In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv B2+, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Emotiva
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 6" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 55 Hz – 27 kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 125watts
- Weight:8.16kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 325.0" x 8.5" x 11.5"( 325 x 216 x 292 mm )
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 6.25" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 40-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 125watts
- Weight:7.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 324.0" x 8-1/2" x 11-1/2"( 324.0 x 216.0 x 293.0mm )
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ 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 XB2 |
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ 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 XB2 and Airmotiv B2+ are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 |
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.25-inch
|
Airmotiv XB2 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv B2+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XB2 has a frequency range of 55 Hz – 27 kHz whereas Airmotiv B2+ has a frequency range of 40-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv B2+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv XB2's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 XB2 and Airmotiv B2+ have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.
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 XB2 and the Airmotiv XB2 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 XB2 and Airmotiv B2+ has the same power range of Up to 125 watts.
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 XB2 and Airmotiv B2+ features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv B2+ 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.
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ 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 XB2's and Emotiva Airmotiv B2+'s external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 has external dimensions of 325 x 216 x 292 mm ( 12.8” x 8.5” x 11.5”) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ has external dimensions of 324.0 x 216.0 x 293.0mm ( 12-3/4-inch x 8-1/2-inch x 11-1/2-inch) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ 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 XB2 is approximately 630.7cm2 / 97.8inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ is approximately 632.9cm2 / 98.1inch2. The Airmotiv XB2 requires 0% less surface area than the Airmotiv B2+ which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv B2+ on a Media Console