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 C3+Klipsch RC-64 III
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 C3+ |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-3/4-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
Airmotiv C3+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 2800Hz. On the other hand, the RC-64 III features a 1-3/4" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C3+ has a frequency range of 40 Hz – 28 kHz whereas RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv C3+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RC-64 III's min frequency of 57Hz.
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 C3+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RC-64 III 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 C3+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv C3+ sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the RC-64 III's is rated at 99 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv C3+, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 200 watts RMS, though Airmotiv C3+ is rated Up to 200 watts and RC-64 III up to 200 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 C3+ and RC-64 III features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RC-64 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ double 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 C3+'s and Klipsch RC-64 III's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ has external dimensions of 220.0 x 1391.0 x 312.0mm (8-5/8-inch x 54-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch) whereas Klipsch RC-64 III has external dimensions of 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm (8 x 35-3/4 x 15-1/4inch).
Klipsch RC-64 III is 482mm narrower and 16mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ but it is also 76mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Klipsch RC-64 III in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Klipsch RC-64 III Size and External Dimensions
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 C3+ is approximately 4339.9cm2 / 672.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RC-64 III is approximately 3526.9cm2 / 546.7inch2. The Airmotiv C3+ requires 23% more surface area than the RC-64 III 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 C3+ weighs 26.80kg / 59lbs and the Klipsch RC-64 III weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C3+ 7% heavier than the RC-64 III.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C3+ and RC-64 III'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 Klipsch RC-64 III?
Here are the items that come with the RC-64 III:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1829USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
204mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
3526cm2
vs
4339cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 200 watts |
up to 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40 Hz – 28 kHz |
57-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Cerametallic cone |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1-3/4" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz and 2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
204.0mm (8") |
| Width |
1391.0mm (54.8") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
26.80kg (59lbs) |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
HDF |
furniture grade veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch RC-64 III costs roughly 2x what Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ digs deeper - 40Hz against 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RC-64 III is more sensitive (99dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch RC-64 III is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Klipsch RC-64 III is easier to place; Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv C3+: bi-amping; Klipsch RC-64 III: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is cheaper - $899 against $1,829, about 51% less; arguably a different class. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ B Klipsch RC-64 III
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?
Klipsch RC-64 III is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 103% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Klipsch RC-64 III appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RC-64 III 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.