In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T1+ and XT70, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ and Polk XT70 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ and Polk XT70 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 T1+ and Polk XT70 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv T1+ is a 3-way design whereas the XT70 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.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ |
Polk XT70 |
|
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 6.5-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 XT70 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T1+ has a frequency range of 37 Hz – 28 kHz whereas XT70 has a frequency range of 35-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the XT70 can go slightly deeper then the Airmotiv T1+'s min frequency of 37Hz.
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 T1+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the XT70 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 T1+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv T1+ sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the XT70's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT70, 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 T1+ can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv T1+ has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the XT70.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Airmotiv T1+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT70 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ 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 T1+'s and Polk XT70'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 Polk XT70 has external dimensions of 1031.0 x 275.0 x 340.0mm ( 40-9/16 x 10-13/16 x 13-3/8inch) .
Polk XT70 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 62mm wider, 27mm taller and 44mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv T1+.
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 Polk XT70 is approximately 935.0cm2 / 144.9inch2. The Airmotiv T1+ requires 33% less surface area than the XT70 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 Polk XT70 weighs 15.91kg / 35lbs. This makes the Airmotiv T1+ 14% heavier than the XT70.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T1+ and XT70'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 XT70?
Here are the items that come with the XT70:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1004mm
vs
1031mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
630cm2 (213x296mm)
vs
935cm2 (275x340mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Price per pair* |
698USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ |
Polk Audio Monitor XT70 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37 Hz – 28 kHz |
35-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
dome |
| 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") |
1031.0mm (40.6") |
| Width |
213.0mm (8.4") |
275.0mm (10.8") |
| Depth |
296.0mm (11.7") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Weight |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
15.91kg (35lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
HDF |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |