In this review, we will be comparing Q Acoustics 5090 and Airmotiv C3+, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Q Acoustics and Emotiva. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 5090 and Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Q Acoustics 5090 and Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ 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 Q Acoustics 5090 and Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ 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 Q Acoustics 5090 is a 2-way design whereas the Airmotiv C3+ 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 |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
2 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.5-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
Q Acoustics 5090 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 2 x 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100 Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv C3+ features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz and 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Q Acoustics 5090 has a frequency range of 57-30k Hz whereas Airmotiv C3+ has a frequency range of 40 Hz – 28 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Airmotiv C3+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q Acoustics 5090's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
Q Acoustics 5090 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv C3+ 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 C3+ can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q Acoustics 5090 sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the Airmotiv C3+'s is rated at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ a more sensitive speaker compared to Q Acoustics 5090, 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.
Q Acoustics 5090 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q Acoustics 5090 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Airmotiv C3+.
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
Airmotiv C3+ features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q Acoustics 5090 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5090's Binding post terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+'s Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q Acoustics 5090 and Airmotiv C3+ 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.
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ double 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 Q Acoustics 5090's and Emotiva Airmotiv C3+'s external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5090 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 431.0 x 245.0mm ( 6-1/2inch x 16-15/16inch x 9-5/8inch ) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ has external dimensions of 220.0 x 1391.0 x 312.0mm ( 8-5/8-inch x 54-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch) .
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 960mm wider, 54mm taller and 67mm deeper than Q Acoustics 5090.
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 Q Acoustics 5090 is approximately 1056.0cm2 / 163.7inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ is approximately 4339.9cm2 / 672.7inch2. The Q Acoustics 5090 requires 76% less surface area than the Airmotiv C3+ 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 Q Acoustics 5090 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ weighs 26.80kg / 59lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C3+ 215% heavier than the Q Acoustics 5090.
Here is a comparison of how Q Acoustics 5090 and Airmotiv C3+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics 5090?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q Acoustics 5090:
1x 5090 loudspeaker 1x Owners manual 2x Foam bung
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
166mm
vs
220mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1056cm2 (431x245mm)
vs
4339cm2 (1391x312mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Q Acoustics 5090 |
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+ |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Emotiva |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
Up to 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90.5 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
57-30k Hz |
40 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuous Curved Cone |
woven fiber cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
25×32 mm" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2100 Hz |
350 Hz and 2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
166.0mm (6.5") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Width |
431.0mm (17") |
1391.0mm (54.8") |
| Depth |
245.0mm (9.6") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
26.80kg (59lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Relfex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
HDF |
| Available Colors |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |