In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. JBL Stage 240H is a Surround speaker whereas the Airmotiv B1+ is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 240H and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 240H | Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-dome | 25×32 mm" folded ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Polycellulose | 5.25" woven fiber cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 100-25k Hz | 48 Hz – 28 kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-75 watts | Up to 70 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.45kg / 7.6lbs | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-11/16" x 7-1/8" x 7-3/16"
272.0 x 181.0 x 183.0mm | 10-3/4" x 7-1/8" x 8-1/4"
274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Stage 240H and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ 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* |
JBL Stage 240H |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 Stage 240H and Airmotiv B1+ are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage 240HEmotiva Airmotiv B1+
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 240H |
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Stage 240H features a 1" Hard-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the Airmotiv B1+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Stage 240H has a frequency range of 100-25k Hz whereas Airmotiv B1+ has a frequency range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Airmotiv B1+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 240H's min frequency of 100Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround 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
Stage 240H is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv B1+ which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Stage 240H sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Airmotiv B1+'s is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 240H, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Surround 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.
Stage 240H can handle a max power of 75 watts RMS, whereas Airmotiv B1+ has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the Stage 240H.
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.
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Port
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 JBL Stage 240H's and Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s external dimensions. JBL Stage 240H has external dimensions of 272.0 x 181.0 x 183.0mm (10-11/16 x 7-1/8 x 7-3/16 inch) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ has external dimensions of 274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm (10-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 8-1/4inch).
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 JBL Stage 240H is approximately 331.2cm2 / 51.3inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is approximately 380.1cm2 / 58.9inch2. The Stage 240H requires 13% less surface area than the Airmotiv B1+ which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 240H?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 240H:
- 2 Dolby Atmos height speakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Anti-slip pads
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions