In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv XT1 and RP-4000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 and Klipsch RP-4000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 and Klipsch RP-4000F 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 XT1 and Klipsch RP-4000F 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Airmotiv XT1 is a 3-way design whereas the RP-4000F is a 2-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 XT1 |
Klipsch RP-4000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
Airmotiv XT1 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 3 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 410 Hz, 3.1 kHz. On the other hand, the RP-4000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 4" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
Airmotiv XT1 has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 27 kHz whereas RP-4000F has a frequency range of 37-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the RP-4000F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv XT1's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 XT1 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-4000F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Airmotiv XT1 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv XT1 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the RP-4000F's is rated at 95 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-4000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XT1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 XT1 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-4000F has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the Airmotiv XT1.
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 XT1 and RP-4000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XT1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Airmotiv XT1 and RP-4000F 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 XT1's and Klipsch RP-4000F's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 has external dimensions of 106 x 178 x 254 mm ( 41.75” x 7” x 10”) whereas Klipsch RP-4000F has external dimensions of 870.0 x 188.0 x 289.0mm ( 34-1/4 x 7-3/8 x 11-3/8inch) .
Klipsch RP-4000F is 34mm narrower and 190mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 but it is also 35mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 and Klipsch RP-4000F in scale.
Comparison image of Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 and Klipsch RP-4000F 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 XT1 is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-4000F is approximately 543.3cm2 / 84.2inch2. The Airmotiv XT1 requires 17% less surface area than the RP-4000F which gives it a small advantage 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 XT1 weighs 15.90kg / 35lbs and the Klipsch RP-4000F weighs 13.18kg / 29lbs. This makes the Airmotiv XT1 21% heavier than the RP-4000F.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv XT1 and RP-4000F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-4000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-4000F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (installed)Grille (installed)2 Terminal jumpers (installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
27k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
452cm2 (222x254mm)
vs
543cm2 (188x289mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
870mm
vs
1060mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
698USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv XT1 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-4000F |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 200 watts |
up to 75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
95 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45 Hz – 27 kHz |
37-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
SBR |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
410 Hz, 3.1 kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1060.0mm (41.7") |
870.0mm (34.3") |
| Width |
222.0mm (8.7") |
188.0mm (7.4") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
| Weight |
15.90kg (35lbs) |
13.18kg (29lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, 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 |