In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T-Zero+ and R700, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Polk R700 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Polk R700 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 Polk R700 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 R700 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+ |
Polk R700 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 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 R700 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a frequency range of 48-28 kHz whereas R700 has a frequency range of 38-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the R700 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+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R700 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 T-Zero+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv T-Zero+ sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the R700's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk R700 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 200 watts less than the R700.
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
Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a rear firing port whereas R700 has a bottom firing ports. Polk R700's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ with its rear-firing port.
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 Polk R700'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 Polk R700 has external dimensions of 1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3mm ( 45 x 12.6 x 16.9inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ is 174.8mm shorter and 161.3mm less deeper than Polk R700 but it is also 648.3mm 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 Polk R700 is approximately 1373.6cm2 / 212.9inch2. The Airmotiv T-Zero+ requires 88% more surface area than the R700 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 Polk R700 weighs 35.90kg / 79lbs. This makes the R700 172% heavier than the Airmotiv T-Zero+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T-Zero+ and R700's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R700?
Here are the items that come with the R700:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
Grille
Hex-key
Owner's Manual
Online Registration
Height |
969mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
1373cm2 (320x428mm)
vs
2587cm2 (969x267mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ |
Polk Audio Reserve R700 |
Brand |
Emotiva |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
Up to 100 watts |
50-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
n/a |
3.6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
48-28 kHz |
38-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
6.5" |
Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
350Hz and 2700Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
969.0mm (38.1") |
1143.8mm (45") |
Width |
969.0mm (38.1") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
428.3mm (16.9") |
Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
35.90kg (79lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
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 |