In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Emotiva. Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Airmotiv XA2 is a Surround speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XA2 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 XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XA2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 |
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 XA2 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XB2 has a frequency range of 55 Hz – 27 kHz whereas Airmotiv XA2 has a frequency range of 75 Hz – 27 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Airmotiv XB2 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 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 XA2 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 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv XA2 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the Airmotiv XB2.
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 XB2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Airmotiv XA2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XA2 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 XB2's and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2'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 XA2 has external dimensions of 317 x 182 x 216 mm ( 12.5” x 7.15” x 8.5”) .
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 34mm wider, 8mm taller and 76mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv XA2.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 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 XA2 is approximately 393.1cm2 / 60.9inch2. The Airmotiv XB2 requires 60% more surface area than the Airmotiv XA2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.