The HIDDEN COST of THIS SPEAKER! Emotiva Airmotiv XT2 Review

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

😀Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍Like button! 📌Considering the Emotiva Airmotiv Series? Learn more about them here bit.ly/3ViHnue 🔌Still want more? Leave your questions in the comments for the chance to be featured on the next Unplugged! Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT 🙏 Please stay on topic and be respectful. 🚫No links, self-promotion, or personal info.

[@stevenoconnor5693]

As far as I’m concerned, those speakers are an absolute fail. It comes to a point you should not have to have a $6000 piece of equipment to drive speakers that don’t match that price point lol or even near that especially given the amount of other speakers that are within spec of that one floor standing speakers in general that you have reviewed in the past.

[@johannesnel8060]

Dear Andrew. What happened to Friday's unplugged video? (Primare Pre35 Prisma & A35.2 Review) Thanks Johannes

[@fonkenful]

At the risk of being annoying, I’ll repeat a comment made elsewhere- how much of what I infer as very sub-par directional performance of both the mains and centre would you opine to be poor engineering of the folded ribbon tweeter and probably crossover points? I can just imagine Danny Ritchie’s reaction - “hey there, Emo, what were you thinking?” 🤭

[@manitoublack]

I suspect emotiva will not be giving it a thumbs up. But I did 👍. Great honesty.

[@KristiWright]

@@johannesnel8060 We took the day off. We'll be back this Friday!

[@txerapng]

6:22 now this is some level of commitment that I gotta give you your flowers for. The graphs and your commentary on them is REALLY helpfull and informative and helps you so much get your point across.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks so much!

[@jota3845]

What I perceive from Andrew is that he does not base his reviews on the brand, but on his honest assessment of the brand. That’s why I will continue listening

[@geoffreydebrito2653]

A brutally honest review, hopefully emotiva will use it to improve rather than complain.

[@burner8959]

This review is an example of the reason I keep coming back to this channel. Sure it's always nice to hear glorious things about audio gear. Which I think we can all agree Andrew can do well. For me though, this one is where he earns his money. The challenge that these speakers have presented and the steps taken to give a fair account of them is the nitty gritty of what a potential buyer would want to know. The switching of power sources, the measurements taken, the various directional orientations of the speaker, the thought applied to the task, all the "nerdy" stuff, all done for us by Andrew. This is why I keep coming back.

[@charlesking678]

This video gotta be one of your better ones. It's subjective and objective at the same time. The graphs not only back up your review but also satisfy the audio nerds, yet the video unlike many of those guys who do those types of reviews doesn't come across as watching a boring PowerPoint presentation on a zoom call. It's still entertaining to watch and it doesn't come across to me as a wholly negative review, but more constructive criticism/feedback for emotiva to use for their next gen models. Great job as always, but this video in my opinion is outstanding Andrew! You should be proud and hopefully the video performs well.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks so much. I struggled with this one because I felt it could go either way with viewers. Some likely would like it because they hunger for negativity, while others would claim I have some sort of bone to pick (which I don't). These reviews are hard because I still have to tell you what I found, but I can't have them come off as less than or different from our so-called positive reviews. Win or lose, every product gets my full attention and effort. Thanks for watching!

[@emmanuelmeyermeyer1083]

Thanks for the honest review. That is why your channel is the one to watch. Some businesses should just stick to what they do best. Their amps are pretty good.

[@chrisgraunke9269]

I was really contemplating these, but I think I'll have to hold off for something a little more rounded for sound. Thanks Andrew!

[@simonpickles7258]

So apart from the lacking bass, poor directivity, difficulty to drive, bad centre image, the treble, the mid range and the bass and the 80’s looks it’s a good buy!

[@youssefhamidi8152]

You couldn’t pay me enough to put these speakers in my room. Extremely ugly design that looks at least 50 years old.

[@ropeburn6684]

There were a lot of 80s speakers that looked - and probably sounded - better 😂

[@dawolyan13]

Love the old stealth fighter design

[@bani_niba]

Keep up the good work. It's rare to see truthful reviews these days.

[@onacbuzzkill]

Thank you for the video, Andrew! I purchased the XT1s and an XC1 shortly after they released. I’ve had a great experience with them, but kept thinking I made the wrong choice and wished I had gotten the XT2s and XC2. Thank you for putting my mind at ease a bit. Cheers!

[@lycancatt4248]

its honestly refreshing to see a reviewer not get on with a product and speak clearly about why, so many just say it rocks and we should buy it..but you forgot 1 important thing, that leatherette covering is going to be irresistable to clawy kitties! lol seriously though..built a pair of speakers for a customer with a similar covering and his cats destroyed it rather quickly

[@foblivio]

Well, that was an honest review. Well done! Good that you mentioned the design team for this incarnation is different than for previous products.

[@t8500shx]

Reviews like this is one reason why I love watching your videos. Some reviewers seem to like/love everything they review. Love your honest reviews.

[@KristiWright]

We get accused of loving everything, too.

[@antoniobarbour8608]

Thanks for being brutally honest! I was on the fence with these, but you just confirmed what I thought. 😊

[@buffal0bilious]

Interesting review! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have the older Emotiva T1+. Despite fiddling a lot with placement and tow-in, I've never quite gotten them to fully "disappear," although they do have a decent center image. I'm satisfied with them for the $600 I paid a few years ago, but a better disappearing act is at the top of my must-haves list for any eventual upgrade.

[@charlesking678]

Im glad you pointed out how difficult they are to drive. Given their price, you'd think emotiva would have made them easier to drive off an avr as that's primarily how most of the customer base will use these.

[@markwagner1997]

Now that's a thorough, useful review! Thank you!

[@andrehendrik]

The Cheap Audioman is always waxing poetic about Emotiva being a family-run business, but whenever he does that I'm reminded of what George Costanza said on Seinfeld: "everybody makes a big deal about mom n pop stores, I tell ya what: if my mom n pop had a store, I woudn't shop there!"

[@KristiWright]

The only store my mom could make viable was one that sold add-ons for Candy Crush.

[@aaron_barreiro]

I got emotiva because of Cheap Audioman 😭🤣

[@4thewinir344]

CAM has, sadly, morphed into a less-than-credible source of objectivity in this space. Entertainment it has become. Be it Geshelli, Fosi, or Emotiva, he’s in it for the clicks. But to his credit, he’s become popular and is making plenty of money. Income to support his salt-of-the-earth style was/is his stated purpose for being on KZbin. Yay capitalism.

[@dawaynecleckley8673]

Bro. Thank you for being honest. That is all. 👍🏾

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Always

[@randolphblack2554]

Good morning, Andrew & Kristi. I am glad to discover and have verified that Emotiva is too good to be true regarding power requirements and sonic output. I use a pair of BIC DV84s with the matching center channel and have for the last 3 years. The frequency response graph sucks to be sure but after break-in I have not been disappointed with bass response, vocal clarity or treble fatigue. The break-over point, where the speakers wake up is the same for main and center with no timbre shift, comes in fairly low when driven by a Yamaha A760 and can quickly reach peaks of 107dB which is where I turn it back down. Thank you for this review and I anxiously await Kristi's contributions because I enjoy the interaction between the two of you at work.

[@jlyt18]

thanks for this, i was considering this on my short list of upgrade options for my budget setup, knowing they are impossible to drive with any AVR within my budget is super helpful

[@wilson0784]

Appreciate this review. I was looking at the XT3 not long ago. JBL HDI 3800 went on sale and ended up pulling the trigger on those. No regrets.

[@improvedgarage]

I have an older set of Emotiva loudspeakers that I've been happy with, as well as an A2. One of the selling points for Emotiva in my opinion has always been that they are "easy" and "inexpensive" for a more premium brand. It seems this latest revision is a miss, and I appreciate the effort that you obviously went through to make them work in your space. Even if there was a sweet spot that could be eventually found, I wouldn't want to invest the effort it would take to find it, especially when there are so many other lines that are far easier to setup and get great sound from.

[@devitomichael]

Nice review, very logical. I have 4 stereos and I bought a pair of T3+ out of curiosity because they were so unbelievably affordable at $1700 after discounts they really looked like they should cost 10 or $15K not $1700, and they turned out to be hands down part of the best stereo that I own and I only run them with a BasX 250W each channel! The sound that comes out of my Emotiva T3+’s is so absolutely ridiculously powerful that I use it for short bursts of heavy metal when I need a fix and it totally hits the spot every time for only $2,600 all in! Definitely the most bang for the buck out of any other stereos or stereo equipment that I have! So yeah, while I can’t say anything about these specific speakers in this review, the Emotiva T3+’s were hands down the most fun speakers I’ve ever had not to mention that I just can’t seem to blow them no matter how hard I try!

[@TheNLHAZE]

I have them and love them cheers 🍺👍🍺

[@Prometheus1979]

Thank you for the honest review of these speakers. It’s getting harder And harder to find true reviews of speakers and equipment.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

The few reviews I had seen of the bookshelf speaker only added to my confusion. Especially, the few that were accompanied by graphs because I could see similarities in the response between the bookshelf and these two speakers. I started to wonder if a) non near field measurements were done, or b) if subjective listening tests were conducted after? Not trying to disparage anyone, but I honestly took two different hearing tests during my evaluation of the Emotiva speakers to make sure it wasn't me or something wrong with my ears, because the finicky tweeter, directionality and power requirements are fairly obvious and almost immediately apparent. At least with respect to the XT2 and Xc2.

[@wonjoon04]

I actually had an entire set of emotiva speakers ( previous model T2+, C2+, B2+) and you nailed down two really important points: power requirement and extremely tight sweet spots. I bought a basx a3 amp from emotiva and they were still not enough and tripping the safety measure on the amp at reference level output. They sounded great when I was listening to the system by myself but as soon as I moved slightly off axis ( vertical or horizontal) I lost clarity and it just sounded awful. I would say adding at least $1000 for an amp should be considered a requirement when considering these speakers especially for home theater usage. Great review!

[@newardthelman6871]

Thank you for the best audio review on the internet that I've seen to date. Yep - I mean everything so far, for years. Detailed, clear, and honest. Heretofore, I'd almost written you off as an audio lightweight, but here you've proven yourself as a capable, perceptive, highend audio reviewer.

[@whocares0503]

Finally an Emotiva speaker review and for the record I owned Airmotive 4s's. It seems like Emotiva went after too much AMT tweeters tend to not have dispersion. Interesting and informative review.

[@-loki-7727]

Carl here. Still rocking the 90's Celestion Nakamichi set up.

[@KristiWright]

hahah

[@TxZick]

@@KristiWright ah hahahaha 👍

[@ChrisGarrett-q1x]

I have had the XT2 speakers paired with excellent BASX TA2 integrated/receiver for 2 weeks. Watched your XT2 review 3 times and your review is 100% spot on. I am return😅ng them. Great job.

[@LanceB1960]

Super happy with the preamp and BasX amp that I own from Emotiva. Disappointed to hear that the speakers are not up to snuff with the electronics. Thanks for reviewing, Andrew.

[@gregorygoldbarth7464]

Andrew, as usual your honesty and sincerity come across in your delivery with heartfelt warmth that you really wanted the speakers to work and you tried everything possible. That speaks volumes about your moral compass and integrity and is the reason why I appreciate you and Kristy‘s reviews. I was almost going to purchase the XB2 bookshelf but now I’m going to purchase the new SVS ultra evolution bookshelves. I look forward to your review of either the SVS ultra evolution bookshelf or the ultra evolution nano bookshelf. Keep on doing what you do, as I appreciate you all! Cheers!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I appreciate the comment, thank you.

[@gregorygoldbarth7464]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews my pleasure!

[@wayneadamson3668]

Would you say the same of the T3+ ?

[@SnapperX3]

I appreciate the review guys. I could have seen myself picking these up had they been on sale, but I think I would have been disappointed. While I have a capable int. amp, I think my Denon PMA-1600NE would have struggled with them.

[@NicolaDiNisio]

Kudos for the having put out this honest review.

[@manitoublack]

And que the: 'fan boys.' Great honest review (though I now suspect you're off the emotiva Christmas list😅.)

[@spons1982]

finally an XT2 review! now who is going to take the XT3? I have the XT3s, i'm powering them with a Wiim Mini and Fosi V3, there's way more than enough power with the V3. It's performing beautifully (for me). I also have the XB2 bookshelf speakers, powered by my Denon S970H and there's 0 issues here, they sound beautiful.

[@josexavierjr.5633]

Surprising review on a product whose speaker line has had great reviews, especially on their bookshelf speakers and their past tower speakers. Appreciate your honesty…..maybe Emotive needs to go back to the drawing board on these…….🥴

[@JohnSeitz]

Andrew thanks for yet another great review!! You and Kristie saved me some money and frustration! Was liking the new style (not really stunning yet not some odd cyberpunk aesthetic of the old). But I’m not really into buying separate amps. Not that there’s anything wrong with that approach. Just not in my budget nor willingness to have more hardware. Again love your channel!!

[@KristiWright]

Your approach makes perfect sense to me, John, especially considering the more affordable nature of these speakers. Thanks for watching!

[@JohnSeitz]

@@KristiWright I might even go full “crazy talk” and buy a Sony A9 or Quad Theatre kit from Sony. I have some doubt about them… but you guys really talked them up in a realistic fashion! Obviously the new Quads are better. But trying to determine if they are $1000 better. I know such 1st world problems ha. Oh and obviously would snatch the bigger 5 series sub kit.

[@KristiWright]

@@JohnSeitz Did you watch our Unplugged video on the Quads? The are they 1000 better question is addressed.

[@JohnSeitz]

@@KristiWright of course I watched it 🤓. And you are correct in that you both answered, in an all in vote for Quads over A9s! That’s why it’s a hard decision lol. Typically I’d pocket the $1000 and say it’s got to be close! But your voice really does add substance in the choice. No pitty party honest. But this will unfortunately be my last home theatre upgrade. #cancerSucks

[@KristiWright]

@@JohnSeitz I loved the Quad; they'd be more than enough for me, but I can't say much more than that. Everyone's priorities, expectations, what they're accustomed to, and (of course) budgets all play a role in determining something's "worth," which makes questions like that impossible to answer. Cancer does suck. I'm so sorry if this is something you are dealing with. Truly.

[@triplelexxx9407]

Great Review Andrew, big respect for telling the truth(and posting data to back it up) about these speakers. I respect your honesty. Emotiva seems to have missed the mark here.

[@TheNLHAZE]

I'm Sooooo Glad I went with my own thoughts I got the bookshelf speakers, and the C-2 center Channel speakers as well and I love them !!! Yes I had Klipsch, Polk, JBL,thank God we all have different Taste 🙏 I almost missed out on some Damn Great Sond Because of this Video..

[@bryanpaulgilbert7308]

I appreciate the transparency regarding the not-so-great aspects of the new airmotive tower. Overall, Emotiva makes good products at affordable prices. Hopefully they'll take some constructive criticism to heart and work towards an improvement in a version 2

[@scottmackenzie6699]

Dang it, Carl. Stop renting space in Andrew’s head! 😂

[@movie_av_impulse]

Carl gets more mentions than a sponsor or a fan of the channel 😅

[@Carl-bd1rf]

😂thanks!!

[@LexStansby]

Is a review of Q Acoustics 5050 on the horizon?

[@joecaroselli9945]

With the high-power requirement, not the speaker for me, but I always enjoy watching the reviews. If nothing more than to be a vehicle for me to learn more about Home theater. Question for anyone who has thoughts on this, between the Sony an1000 and the Onkyo 7100, is either receiver objectively better in any category? Trying to decide between the two.

[@lukemcdo]

While obviously reviews aren't intended to be for validation, this was a validating review. I was considering this speaker for my parents' setup but the lack of reviews concerned me. I'm glad I paused, it would've been a nightmare. They do not have the positional flexibility to make this work, nor the power (though power is much more cheaply solved).

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

What "cheap" power would you have turned to?

[@fonkenful]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Hopefully not a four letter name that begins with F

[@sandeepjohny6480]

Hi andrew, Excellent review about this session because your past reviews you might missed about directivity & dispersion of speakers but this one you did it 👏 I was waiting for long time about this characteristics of each speakers you reviewed but finally you came up with those points as a common person we ware expecting some of the key points from reviewers 1. Sound signature 2. Amplifier friendly or not 3. Directivity & Dispersion characteristics 4. In room performance on axis & off axis 5. Placement flexibility 6. Phantom center/Sound stage/openness. 7. Dialogue inteligiblity 8. LFE capabilities 9. Full range working performance 10. Matching electronics 11. Speaker EQ friendly & possibilities 12. Music reproduction/instrument separation....etc 13. Music & Movie watching experience The above points are very important for selection of speaker package I belive. most of them you are covered on your review sections That's the reason I personally following you since you start the chanel This makes you very iconic highly appreciated 👏

[@MatthewMcGowan]

Good afternoon from Ottawa 🇨🇦 thanks for reviewing these speakers. I heard them at Montreal Audiofest and they knocked my socks off, so I’m glad to hear your take. Kinda surprised by the review, but I greatly appreciate the consideration you put into your reviews. The power-hunger and setup issues are a concern for me: I’m looking for small towers in my office stereo, which is jammed right into the corner. I would imagine these would not be ideal, or would they? 1 metre apart, 1 metre away seated position. But I’m not Carl, I don’t listen to anything over 65db max. Let me know what you recommend. I’m definitely tuning in to Unplugged on Friday to hear Kristi’s thoughts on these speakers. Thanks, and have a great Sunday.

[@TxZick]

Bookshelf speakers on stands

[@KristiWright]

See you on Friday, Matthew!

[@boneseyyl1060]

You probably could not pick anything less suitable than these speakers for your application. A pair of powered KEFLS-50's might work a whole lot better and you would not require amplification.

[@MatthewMcGowan]

@@boneseyyl1060 hmm, great suggestion. I’ve seen in other videos that KEF LS-50s require a subwoofer for full range sound. Any recommendations? Back to the researching 👍🏻

[@boneseyyl1060]

@@MatthewMcGowan Well if you like serious bass that goes deep, then you probably want a sub. I would assume since this is an office, you will mainly be using them for music. I would suggest trying positioning them in your room first to see if placement can give you the bass you need. The powered LS-50 do punch a little harder than the unpowered ones so keep that in mind. If that doesn't work then I would suggest going with a smaller, say 8 to 10 inch sub that is fast and musical sounding to match the speed of the KEF's. KEF has some pretty good small subs but they are pricey. REL might be another brand to look at for those qualities. They make some of the best subs out there. Adding a sub might negate the need for the powered speaker however. But generally smaller subs will be more musical sounding and save few bucks and some space. Probably best to get out and listen to some and see if you think the bass is adequate for your tastes.

[@Cy_AV]

Excellent review Andrew, and thank you Emotiva for sending Andrew this exact config to review. I feel very lucky considering my request from your last live episode. Very informative and detailed. This really helps me narrow down my upgrade choices' Since you are very familiar with Focal I have a question regarding the Chora's before they are sold out and no longer available. If using two sub's is there any real benefit going with the 826 over the 816 or would the 816 work just fine? My listening space is about the same as yours.

[@sakio327]

This may be as close to "meh" as Andrew might get on his videos. I don't think I've heard him twist himself into knots as much as this review to not offend anyone. I have a very good opinion Emotive as a brand, so I am a little surprised that they came out with a product as flawed as this.

[@bullpup33]

Sad to hear they haven't solved these problems. I had a pair many years ago. Same general issues.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Really? What issues specifically are you referring to?

[@Prerich45]

Excellent review - one of your best!!!!!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Glad you think so!

[@johndaddabbo9383]

Well, actually... "Crappy review" one of the Best 👍

[@Prerich45]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews maybe I should have said truthful review instead☺️😂😂😏

[@abxaudiophiles]

Honesty!! Love it and well done sir! 😊😊😊

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you kindly.

[@CraciunAlexandruGh]

Really happy to hear a review in which a speaker clearly sucks, although I think you have made Godly efforts to find silver linings.

[@homeaudiobasics]

Also i bought some of the old T-zeros on clearance for my sons bedroom. In there, for videogames they sound just fine. When i tried them in the living room they sounded hollow and lifeless no matter the source material.

[@arress2052]

You must be using a poor amp. T-Zeros sound good.

[@Harry-Giles]

I think the numerous quirks of this speaker made for an informative review. Definitely learned some things. Would be a hard pass on these. Thanks Andrew and Kristi for your always engaging content.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thanks for watching Harry!

[@biga8230]

Emotiva xt3 or Polk R700? Can only buy one pair?

[@Hagemann666]

You're kinder and more patient than I would be with such a fussy, power-hungry speaker. There are PLENTY of speakers out there that do the same things well but don't have all the problems and they're in same price range or less.

[@emmet7208]

I think the smart move for Emotiva would be to offer a package deal with one of their own amps! I do cringe when companies cross a AMT/ribbon tweeter quite low, it sounds like Emotiva's designers decided to preserve the midrange at the cost of the tweeters comfort range. The bass however could be that they're using three drivers in the volume two should occupy. I assume that could be why the ohm load could be a very low 4 ohms. The designer of this speaker probably had to wrestle with this one!

[@francescotenti193]

Well, those speakers are a very tough sell, $1,300.00 plus a sub and the need of a very powerful amp which brings up the total price since, not too many people have 250 WPC handy to use. Way too many better options out there in that price range and without the need those extra ponies in amplification. Thanks for being so honest about it.

[@TheAv0lution]

Please provide examples if so.

[@francescotenti193]

@@TheAv0lution From Wharfedale, Klipsch, Focal, just to name a few.

[@stevenbrown836]

Thanks 4 tha heads up...attempting to decide on what's for me!

[@LXIX4U]

Another fantastic review. Did i miss the last unplugged for the Primare?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

We opted not to do a follow up Unplugged for those products and instead took a much needed day off.

[@LXIX4U]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Makes sense I was in hospital post op and on some heavy pain killers and thought I was loosing it not being able to find it lol. Hope you enjoyed the time off. Cheers

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I hope you're recovering well. We'll be back this Friday with a new Unplugged.

[@spudzooka]

Is there any perceivable difference in audio characteristics between a thirsty speaker being driven with big power vs an efficient speaker with modest power?

[@spudzooka]

Ive always had high sensitivity speakers and have been curious if there is a reason one would give up flexibility of driving equipment in lou of harder to drive speakers

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Noting this question for Friday's Unplugged. Thanks for watching!

[@pmoul01]

I bought the XT1 based on Cheapaudio Man's review. These replaced my 24 year old Klipsch RF3, which still performs great. The soundstage on the XT1 is wider and taller. Our living room is about 15 feet wide, 9 feet high and about 26 feet long. Our seating position is 16 feet away. I have these and my Klipsch R-25C powered from the Emotiva BasX A3 (200w/ch). With 2 channels only for music, every instrument floats in space brilliantly. I do not find the tweeters to be bright or fatiguing at all. In fact, i love them more than the ones on my Klipsch. These are part of a 7.1 surround system. The other 5 are Klipsch. They blend and play great together. I'm guessing that our rooms, being vastly different, is what is causing you and I to have different experiences. I have the XT1's point directly forward. Toe-in caused the right and left to bleed too much together. Straight ahead was best. I am enjoying these a lot. Everyone's experience will be different. The Emotiva rep told me the soundstage increases more as you go up the XT lines. He suggested the XT1 as the better fit for my room. I also have the Pioneer LX505 based on your recommendation. I use Dirac Live for room correction. That may explain my results, too. Thanks for your thoughts on these.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I really appreciate you sharing your personal experience. I think this review and your experience are more inline that you may think. You have pointed your Emotiva's straight ahead which undoubtedly makes the speaker less bright (something I mentioned in my review). You're also experiencing a broader and less focused center image (which I noted in the review) not to mention you are also using a center speaker which helps fill in the middle (also something I recommend). Lastly, you are using an external amp with 200watts just for your stereo pair connected to your AVR. So, from my perspective this review hits the nail right on the head. The big difference is that I didn't enjoy the experience and felt that all the fine print that needs to be adhered to wasn't worth the end result. Regardless, I'm very happy that it was for you!

[@MohsinWadee]

I don't think so. Andrew states that, as opposed to your speaker, the XT2 uses in-house drivers. It's not an update, rather a brand new replacement. So if that's true then comparing the XT2 to XT1 is almost like comparing apples to oranges. It could just be that Emotiva didn't get it right this time round. And at this price range demanding hefty amplification skews its position somewhat. It's a budget speaker that demands high-end equipment. The B&W 603 S3 at twice the price is far less demanding of amplification.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I did not say the speaker uses in-house drivers, I said the speakers were developed in house. I do not believe Emotiva makes any of the drivers or components used in these speakers.

[@triplelexxx9407]

Your asesment and experience proves andrew's review valid/correct

[@MohsinWadee]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews my apologies

[@DonnieMulligan]

Budget Speakers should match Budget Gear. Why do several speaker designers still wavy the "4 ohm or Go Home" banner with budget gear?

[@Zardnokalicious]

Thanks for the honest review. I am a fan of Emotiva amps and am researching my next theater speaker system. I was looking at the XT3, which I would assume would have similar issues to the XT2, the SVS Ultra and Prime, the Klipsch RP or maybe RF-7, and the Monoprice Monolith. I have a Denon AVR4800 w/ 125watts/channel.

[@andrewvenditelli152]

Are these really that different from the previous line of speakers? I have the T1+/C1+/B/1+. I sit about 9’ away and don’t seem to have any issues pushing the volume around -10 to -7db. Any louder than that is just unnecessary. Even my entry Denon X1700 only gets warm, never remotely hot. The sound definitely changed after a couple months. I don’t know if they had to break in or what happened but they were fatiguing on my ears to start. But no issues at all listening loud now. Genuinely curious what makes the new speakers so different. I figured they were just slapping the same drivers in a more stylized cabinet with some minor crossover tweaks. Also, toeing the T1+ towers in at about 15 degrees (directly at my ears would be 30) I don’t get a rise in the treble either. Used REW and it’s a pretty smooth roll off. Guess I’m glad I got the T1’s just before the XT line.

[@aaron_barreiro]

I'm pretty bummed with some emotiva speakers I got for my first system 😭 - Wish I had listened to the few videos I saw of yours back then and gone with Jamo

[@rodneyat]

Interesting that a low/mid priced speaker really demands a high power amp to get it to sound good. Seems like a bit of a miss.

[@txerapng]

These Emotiva's look slick!! Great Sunday everyone!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Curious what you think following the review.

[@txerapng]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Will update you on my opinion!

[@KristiWright]

Morning!

[@txerapng]

@@KristiWright morning Kristi!

[@fonkenful]

Re the ML vs Emo comparison- perhaps some of the difference you heard in the tweeter’s performance is related to the profile of the waveguide, and or selection of crossover frequencies? A full set of Klippel measurements might be revealing in terms of directivity - sometimes the data does help explain what you’re hearing.

[@perlman7376]

4 Ohm speakers are a non-starter for me. I'm still looking for a reasonably priced (under $2K) pair of towers as a 2.0 stereo system. So far, the Klipsch towers are my choice with their 8 OHM impedence and reportedly high efficiency. I wanted to consider the Tekton offerings which are efficient but that company's owner seems like a tough hombre to deal with. Besides, you can always sell a used Klipsch speaker and not take a complete beating. So far, my other choice is the B&W 603 S3. I listen to a lot of orchestral music and these seem to be able to deliver that genre favorably according to the very few reviews I have read/watched. Thanks for your videos and particularly this one for it's candor. I do miss Kristi's opinion.

[@12P14D22C]

u mind telling me why?

[@perlman7376]

@@12P14D22C I' guessing you are referring to my not wanting 4 Ohm speakers. With an 8 Ohm speaker I don't need to worry about driving a 4 Ohm load. Why not keep it simple or simpler?

[@lonniefarmer7067]

Thanks! Kristi how was dialog for you? If Andrew was struggling I would have the impression that you would be hearing gibberish.

[@KristiWright]

Oh boy. Tune in Friday!

[@kjbunnyboiler]

Afternoon Andrew, Kristi & Kadie👍👍👍

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Good morning KJ! Always a pleasure!

[@KristiWright]

Hello!! :)

[@ethanschleif1062]

I have the new Emotiva XB2 bookshelf and XC2 center. They replaced klipsch RP280F floorstanding and klipsch rp504c center channel. In my preference the Emotiva is a much better speaker overall. More open, not as bright, bass is more articulate vs muddy. There is a better mid range vs klipsch that was hard to make out even with proper EQ. But I run a Outlaw 7000x with XLR paired with Tonewinner AT-300 16 channel processor which was upgraded from Marantz SR5015 and Emotiva BasX amplifiers. I'm sure there are equipment that will bring out these but for my preference there amazing. :)

[@troyclifton8385]

Hey Andrew, really appreciate the phenomenal work you do. I recently rebuilt my home theater around a Sony receiver. You mentioned not having trouble driving KEFs with Sony receivers, but I am finding my 5000ES does struggle with the KEFs when trying to power all 11 channels. Not always a problem, but some movies sound a little thin a higher volumes. Would it help to use a separate amp for the front channels and if so could you make some recommendations on what to pair with the Sony?

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I would add an amp if driving 11 channels. We don’t have that many so you’re definitely reaching a threshold I’m not fully able to test.

[@troyclifton8385]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Do you think offloading 3 channels to an amp would be sufficient? Actually considering an Emotiva amp. Any thoughts on that pairing?

[@TxZick]

I'm running an Emotiva BasX A3 for my AZ5000ES front 3, it opened up the front sound stage, Monitor Audio Silver line. (5.2.4) Tried with & without a number of times to compare & the A3 does help. (my wife agreed)

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Adding a three channel amp for the front three would likely do the trick as that is typically what we do if we feel we need more oomph. Emotiva's XPA amps pair very well with KEF.

[@Jeipr]

This a case were definteley crossing the beams of the speakers will benefit greatly in sounstage and imaging. Place them fairly far apart and then go with extreme toe in to the point that the left speakerpoints towrds your right ear abd tge same with the right speaker and left ear.

[@ryj5284]

I must say, I was not expecting it. But I do appreciate the honesty. I have the Emotiva MC-700 preamp/proc. There are a couple of quirks that I don't like. And I think I would not purchase another Emotiva product. It does sound good, clarity is good. I'm not a fan of their on screen menu. It's kinda cheesy. The thing I hate the most is the "TRIM" setting. it does not store/save the settings. So every time you turn the unit on & off. You have to go back to the trim settings and set them again. I reached out to Emotiva. And never received a response. I don't think it's difficult to change this with a software upgrade.

[@donsazon3608]

I always thought that if a speakers impedance is lower, then the speaker is more efficient even though it's more taxing on the amplifier. i.e The same speaker at 4ohms would play louder than the same speaker at 8ohms? Can anyone explain this to me please?

[@DAVID-io9nj]

Impedance for the amp is just one of the parameters in describing how much actual power is being put out. The speaker itself is not more or less efficient.

[@andrewdoan1525]

It's not abt 4 Ohm impedance but how low the impedance can drop down to and how stable is the amp below 4 Ohm. My Electrostatic quasi dipole LS7 ( old model) is rated at 4 Ohm but it can drop down below 2 Ohm, hence I have to pair them with the Krell FBP to make the most out of the SQ of the ML LS7.

[@PhillioDoede]

Interesting review. Seems like the flat baffle vs. the chamfered baffle from the previous gen maybe? Love the honest take though and tying together the subjective with objective measurements, hope that continues!

[@LexusAllTerrain1]

New cross over

[@jstoli996c4s]

Any idea what the min impedance is? A dip in the low frequencies is usually a big indicator that a powerful amp is needed to drive the speaker properly, especially to reference levels.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

I've seen some third-party reports that this speaker and others in the line dip to just below 3 Ohms in spots.

[@jstoli996c4s]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews makes sense. Very similar to the Klipsch RF7’s - listed as “8 ohm” speakers, but dip to 3.2 ohms, hence needing big power to bring out their monster bass performance.

[@KristiWright]

​@@jstoli996c4s Klipsch had offered the R7s - which we had planned to review in June. They are no longer coming, which is disappointing. That would have been a great comparison.

[@jstoli996c4s]

@@KristiWright ugh 😑

[@NosEL34]

I do know about this one..makes no sense. Though there will always be someone that prefers the rise in treble, sits alone in a one seater at ear level, has a 400 watt amp, & owns 2 subs already. On a side note it seems that if a designer doesn't get that baffle or wave guide exactly right they shouldn't be messing with those AMT or folded ribbon tweeters. They can sound beautiful if you get it right though.

[@mr.b4444]

Hello Andrew, great honest review. I purchased the older model T2+ a couple years ago and only used them for music; mainly jazz, classical, and some light rock. Back in the 80's I owned a pair of ESS AMT1b which I loved. I figured I'd try to recreate that sound because the Emotiva T2+ as some other brands have an AMT driver. But I've learned the hard way that it's not the same thing. For example these speakers including some by Martin Logan, Wharfedale, and others are using a small AMT that are not dipole like the ESS speakers. Therefore they tend to be very directional. Although my Emotiva T2+ sounded okay and had good mid range, they weren't quite there in the upper mid range and highs. They are fairly efficient, and yes I don't care for the black Darth Vader look of them either. So it doesn't surprise me what your findings are with the current model. A couple of months ago I purchased a pair of Magnepan LRS+ which provides the spaciousness and clarity in detail I was looking for. The LRS+ are about a 10db drop in efficiency compared to the T2+ but they sound great with a good amp to run them.

[@greenman1282]

Great review. Huge fan of the honesty with power and placement. Very good for consumers who might be interested in the product.

[@chulwoo00]

I 100% agree if they were to make sure their speakers are a good match to their amps, it should've been BasX, NOT XPA. It seems only amps these speakers would make some sense with would be... Not Emotiva, but Crown Drivecores?? They CANNOT be sensitive enough to pick up noise floor from crown. If they do, they got this really wrong.

[@Chuck--]

I'm really surprised by this review. I have the Emotiva B1 for my rear channel and like them a lot.

[@LeezahB]

Thanks for another thorough and thoughtful review!! Looking forward to Unplugged!!

[@robbievigil9130]

What do you use to do all your measurements?

[@Firebottleman]

Once again, it just goes to show that measurements don't mean much when the rubber meets the road. Trust your ears!

[@DBravo29er]

EXACTLY.

[@michaelrossmaessler200]

Thanks for the review Andrew. Sorry you're getting flack for it.

[@bobsimmons1470]

This is honestly the greatest video to understand why people go, "fuck this, I'm getting a sound bar"

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

A buddy of mine had the original airmotiv speaker, and I did not care for them. I found them to be a little bit too bright, causing some ringing with certain frequencies. I imagine the new version would be even worse.

[@lindelwiltshire2844]

Thank you Andrew as I was looking at these as an alternative to the Martin Logan 200’s. What’s your opinion on the elac vela bs404.2?

[@KristiWright]

We haven't tested Elac in a while. Typically they require more (and better quality) power to sound best.

[@JC-qc5nx]

Very informative and useful info. Have you tried comparing the Sony ES as a preamp to the Eversolo A8, in 2 channel of course, with settings being as equally possible, to see where the Sony sits in terms of clarity and opennes as a preamp?

[@chrisveltman1795]

On another note, the Emotiva TA2 is a heck of a deal for a powerful integrated amplifier, and it probably has the guts needed to run these new Emotiva speakers to their ‘best’ performance.

[@KristiWright]

You would think they would, wouldn't you?

[@chrisveltman1795]

@@KristiWright for real?! That’s insane.

[@Jeipr]

TA2 OWNER HERE. Rrally good int amp. Its a bit on the broght side in the treble but we a proper speaker (not this new line from emotiva). Also the adjustable high pass low pass filter option is a really good system

[@KristiWright]

@@chrisveltman1795 For the record, the amp isn't the problem. It's the speaker (XT2).

[@chrisveltman1795]

@@KristiWright appreciated distinction. Thank you

[@1970borntorun]

Thank you for the honest review of these speakers Andrew. You're one of my favorite Audio Reviewers on KZbin. That has a lot to do with your honesty and the fact you don't seem to be the type of Audiophile that equates more money with better sound. On a secondary note, (and in total honesty, I have never heard an Emotiva product, as of yet ) I really question the sonic integrity of ANY of their products. For one pone thing, you see a LOT of Emotiva gear for sale used, and it's hard to get behind a company that claims to sell "High-End" gear, and they don't even sell a simple, 2-Channel Audiophile preamp any longer. A Direct-Sales Model is great in saving consumers money, but you also have to sell gear people want...

[@Ryzen8]

Great review any plans to review the Arendal 1723 towers, I think it would be a great to know your thoughts on them .

[@KristiWright]

None at the moment. Sorry.

[@Ryzen8]

Ooh ok thank you

[@bearclaw5115]

Tons of reviews out there on them. Summary; Great build quality Less bass than expected but tons of output over 80hz due to THX cert. A tad bright. Narrow sound dispersion

[@rotaks1]

Refreshing to see honest reviews on this channel. Thanks for doing this review.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

We always do honest reviews. We don't pull punches nor play favorites. It shouldn't take a negative review to prove one's honesty. Thanks for watching all the same.

[@rotaks1]

Good points! Cheers!

[@ItsElvis56]

Danny(GR Research) liked the XB2's. Not hearing some great passion or love to the towers really has me going for the bookshelf speakers. I will pick those up instead. Thanks for the review, Andrew.

[@KristiWright]

Honest question: How does someone (Danny) like something they haven't heard? Are you planning to buy the fix-it kit he made for those speakers?

[@ItsElvis56]

@@KristiWright He recently did a video on the new XB2 and liked them as is. One could buy a kit, but since he enjoyed them without one, that speaks volumes to me.

[@KristiWright]

@@ItsElvis56 yes but you know he never listened to them before or after he made the kit?

[@ItsElvis56]

@@KristiWright Ah, my apologies, I got mixed up with what you were asking. I have not listened to anything in person. I heard Randy(cheap audio man) and Danny's review for the bookshelf speakers. I personally have not listened to anyone else's review on them(XB2). I would prefer to not buy Danny's kits. Emotiva is having an open house in October. I could swing around then and listen to everything at that point.

[@KristiWright]

@@danab7472 That is my understanding.