In this review, we will be comparing Theva Center and Airmotiv C1+, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Focal and Emotiva. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Theva Center and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Theva Center 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Theva Center and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ 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 Theva Center is a 2-way design whereas the Airmotiv C1+ is a 3-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 |
Focal Theva Center |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Theva Center features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100 Hz. 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
Theva Center has a frequency range of 59-28kHz whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a frequency range of 50 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Airmotiv C1+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Theva Center's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Theva Center is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv C1+ which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 C1+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Theva Center sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Airmotiv C1+'s is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Theva Center a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv C1+, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Theva Center can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Theva Center.
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 Theva Center and Airmotiv C1+ features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Focal Theva Center's and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s external dimensions. Focal Theva Center has external dimensions of 210.0 x 531.0 x 254.0mm ( 81/4 x 207/8 x 10) 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) .
Focal Theva Center is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 13mm taller and 44mm deeper than Emotiva Airmotiv C1+.
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 Focal Theva Center is approximately 1348.7cm2 / 209.0inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is approximately 1094.1cm2 / 169.6inch2. The Theva Center requires 23% 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 Focal Theva Center weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ weighs 8.45kg / 18.6lbs. This makes the Theva Center 18% heavier than the Airmotiv C1+.
Here is a comparison of how Theva Center and Airmotiv C1+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
197mm
vs
210mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
vs
1348cm2 (531x254mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
649USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Theva Center |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
| Brand |
Focal |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
Up to 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
59-28kHz |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
woven fiber cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2100 Hz |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
210.0mm (8.3") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
531.0mm (20.9") |
521.0mm (20.5") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
HDF |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss,Dark Wood,Light Wood |
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 |