Emotiva Nostala LB12 is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by Emotiva. It was released in 2025. It features a 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter, 1 x 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Paper Woofer.
A modern take on the classic three-way: a 12 inch paper woofer, a 5.25 inch HyperDome soft-fabric midrange and a 28 mm silk dome, in a walnut-veneered HDF cabinet with dual front ports. 91 dB and 8 ohms - an easy load, unlike the rest of the Emotiva range.
The speaker has a frequency range of 40-32k Hz and a sensitivity of 91 dB. Emotiva Nostala LB12 has an MSRP of 3299$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Emotiva Nostala LB12 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 | Bad |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Average |
(* 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 Nostala Series of Loudspeakers
Nostala LB12 is a member of Emotiva's Nostala series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
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Frequency Response of the Emotiva Nostala LB12 Speaker
Emotiva Nostala LB12 has a Frequency response range of 40-32k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 100-350 watts. With a minimum frequency of 40 Hz, Nostala LB12 delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with Emotiva Nostala LB12, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $5000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how Nostala LB12's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 5000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Floor-standing speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the Emotiva Nostala LB12's 40Hz:
Crossover frequency of the Emotiva Nostala LB12?
Nostala LB12 is a 3-way speaker and its crossover frequency between the woofer and the midrange set to Hz and the Crossover frequency between the midrange and the tweeter is set to Hz.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Emotiva Nostala LB12's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms and has a sensitivity of
91 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Emotiva Nostala LB12 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
91dB of the Emotiva Nostala LB12 is considered a high sensitivity compared to average stereo speaker which makes Nostala LB12 an easy to drive from Sensitivity perspective. If you are planning to power your speaker with a Tube amp which are generally very low power, the Emotiva Nostala LB12 will be a good choice.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the Emotiva Nostala LB12:
Input Type
Nostala LB12 features Binding post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Emotiva Nostala LB12 External Dimensions and Weight
Emotiva Nostala LB12 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 30 x 15-1/2 x 14-1/2inch (762.0 x 394.0 x 368.0mm ).
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 Nostala LB12 is approximately 1449.9cm2 / 224.7inch2.
WeightThe Emotiva Nostala LB12 weighs 32.20kg / 70.8lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Nostala LB12's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $5000
Cabinet type and Materials
Emotiva Nostala LB12 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 Nostala LB12 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.
Does the Emotiva Nostala LB12 come with a Grille?
Nostala LB12 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 Nostala LB12.
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Emotiva Nostala LB12 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Emotiva Nostala LB12
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.