In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Airmotiv T3+, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Emotiva Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Airmotiv T3+ are members of Emotiva's Airmotiv series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Emotiva Airmotiv Series History
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ 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 T-Zero+ and Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ 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 T-Zero+ is a 2-way design whereas the Airmotiv T3+ is a 3-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 T-Zero+ |
Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
Airmotiv T-Zero+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv T3+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a frequency range of 48-28 kHz whereas Airmotiv T3+ has a frequency range of 29 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Airmotiv T3+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv T-Zero+'s min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 T-Zero+ and Airmotiv T3+ have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Airmotiv T-Zero+ sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Airmotiv T3+'s is at 91 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+, 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 T-Zero+ and the Airmotiv T-Zero+ can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Airmotiv T-Zero+ can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Airmotiv T3+.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Airmotiv T3+ 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.
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 T-Zero+'s and Emotiva Airmotiv T3+'s external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ has external dimensions of 969.0 x 969.0 x 267.0mm ( 38-1/8 x 38-1/8 x 10-1/2inch) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ has external dimensions of 1258.0 x 318.0 x 432.0mm ( 49-1/2-inch x 12-1/2-inch x 17-inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ is 289mm shorter and 165mm less deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ but it is also 651mm wider.
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 T-Zero+ is approximately 2587.2cm2 / 401.0inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ is approximately 1373.8cm2 / 212.9inch2. The Airmotiv T-Zero+ requires 88% more surface area than the Airmotiv T3+ 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 T-Zero+ weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ weighs 38.60kg / 84.9lbs. This makes the Airmotiv T3+ 192% heavier than the Airmotiv T-Zero+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Airmotiv T3+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Height |
969mm
vs
1258mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1373cm2 (318x432mm)
vs
2587cm2 (969x267mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ |
Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 100 watts |
Up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-28 kHz |
29 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
woven fiber cone |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
350 Hz and 2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
969.0mm (38.1") |
1258.0mm (49.5") |
| Width |
969.0mm (38.1") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
38.60kg (84.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
HDF |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |