In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T-Zero+ and SS-CS3, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Sony. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Sony SS-CS3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ and Sony SS-CS3 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 Sony SS-CS3 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 SS-CS3 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+ |
Sony SS-CS3 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Super Tweeter
|
- |
0.75-inch |
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.12-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 SS-CS3 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 0.75" Supertweeter and 2 x 5.12" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a frequency range of 48-28 kHz whereas SS-CS3 has a frequency range of 45-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the SS-CS3 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 SS-CS3 which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 SS-CS3's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Sony SS-CS3 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 145 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv T-Zero+ has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 45 watts less than the SS-CS3.
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 SS-CS3 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 Sony SS-CS3'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 Sony SS-CS3 has external dimensions of 922.0 x 230.0 x 260.0mm ( 36.30 x 9.05 x 10.24inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 739mm wider, 47mm taller and 7mm deeper than Sony SS-CS3.
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 Sony SS-CS3 is approximately 598.0cm2 / 92.7inch2. The Airmotiv T-Zero+ requires 333% more surface area than the SS-CS3 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 Sony SS-CS3 weighs 10.60kg / 23.3lbs. This makes the Airmotiv T-Zero+ 25% heavier than the SS-CS3.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T-Zero+ and SS-CS3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5.12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Max Input Power |
145 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 |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
922mm
vs
969mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
598cm2 (230x260mm)
vs
2587cm2 (969x267mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
358USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+ |
Sony SS-CS3 |
Brand |
Emotiva |
Sony |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speakers |
Power Range |
Up to 100 watts |
up to 145 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
48-28 kHz |
45-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.12" |
Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
969.0mm (38.1") |
922.0mm (36.3") |
Width |
969.0mm (38.1") |
230.0mm (9.1") |
Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
10.60kg (23.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
HDF |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 years |