In this review, we will be comparing D300C and Airmotiv C1+, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Wharfedale and Emotiva. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D300C and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Wharfedale D300C 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 Wharfedale D300C 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.
**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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that D300C 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 |
Wharfedale D300C |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
D300C features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Black woven Kevlar Cone Woofer . 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
D300C has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz 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 D300C's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
D300C 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.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 89 dBdB.
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.
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 D300C and Airmotiv C1+ features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
D300C has a bottom firing port whereas Airmotiv C1+ has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D300C's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ with its rear-firing 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 Wharfedale D300C's and Emotiva Airmotiv C1+'s external dimensions. Wharfedale D300C has external dimensions of 190 x 510 x 232mm ( 7.8) 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) .
Wharfedale D300C is 11mm narrower and 7mm shorter than Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ but it is also 22mm 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 Wharfedale D300C is approximately 1183.0cm2 / 183.4inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ is approximately 1094.1cm2 / 169.6inch2. The D300C requires 8% 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 Wharfedale D300C weighs 8.00kg / 17.6lbs and the Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ weighs 8.45kg / 18.6lbs. This makes the Airmotiv C1+ 6% heavier than the D300C.
Here is a comparison of how D300C and Airmotiv C1+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
190mm
vs
197mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
179USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
1094cm2 (521x210mm)
vs
1183cm2 (510x232mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Wharfedale D300C |
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+ |
Brand |
Wharfedale |
Emotiva |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
Power Range |
25-120 watts |
Up to 120 watts |
Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
50 Hz – 28 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Black woven Kevlar Cone |
woven fiber cone |
Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
25×32 mm" |
Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
folded ribbon |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
550 Hz and 2600Hz |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
190.0mm (7.5") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
Width |
510.0mm (20.1") |
521.0mm (20.5") |
Depth |
232.0mm (9.1") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
Weight |
8.00kg (17.6lbs) |
8.45kg (18.6lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
HDF |
Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
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 |