SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS by TYPE
    • Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    • Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    • Passive Center Channel Speakers
    • Passive In-wall Speakers
    • All Passive Speakers
    • Powered Subwoofers
    • Powered Stereo Speakers
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ vs Polk XT70 Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

Emotiva Airmotiv T1+

Passive Floor-standing | 37 Hz – 28 kHz

Emotiva Airmotiv T1+
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
Polk XT70

Passive Floor-standing | 35-40k Hz

Polk Audio Monitor XT70
CHECK PRICE
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ Emotiva Airmotiv T1+
See at AMAZON
Polk XT70 Polk XT70
See at AMAZON
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+
See at AMAZON
Polk XT70
See at AMAZON
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ vs Polk XT70 Speaker Comparison

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.

Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
  • 5.25" Midrange
  • 2 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer
  • 37 Hz – 28 kHz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:Up to 150watts
  • Weight:18.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1004.0" x 8-3/8" x 11-5/8"( 1004.0 x 213.0 x 296.0mm )

Polk XT70 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer
  • 35-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-200watts
  • Weight:15.91kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1031.0" x 10-13/16" x 13-3/8"( 1031.0 x 275.0 x 340.0mm )

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:

Listening Environment* Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ Polk XT70
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Poor Poor

(* 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.)

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

Airmotiv T1+
XT70
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Emotiva Airmotiv T1+
Polk XT70
Min
Average
Max

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

Airmotiv T1+
XT70
Min
Average
Max

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+ Terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Emotiva Airmotiv T1+  Port
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
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+
Polk XT70
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Polk XT70?

Here are the items that come with the XT70:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille (attached)
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Product Registration

  • Reasons to choose Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ over Polk Audio Monitor XT70
    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 vs 935cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Polk Audio Monitor XT70 over Emotiva Airmotiv T1+

    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)
    Emotiva Airmotiv T1+ vs Polk XT70 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    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

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction