In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XB1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Emotiva.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 and Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 | Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 1" Folded Motion |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" woven fiber cone | 4" Woven fibre |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55 Hz – 27 kHz | 65-27k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 82 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 125 watts | 50-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.16kg / 18lbs | 3.74kg / 8.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.8" x 8.5" x 11.5"
325 x 216 x 292 mm | 10-1/4" x 6-1/2" x 7-15/16"
260.0 x 165.0 x 201.0mm |
|---|
Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XB1 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 XB1 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 XB1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XB1 are 2-way speakers.
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2Emotiva Airmotiv XB1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 4-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 XB1 features a 1" Airmotiv folded ribbon Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XB2 has a frequency range of 55 Hz – 27 kHz whereas Airmotiv XB1 has a frequency range of 65-27k Hz. 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 XB1's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XB1 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Airmotiv XB2 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Airmotiv XB1's is at 82 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Airmotiv XB2 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas Airmotiv XB1 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the Airmotiv XB2.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XB1 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XB1 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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 XB1'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 XB1 has external dimensions of 260.0 x 165.0 x 201.0mm (10-1/4 x 6-1/2 x 7-15/16inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 51mm wider, 65mm taller and 91mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv XB1.
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 XB1 is approximately 331.7cm2 / 51.4inch2. The Airmotiv XB2 requires 90% more surface area than the Airmotiv XB1 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 XB2 weighs 8.16kg / 18lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 weighs 3.74kg / 8.2lbs. This makes the Airmotiv XB2 118% heavier than the Airmotiv XB1.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv XB2 and Airmotiv XB1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
82 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
260mm
vs
325mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
331cm2
vs
630cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
219USD
vs
549USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 125 watts |
50-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
82 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55 Hz – 27 kHz |
65-27k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Woven fibre |
| Woofer Surround Material |
SBR |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
Folded Motion |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2600Hz |
2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
325.0mm (12.8") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Width |
216.0mm (8.5") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
292.0mm (11.5") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Weight |
8.16kg (18lbs) |
3.74kg (8.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| 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 |
Siblings in Emotiva's Airmotiv X series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 digs deeper - 55Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is more sensitive (86dB vs 82dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (125W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 is easier to place; Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv XB2: bi-amping; Emotiva Airmotiv XB1: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 is cheaper - $219 against $549, about 60% less; arguably a different class. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 B Emotiva Airmotiv XB1
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 measures better, Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 costs about about 2.5x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.