In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers . Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 is a Surround speaker whereas the Prime Satellite is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 and SVS Prime Satellite first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 75 Hz – 27 kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 80watts
- Weight:10.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 317.0" x 7.15" x 8.5"( 317 x 182 x 216 mm )
SVS Prime Satellite Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 69-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-150watts
- Weight:3.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 224.0" x 4-15/16" x 6-3/8"( 224.0 x 126.0 x 162.0mm )
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 and SVS Prime Satellite 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 XA2 |
SVS Prime Satellite |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 XA2 and SVS Prime Satellite 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 XA2 and Prime Satellite are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 |
SVS Prime Satellite |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Airmotiv XA2 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz. On the other hand, the Prime Satellite features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XA2 has a frequency range of 75 Hz – 27 kHz whereas Prime Satellite has a frequency range of 69-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 69Hz, the Prime Satellite can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv XA2's min frequency of 79Hz.
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 Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
High Frequency
Surround 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 XA2 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Prime Satellite 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 XA2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv XA2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Prime Satellite's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Satellite, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Surround 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 XA2 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv XA2 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS , 70 watts less than the Prime Satellite.
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 XA2 features 5-Way post type posts and Prime Satellite has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2's Binding post terminals
SVS Prime Satellite's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv XA2 and Prime Satellite 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 XA2's and SVS Prime Satellite's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 has external dimensions of 317 x 182 x 216 mm ( 12.5” x 7.15” x 8.5”) whereas SVS Prime Satellite has external dimensions of 224.0 x 126.0 x 162.0mm ( 28-32inch x 4-15/16inch x 6-3/8inch ) .
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 56mm wider, 93mm taller and 54mm deeper than SVS Prime Satellite.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 and SVS Prime Satellite in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 and SVS Prime Satellite Size and External Dimensions
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 XA2 is approximately 393.1cm2 / 60.9inch2 and base area of the SVS Prime Satellite is approximately 204.1cm2 / 31.6inch2. The Airmotiv XA2 requires 93% more surface area than the Prime Satellite which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of SVS Prime Satellite?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Satellite:
2 Satellite loudspeakers2 Grilles (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber bumpersOwners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card