In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T2+ and BP-9020, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Definitive Technology.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Definitive BP-9020 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 8" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 35 Hz – 28 kHz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 200watts
- Weight:25.90kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1085.0" x 12-3/16" x 17-1/4"( 1085.0 x 310.0 x 439.0mm )
Definitive BP-9020 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 3.5" Midrange
- 8" Polypropelene Woofer
- 3.5" Midrange
- 28-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-200watts
- Weight:13.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 904.0" x 11-1/16" x 13-13/16"( 904.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm )
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Definitive BP-9020 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 T2+ |
Definitive BP-9020 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Definitive BP-9020 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
Both Airmotiv T2+ and BP-9020 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ |
Definitive BP-9020 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
3 x 3.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Airmotiv T2+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 8" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 3200Hz. On the other hand, the BP-9020 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 3.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv T2+ has a frequency range of 35 Hz – 28 kHz whereas BP-9020 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the BP-9020 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv T2+'s min frequency of 35Hz.
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 T2+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the BP-9020 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 T2+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv T2+ sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the BP-9020's is rated at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9020 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T2+, 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.
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 T2+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9020 has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 T2+'s and Definitive BP-9020's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ has external dimensions of 1085.0 x 310.0 x 439.0mm ( 42-11/16 x 12-3/16 x 17-1/4inch) whereas Definitive BP-9020 has external dimensions of 904.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 35-9/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 29mm wider, 181mm taller and 88mm deeper than Definitive BP-9020.
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 T2+ is approximately 1360.9cm2 / 210.9inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9020 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2. The Airmotiv T2+ requires 38% more surface area than the BP-9020 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.