In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T1+ and A190, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ and JBL Stage A190 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ | JBL Stage A190 |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" woven fiber cone | 2 x 8" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37 Hz – 28 kHz | 36-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 150 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.20kg / 40lbs | 22.61kg / 49.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39-1/2" x 8-3/8" x 11-5/8"
1004.0 x 213.0 x 296.0mm | 43-15/16" x 13-1/4" x 17-1/2"
1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ and JBL Stage A190 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 T1+ |
JBL Stage A190 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv T1+ is a 3-way design whereas the A190 is a 2-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.
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+JBL Stage A190
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 T1+ |
JBL Stage A190 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Airmotiv T1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 275 Hz and 2700Hz. On the other hand, the A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T1+ has a frequency range of 37 Hz – 28 kHz whereas A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the A190 can go slightly deeper then the Airmotiv T1+'s min frequency of 37Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 T1+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the A190 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 T1+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv T1+ sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the A190's is rated at 91 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A190 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T1+, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
A190 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Airmotiv T1+ has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the A190.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Airmotiv T1+ and A190 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ 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 T1+'s and JBL Stage A190's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ has external dimensions of 1004.0 x 213.0 x 296.0mm (39-1/2 x 8-3/8 x 11-5/8inch) whereas JBL Stage A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm (43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch).
JBL Stage A190 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 124mm wider, 113mm taller and 149mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv T1+.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
JBL Stage A190 needs about 138% more floor or shelf area. JBL Stage A190 is 149mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. JBL Stage A190 is 113mm taller.
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 T1+ is approximately 630.5cm2 / 97.7inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2. The Airmotiv T1+ requires 58% less surface area than the A190 which gives it a small advantage 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 T1+ weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs and the JBL Stage A190 weighs 22.61kg / 49.7lbs. This makes the A190 24% heavier than the Airmotiv T1+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T1+ and A190'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 JBL Stage A190?
Here are the items that come with the A190:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outriggers
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spikes
- 8 Screws
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
1004mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
630cm2
vs
1499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ |
JBL Stage A190 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37 Hz – 28 kHz |
36-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
275 Hz and 2700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1004.0mm (39.5") |
1117.0mm (44") |
| Width |
213.0mm (8.4") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Depth |
296.0mm (11.7") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
22.61kg (49.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (37Hz vs 36Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | JBL Stage A190 is more sensitive (91dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | JBL Stage A190 is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | JBL Stage A190 takes more power (225W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ is easier to place; JBL Stage A190 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv T1+: bi-amping; JBL Stage A190: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ is cheaper - $799 against $1,000, about 20% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ B JBL Stage A190
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?
JBL Stage A190 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ is the one to take if it does not. Match it to your room: we rate Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ the better fit for a mid-size room, and JBL Stage A190 for a very large room. In a large or open-plan room, JBL Stage A190 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ 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.