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Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Review
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+

Main Features

  • 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
  • 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer
  • 48 Hz – 28 kHz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range: Up to 70watts
  • Weight:8.80 lbs / 4.00 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 10-3/4"x7-1/8"x8-1/4" / 274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm

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Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Review
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
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Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is a 2-way Passive Bass reflex Bookshelf speaker by Emotiva. It features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" woven fiber cone Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ has an MSRP of 299$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:

Listening Environment* Suitability
Near-fieldGood
Small RoomGood
Mid-size RoomAverage
Large RoomPoor
Very Large RoomNo 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.)

Emotiva's Airmotiv Series of Loudspeakers

Airmotiv B1+ is a member of Emotiva's Airmotiv series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

Emotiva Airmotiv Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
48-28k Hz 86 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
Compare
40-28k Hz 86 dB4Ω 1 x 6.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv T3+
Compare
29-28k Hz 91 dB4Ω 3 x 8"
Emotiva Airmotiv C3+
Compare
40-28k Hz 92 dB4Ω 4 x 6.5"
Emotiva Airmotiv C1+
Compare
50-28k Hz 89 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+
Compare
48-28k Hz 87 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"
Emotiva Airmotiv C2+
Compare
45-28k Hz 92 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
Emotiva Airmotiv T1+
Compare
37-28k Hz 88 dB4Ω 2 x 6"
Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
Compare
35-28k Hz 91 dB4Ω 2 x 8"


**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.

Frequency Response of the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Speaker

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ has a Frequency response range of 48 Hz – 28 kHz at ±3dB and Power Range of Up to 70 watts. With a minimum frequency of 48 Hz, Airmotiv B1+ delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.

To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Emotiva Airmotiv B1+, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $300. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how Airmotiv B1+'s Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Woofer
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s woven fiber cone Woofer


Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Tweeter
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s folded ribbon Tweeter

Crossover frequency of the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+?

The Crossover frequency of the Airmotiv B1+ is set to 2000Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.

Impedance and Sensitivity

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s nominal impedance level is 8 ohms and has a sensitivity of 86 dB.

Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps.

Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+:

  • All Integrated Amplifiers

Input Type

Airmotiv B1+ features type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Back View
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Back View

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+'s terminals

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ External Dimensions and Weight

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 10-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 8-1/4inch (274.0 x 181.0 x 210.0mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is approximately 380.1cm2 / 58.9inch2.

To get a better perspective on the real life size of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Real Life Body Size Comparison
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc

Here we place the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ placed next to an amplifier and turntable
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable

Weight

The Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv B1+'s weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $300
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
Min
Average
Max

How does the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ compare to the Emotiva Airmotiv B2+?

One of the natural alternative to the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is the which is located one step higher in Emotiva's Passive Bookshelf selection.

Check the Detailed Comparison of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ vs for more details.

Cabinet type and Materials

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ has a Bass reflex type cabinet and a HDF finish.

Speaker Feet

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ comes with shock absorbing rubber bottom pad which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on.

It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.

Port Position

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+  Port
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Port

Available colors

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ is available in Black.

Wall Mounting

Airmotiv B1+ doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.

Does the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ come with a Grille?

Airmotiv B1+ comes with magnetic grilles in black color choices. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the Airmotiv B1+ is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+  with Grille
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ with Grille

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
  • Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
  • Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.

User's Manual

For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Emotiva Airmotiv B1+

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Emotiva Airmotiv B1+

Warranty

5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Alternatives in Passive Bookshelf Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
Compare
2-way 87 dB 6 ohms 44-35k Hz
KEF Q150
Compare
2-way 86 dB 8 ohms 51-28k Hz
Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
Compare
2-way 86 dB 4 ohms 40-28k Hz
Sony SS-CS5
Compare
3-way 87 dB 6 ohms 53-50k Hz
Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero+
Compare
2-way 87 dB 4 ohms 48-28 kHz
Polk ES15
Compare
2-way 85 dB 8 ohms 44-40k Hz
Klipsch RP-600M
Compare
2-way 96 dB 8 ohms 45-25k Hz
JBL A130
Compare
2-way 86 dB 6 ohms 55-40k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
What is the External Dimensions of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
What is the Speaker Sensitivity of Emotiva Airmotiv B1+
is the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ an easy to drive speaker?

Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ Detailed Specifications

General
BrandEmotiva
Full Model NameEmotiva Airmotiv B1+
Speaker Type2-way Bookshelf
Power RangeUp to 70 watts
Sensitivity86 dB
Impedance8 ohms
Frequency Response48 Hz – 28 kHz
DRIVERS
Woofer Size5.25-inch
Woofer Compositionwoven fiber cone
Woofer SurroundSBR
Tweeter Size25×32 mm-inch
Tweeter Typefolded ribbon
Crossover freq2000Hz
Port Positionrear

CONNECTIONS
Port Positionrear
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height274.0mm ( 10-3/4-inch)
Width181.0mm ( 7-1/8-inch)
Depth210.0mm ( 8-1/4-inch)
Height274.0mm ( 10-3/4-inch)
Weight4.00kg ( 8.80 lbs)
EnclosureBass reflex
FinishHDF
Available ColorsBlack
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty5 Years
Labor Warranty5 Years
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