In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Emotiva. Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Airmotiv XC2 is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Folded Motion Tweeter
- 4" Woven fibre Woofer
- 65-27k Hz Frequency Response
- 82 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-120watts
- Weight:3.74kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 10-1/4" x 6-1/2" x 7-15/16" ( 260.0 x 165.0 x 201.0mm )
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 40 Hz – 27 kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 150watts
- Weight:16.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 8.5" x 31.5" x 10.25" ( 216 x 800 x 260 mm )
Airmotiv XB1 and Airmotiv XC2 are members of Emotiva's Airmotiv X series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Emotiva Airmotiv X Series
History
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 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 XB1 |
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 XB1 and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 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 XB1 is a 2-way design whereas the Airmotiv XC2 is a 3-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 XB1 |
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Airmotiv XB1 features a 1" Airmotiv folded ribbon Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv XC2 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 600 Hz, 3.1 kHz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XB1 has a frequency range of 65-27k Hz whereas Airmotiv XC2 has a frequency range of 40 Hz – 27 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv XC2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv XB1's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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 XB1 and Airmotiv XC2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Airmotiv XB1 sensitivity is rated at 82 dB and the Airmotiv XC2's is at 89 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XB1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Airmotiv XB1 and the Airmotiv XB1 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 XB1 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv XB1 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the Airmotiv XC2.
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 XC2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Airmotiv XB1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XC2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv XB1 and Airmotiv XC2 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 XB1's and Emotiva Airmotiv XC2's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 has external dimensions of 260.0 x 165.0 x 201.0mm ( 10-1/4 x 6-1/2 x 7-15/16inch) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 has external dimensions of 216 x 800 x 260 mm ( 8.5” x 31.5” x 10.25”) .
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 is 635mm narrower and 59mm less deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 but it is also 44mm taller.
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 XB1 is approximately 331.7cm2 / 51.4inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv XC2 is approximately 2080.0cm2 / 322.4inch2. The Airmotiv XB1 requires 84% less surface area than the Airmotiv XC2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.