In this review, we will be comparing Stage 240H and Airmotiv XA2, two Passive Surround speakers from JBL and Emotiva.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 240H and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Stage 240H Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer
- 100-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:25-75watts
- Weight:3.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 272.0" x 7-1/8" x 7-3/16"( 272.0 x 181.0 x 183.0mm )
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 75 Hz – 27 kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 80watts
- Weight:10.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 317.0" x 7.15" x 8.5"( 317 x 182 x 216 mm )
What size room are the JBL Stage 240H and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 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 XA2 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage 240H and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Stage 240H and Airmotiv XA2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 240H |
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 |
|
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 XA2 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
Stage 240H has a frequency range of 100-25k Hz whereas Airmotiv XA2 has a frequency range of 75 Hz – 27 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 79Hz, the Airmotiv XA2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 240H's min frequency of 100Hz.
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 Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
High Frequency
Surround 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
Stage 240H is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv XA2 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 XA2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Stage 240H sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Airmotiv XA2's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 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. 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.
Stage 240H can handle a max power of 80 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 240H has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS , 5 watts less than the Airmotiv XA2.
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
Stage 240H features Binding post type posts and Airmotiv XA2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2's Binding post terminals
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 JBL Stage 240H's and Emotiva Airmotiv XA2'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 XA2 has external dimensions of 317 x 182 x 216 mm ( 12.5” x 7.15” x 8.5”) .
Emotiva Airmotiv XA2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 45mm taller and 33mm deeper than JBL Stage 240H.
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 XA2 is approximately 393.1cm2 / 60.9inch2. The Stage 240H requires 16% less surface area than the Airmotiv XA2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.