In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv C3+ and Silver C250 7G, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Emotiva and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1" gold dome C-CAM |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 5.25" | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" woven fiber cone | 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40 Hz – 28 kHz | 65-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 88.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 200 watts | 80-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.80kg / 59lbs | 10.63kg / 23.4lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 8-1/16" x 18-15/16" x 10-3/4"
205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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+ |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| 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 C3+ and Silver C250 7G are 3-way speakers.
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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 C3+ |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 Silver C250 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) Woofer.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv C3+ has a frequency range of 40 Hz – 28 kHz whereas Silver C250 7G has a frequency range of 65-35k 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 Silver C250 7G's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 Silver C250 7G 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 Silver C250 7G's is rated at 88.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G, 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 Silver C250 7G 80-200 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.
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Airmotiv C3+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Silver C250 7G has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's Binding post terminals
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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G'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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G has external dimensions of 205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm (8-1/16 x 18-15/16 x 10-3/4inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 909mm wider, 15mm taller and 38mm deeper than Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is approximately 1320.7cm2 / 204.7inch2. The Airmotiv C3+ requires 229% more surface area than the Silver C250 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G weighs 10.63kg / 23.4lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C3+ 152% heavier than the Silver C250 7G.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv C3+ and Silver C250 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver C250 7G:
- Center-channel loudspeakers
- Grille
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
1100USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
205mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1320cm2
vs
4339cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 200 watts |
80-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40 Hz – 28 kHz |
65-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
gold dome C-CAM |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz and 2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
220.0mm (8.7") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
1391.0mm (54.8") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
26.80kg (59lbs) |
10.63kg (23.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
HDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
White |
| 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 C3+ digs deeper - 40Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 | Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is easier to place; Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ 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 C3+: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is cheaper - $899 against $1,100, about 18% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ B Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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?
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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.