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Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs Klipsch RP-280F Comparison

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Emotiva Airmotiv T2+

Passive Floor-standing | 35 Hz – 28 kHz

Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
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Klipsch RP-280F

Passive Floor-standing | 32-25k Hz

Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F
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Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
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Klipsch RP-280F Klipsch RP-280F
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Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
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Klipsch RP-280F
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Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs Klipsch RP-280F Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv T2+ and RP-280F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Klipsch.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Klipsch RP-280F 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 )

Klipsch RP-280F Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
  • 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer
  • 32-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 98 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 150watts
  • Weight:28.41kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1094.0" x 10-9/16" x 17-3/8"( 1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm )

What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ and Klipsch RP-280F 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+ Klipsch RP-280F
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 T2+ and Klipsch RP-280F 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 T2+ is a 3-way design whereas the RP-280F 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 T2+ Klipsch RP-280F
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 25×32 mm-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 5.25-inch -
Woofer 2 x 8-inch 2 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 RP-280F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer .

Frequency Response

Airmotiv T2+ has a frequency range of 35 Hz – 28 kHz whereas RP-280F has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-280F can go slightly deeper then 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

Airmotiv T2+
RP-280F
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
Klipsch RP-280F
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 T2+ is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-280F 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 RP-280F's is rated at 98 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-280F a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv T2+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Airmotiv T2+
RP-280F
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 T2+ can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-280F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Airmotiv T2+.

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

Both Airmotiv T2+ and RP-280F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ Terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Klipsch RP-280FBinding post Terminals
Klipsch RP-280F's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Airmotiv T2+ and RP-280F 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 T2+'s and Klipsch RP-280F'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 Klipsch RP-280F has external dimensions of 1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm ( 43-1/16 x 10-9/16 x 17-3/8inch) .

Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ is 9mm shorter and 3mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-280F but it is also 41mm wider.

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 Klipsch RP-280F is approximately 1189.0cm2 / 184.3inch2. The Airmotiv T2+ requires 14% more surface area than the RP-280F 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 T2+ weighs 25.90kg / 57lbs and the Klipsch RP-280F weighs 28.41kg / 62.5lbs. This makes the RP-280F 10% heavier than the Airmotiv T2+.

Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv T2+ and RP-280F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
Klipsch RP-280F
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-280F?

Here are the items that come with the RP-280F:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker (Ebony)
  • Speaker base
  • Detachable magnetic grille
  • Four 1-inch #6 Wood screws
  • 4 Spike feet
  • 6 Rubber feet
  • User Manual
  • Warranty Information
  • Important Safety Instructions

  • Reasons to choose Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ over Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F
    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 150 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    High Frequency Response 28k Hz vs 25k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 1085mm vs 1094mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 1099USD vs 1198USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F over Emotiva Airmotiv T2+

    Sensitivity 98 dB vs 91 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Low Frequency Response 32 Hz vs 35 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Base Surface Area 1189cm2 vs 1360cm2 Takes less floor space
    Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ vs Klipsch RP-280F Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Emotiva Airmotiv T2+ Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F
    Brand Emotiva Klipsch
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range Up to 200 watts up to 150 watts
    Sensitivity 91 dB 98 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 35 Hz – 28 kHz 32-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 8" 8"
    Woofer Composition woven fiber cone Cerametallic
    Woofer Surround Material n/a Rubber
    Tweeter Size 25×32 mm" 1"
    Tweeter Type folded ribbon Tractrix Horn
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5.25" No
    Crossover Frequency 350 Hz and 3200Hz n/a
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 1085.0mm (42.7") 1094.0mm (43.1")
    Width 310.0mm (12.2") 269.0mm (10.6")
    Depth 439.0mm (17.3") 442.0mm (17.4")
    Weight 25.90kg (57lbs) 28.41kg (62.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish HDF MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Black Walnut, 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

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