Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by Emotiva. It was released in February 2024. It features a 1" Folded Motion Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven fibre Woofer.
The smallest Airmotiv X: a 22 x 25 mm Airmotiv folded-ribbon tweeter on a rotatable waveguide - so it can be turned for horizontal placement - over a 4 inch woven cone, rear ported. 82 dB sensitive and 4 ohms, so it wants a real amplifier.
The speaker has a frequency range of 65-27k Hz and a sensitivity of 82 dB. Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 has an MSRP of 219$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 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-field | Good |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Emotiva's Airmotiv X Series of Loudspeakers
Airmotiv XB1 is a member of Emotiva's Airmotiv X series of Passive speakers. The Airmotiv X range are Emotiva's affordable passive bookshelf and tower speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 9 Emotiva Airmotiv X models compared »
Emotiva Airmotiv X Series Speakers
Emotiva Airmotiv X Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 Speaker
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 has a Frequency response range of 65-27k Hz and Power Range of 50-120 watts. With a minimum frequency of 65 Hz, it is hard to expect a strong bass response from Airmotiv XB1 so depending on your use case, using a subwoofer will significantly help to widen the response range.
Here we have a comparison of how Airmotiv XB1's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1?
Crossover frequency of the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1?
The crossover frequency of the Airmotiv XB1 is set to 2600Hz. 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 XB1's nominal impedance level is
4 ohms and has a sensitivity of
82 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 82 dB, Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 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. Work out how loud the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
What amplifier does the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
95–120 W
per channel into 4 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $300, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Airmotiv XB1 has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 External Dimensions and Weight
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 10-1/4 x 6-1/2 x 7-15/16inch (260.0 x 165.0 x 201.0mm ).
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 XB1 is approximately 331.7cm2 / 51.4inch2.
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 weighs 3.74kg / 8.2lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv XB1's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $300
Cabinet type and Materials
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Port Position
Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 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.
Wall Mounting
Airmotiv XB1 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 come with a Grille?
Airmotiv XB1 comes with grilles. 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.
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find 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.
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Emotiva Airmotiv XB1 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Emotiva Airmotiv XB1
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.