In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv XC1 and Airmotiv C1+, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Emotiva.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 | Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | 4.5" | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone | 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50 Hz – 27 kHz | 50 Hz – 28 kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 120 watts | Up to 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.30kg / 24.9lbs | 8.45kg / 18.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.5" x 26" x 9.5"
190 x 660 x 241 mm | 7-3/4" x 20-1/2" x 8-1/4"
197.0 x 521.0 x 210.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ 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 XC1 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Airmotiv XC1 and Airmotiv C1+ are 3-way speakers.
Emotiva Airmotiv XC1Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
MidrangeWoofer
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 XC1 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.5-inch |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Airmotiv XC1 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter, a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 620 Hz, 3.1 kHz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv C1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 550 Hz and 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XC1 has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 27 kHz whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 XC1 and Airmotiv C1+ have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Airmotiv XC1 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Airmotiv C1+'s is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XC1, 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 XC1 and the Airmotiv XC1 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 XC1 and Airmotiv C1+ have the same power range of Up to 120 watts.
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 XC1 and Airmotiv C1+ features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XC1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv XC1 and Airmotiv C1+ 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 XC1's and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 has external dimensions of 190 x 660 x 241 mm (7.5” x 26” x 9.5”) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ has external dimensions of 197.0 x 521.0 x 210.0mm (7-3/4 x 20-1/2 x 8-1/4inch).
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is 139mm narrower and 31mm less deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 but it is also 7mm 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 XC1 is approximately 1590.6cm2 / 246.5inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is approximately 1094.1cm2 / 169.6inch2. The Airmotiv XC1 requires 45% more surface area than the Airmotiv C1+ 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 XC1 weighs 11.30kg / 24.9lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ weighs 8.45kg / 18.6lbs. This makes the Airmotiv XC1 34% heavier than the Airmotiv C1+.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv XC1 and Airmotiv C1+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
 Height |
190mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
27k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1094cm2
vs
1590cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 120 watts |
Up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50 Hz – 27 kHz |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
woven fiber cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
SBR |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
620 Hz, 3.1 kHz |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
190.0mm (7.5") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
660.0mm (26") |
521.0mm (20.5") |
| Depth |
241.0mm (9.5") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Weight |
11.30kg (24.9lbs) |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
HDF |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| 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 |
Both are Emotiva, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is easier to place; Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Emotiva Airmotiv XC1: bi-amping; Emotiva Airmotiv C1+: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is cheaper - $299 against $399, about 25% less. |
A Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 B Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Emotiva Airmotiv XC1 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $100 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.