In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T-Zero+ and TSi400, 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 TSi400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Polk TSi400 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 TSi400 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
Both Airmotiv T-Zero+ and TSi400 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ |
Polk TSi400 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
3 x 5.25-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 TSi400 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a frequency range of 48-28 kHz whereas TSi400 has a frequency range of 44-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the TSi400 can go slightly deeper then 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 TSi400 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 TSi400's is rated at 91 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk TSi400 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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the TSi400.
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 TSi400 has a bottom firing ports. Polk TSi400'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 TSi400'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 TSi400 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 208.0 x 369.0mm ( 38-3/4 x 8-3/16 x 14-1/2inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ is 16mm shorter and 102mm less deeper than Polk TSi400 but it is also 761mm 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 TSi400 is approximately 767.5cm2 / 119.0inch2. The Airmotiv T-Zero+ requires 237% more surface area than the TSi400 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 TSi400 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs. This makes the TSi400 10% heavier than the Airmotiv T-Zero+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T-Zero+ and TSi400'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 TSi400?
Here are the items that come with the TSi400:
Tower speakerDetachable cloth grille (installed)Owners ManualWall-Mount templateOnline registration sheetPolk Audio product brochure
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
969mm
vs
985mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Base Surface Area |
767cm2 (208x369mm)
vs
2587cm2 (969x267mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
498USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ |
Polk Audio TSi400 |
Brand |
Emotiva |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
Up to 100 watts |
20-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
91 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
48-28 kHz |
44-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Organic Fiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
n/a |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
969.0mm (38.1") |
985.0mm (38.8") |
Width |
969.0mm (38.1") |
208.0mm (8.2") |
Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
Wood-grain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black |
Cherry |
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 |