In this review, we will be comparing Reference 2 Meta and Airmotiv C2+, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Emotiva.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 2 Meta and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Reference 2 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer
- 80-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:22.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 205.0" x 24.8" x 13.2"( 205 x 630 x 335 mm )
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 3" Midrange
- 45 Hz – 28 kHz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 150watts
- Weight:16.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.0" x 31-15/16" x 10-1/2"( 220.0 x 812.0 x 267.0mm )
What size room are the KEF Reference 2 Meta and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ 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* |
KEF Reference 2 Meta |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Bad |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Reference 2 Meta and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ 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 Reference 2 Meta and Airmotiv C2+ are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Reference 2 Meta |
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
2 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Reference 2 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv C2+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
Reference 2 Meta has a frequency range of 80-35k Hz whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Airmotiv C2+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference 2 Meta's min frequency of 80Hz.
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
Reference 2 Meta and Airmotiv C2+ have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference 2 Meta sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Airmotiv C2+'s is at 92 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 2 Meta, 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 Reference 2 Meta and the Reference 2 Meta 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. 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.
Reference 2 Meta can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv C2+ has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Reference 2 Meta.
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 Reference 2 Meta and Airmotiv C2+ features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 2 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ Port
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 KEF Reference 2 Meta's and Emotiva Airmotiv C2+'s external dimensions. KEF Reference 2 Meta has external dimensions of 205 x 630 x 335 mm ( 8.1 x 24.8 x 13.2 in) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ has external dimensions of 220.0 x 812.0 x 267.0mm ( 8-5/8 x 31-15/16 x 10-1/2inch) .
KEF Reference 2 Meta is 182mm narrower and 15mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ but it is also 68mm deeper.
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 KEF Reference 2 Meta is approximately 2110.5cm2 / 327.1inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C2+ is approximately 2168.0cm2 / 336.0inch2. The Reference 2 Meta requires 3% less surface area than the Airmotiv C2+ which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.