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Thank you for this detailed review. It's nice to see you try everything reasonable to get the speaker to sound as good as possible. The amount of time and money you have saved me between buying product reselling the stuff I don't like, is staggering.
@@ErinsAudioCorner What AV nut said is so true, you have literally saved me a lot of pain and money by posting all of your hard work. I truly don't think I could thank you enough... you're friggin awesome. This was a great review and loved the way you went about it. 👍✌️
@@Pete.across.the.street You're telling a half truth. The Klipsch RP600M was the best reviewed speaker around 2018~2019. And then negative reviews surfaced later around 2019~2020. People who didn't like the Klipsch just didn't publish the review, until later (maybe).. But as a buyer I had high hopes for the Klispch and was disappointed when I got them.
I've had Elac b6.2, Infinity r162, Micca rb42, Wharfedale 225, Jbl stage a130, and emotiva b1+ all in my system. The jbl and emotiva were the best with the emotiva having the nicest sounding tweeter but almost no bass compared to the jbl which actually had some. Paired with a small 8inch sub that plays well into 150hz area the emotiva gave me the best overall results.
You are a good dude Erin..God bless you and the work you do. I literally almost purchased these last night, mostly just to experience their ribbon tweeter and the price is fairly cheap. I decided to wait for some measurements. I knew the B1 measured decent and most people love them so I honestly was expecting the B2 to fix a couple of the B1 issues and be better overall. Maybe from a listeners standpoint it is, but I haven't heard either of them. From the measurements this is by no means a bad speaker in my personal opinion, especially if you add some EQ and consider the price. Thanks for the review... and that beat box intro track is off the chain 😎
Randy loved this speaker, I can now see why. He likes a lifted top end, as we can see in his love for the SSCS5. Measurements like these can make you understand reviewers more and know where they are coming from, not everyone's 'neutral' is neutral. This B2+ isnt really that bad of a speaker, but at that price point I think that there are a few more balanced speaker out there to choose from, if thats your thing. Another great one Erin!
Indeed. This is a prime example of why the data is important. Subjectively we may disagree in our preferences or likes/dislikes. But the data takes the subjectivity out of it and clearly shows you exactly what the speaker is doing on its own. With a bit of information about the rooms and setup you can pretty easily understand what a person is hearing (or likely to hear) in their own room. 👍
The measurements are nice but when you get into you 50's, sometimes a "hot" tilted speaker can be perfect for the consumer with a natural high frequency hearing loss.
@@maxwedge7593 "The measurements are nice BUT....." comment does not apply here. Measurements and data will help weed out whatever speakers you personally prefer, so if you are 50s year and above and suffer from high frequency hearing loss, use measurements to filter out all neutral and top end rolled off speakers. This will make your job easier. Measurements and data are for everyone, its how you use it that matters.
Honestly, it depends on if Emotiva is willing to loan me some. I did ask Emotiva about the T3+ but given I don't have a "glowing" review for this B2+ they may be less inclined to send the T3+/C3+. And those are too costly for me to pay for out of my own pocket like I did these.
Aren't both B1+ and B2+ designed the same except for cabinet size and woofer size? If so, would they not both exhibit relatively the same radiation patterns and therefore suffer from the same or similar defect that you mention?
I had a feeling the B2+ wouldn’t be worth $200 more than the B1+. This video confirms it for me. I’m using the B1+ for my 4 surrounds and was wondering if the B2+ would be good for LCR. Maybe Tzero is a better fit and also cheaper than the B2+.
I have the T-Zero and a C1+ LCR set-up. To me the clarity of the C1+ center shines over the T-Zero towers for some reason. I almost wish a could try three C1+ centers for the LCR. Since you are thinking about using the B2+ for your LCR it would be interesting if you would try that set-up and let the rest of us know what you find. You might be on to a great choice for LCR with the B2+ and B1+ combo in a smaller HT system. The continuity of the sound field should be outstanding! All the best, Kevin
I have the t zero. Their only real flaw for the money is you absolutely need a pair of subs. That said, it's incredible what you do get for the money. Mine are retired.
Interesting commentary in your video. For me, after DJing events for 30 years, i usually need to boost the mids and highs a bit for an experience of clarity. I listened to the B1+ and was quite impressed for what they were. I am still interested in hearing these as they sound quite appealing for their price range and taking into account what i've learned from the multiples of audio reviewers on youtube. I will be using them with the Emotiva Se12 subwoofer. I think I will enjoy the combination in this price range. Thanks for your VERY thoughtful video.
Great video as always Eric. The opening b-roll music was top notch. Hopefully RUclips doesn't ding you for copyright for the striking similarity to Tom Thum! In all seriousness, that 4khz region being too strong really ruins long term listening sessions for me. I'd rather deal with a more laid back sounding speaker than something that's too in your face. I went with AMTs on my Martin Logan towers (Motion 40i) for the living room because ceiling treatment just wasn't an option there. It was helpful in cutting back some reflections in the room without having panels hung up there. Wife approval factor +3.
Thanks for dropping the knowledge on this new product! Too bad it doesn't mirror the outstanding objective results of its smaller sibling. This is actually reminding me quite a bit of the new dayton glass fiber product you reviewed
Have you mailed him a few times. They said they would send me a pair out to review but that was a couple weeks ago. So right now I really don’t know. If someone wants to order them and have them drop shipped to me, then I would be happy to.
Adam Audio T7V - .. would be a nice comparison for AMT. I think that tweeter.. needs an adjusted crossover.. and IF they put a decorative / purpose built baffle shape / waveguides .. I think that would resolve the step and tweeter dispersion. ( would also cover that driver hardware ) As always .. great review and insights. cheers!
@@ErinsAudioCorner Always dude! As I told you before, I might not now a whole lot about the in depth shit you talk about, I do know how to take away the important information. I saw the B2+ had just been released and was curious. I have recently upgraded from the Pioneer SP-PK52FS 5.1 to the Emotiva T1+, C1+, B1+ and RSL Speedwoofer, so I was naturally interested in your take on the B2+!
Great review. I share your hopes that the B2+ would be a significant upgrade over the already great B1+. But seems like a small sidestep for a pretty significant price increase.
I was seriously thinking about these since I have the B1+ and was hoping it would be worth the $200 more. Looks like it's really not. I have tried so many different bookshelf speakers in the past years and my go-to has been the Neumi BS-5! Yes, a $109 speaker that just seems "right" to my ears.
I just got the T2+ towers and C2+ center. Replacing my Elac F6.2 and C6.2. I know the center is not preffered for everyone but so far it's a big upgrade over the Elac. I was not expecting that the T2+ towers would be much better then the F6.2. considering they are in the same price range. But the clarity on the T2+ is just way better. Much more crisp and detail. I also got ELAC B6.2's as surround and that got me thinking to replace them with B1+ or B2+. What would be the best option in this case? Bare in mind the B2+ cost met €400 more over the B1's. I'm running HT only with quality subs. I gues the crisp sound comes from the tweeter mostly so I would be ok with the B1+ and save me €400? I also really like the Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO which (I think) also has increased highs. I really like the details. Maybe thats why the T2+'s are sounding way better to me vs the Elacs witch might be more neutral?
What is the best bookshelf powered speaker you've ever heard please. I see a lot of videos on budget speakers but not the very best. Thank you! For music in a small office to replace my Bose Companion 5. I'll be using an REL DAC and will add a subwoofer or two. Thanks!
Erin, your work is admirable! One thing I would LOVE to see is a review and comparison of the Presonus Eris XT series. They are dirt cheap, they cover a wide range of usecases and look actually well designed. And it would be interesting to see how the different sizes compared in response.
Wow! This was the Cheap Audio Man's speaker of 2022. Different strokes for different folks. I actually prefer a bright top-end. I recently bought Q-Acoustics M20 powered speakers. My only criticism of the M20 is that lack of sparkle otherwise it's really good. I have separates in the main room and the amp has no tone controls but fortunately the speakers are okay - not so with the other two passive speakers I own, and they are more expensive. I'm now re-assessing my opinion on tone controls. ps Cheap Audio Man has said that his hearing suffered due a working environment years ago. Plus, as you get older you tend not to hear the 'highs' as well as you once did with younger ears.
Was hoping this one would fit the bill, but any recommendations on a speaker I could double for use in outdoor movies? Looking for wide horizontal and vertical, along with very good vocal clarity and as much bass as possible. Currently have Elac DBR62 (subdued vocals), and Monitor Bronze 100s (great voice clarity, maybe not great off axis). Kinda like the Kali LP8, or IN8 but not sure if the vocals are forward enough for movies? Was really hoping the B2+ would have been the ticket.
Wow, this Emotiva is stinking bright - prepare for some high freq torture, Beyerdynamic headphone style ;) Although in hand of someone with a bit DIY passion they can be saved. 6" and bigger midwoofers are pain to cross, especially to small planar tweeters which don't take low crossover point well. I might give up on diy 2way with 6.5". 5" are easier to mate, directivity is better, despite less bass.
@@johandeen6096 Johan, I have no idea, which Emotiva would suit your taste and room better. I assume the tweeter driver is the same unit on both, and to lower it's output most likely single resistor is required. For me in most cases the smaller woofer has more natural sound around crossover area due to beeming characteristics, then for others more low end might be priority. I have the DT 880-600 (250 model is more linear), and in the beginning I said: f..., no lows, no upper mids, only tzz, tzz highs. On top of it, miss matched drivers. They're are OK, for picking up bits and pieces in editing other headphones don't easily show. For regular listening I went with Sennheiser HD 650, very easy going, low distortion, sometimes a bit too warm. Solderdude on DIYaudioheaven site has a lot of headphone measurements and mods, check it out. The new DT 900X might be an interesting headphone, yet still affordable.
I bought the B2+ around four months ago at the inventory close-out price of $359/pair and I feel like I stole them. I'm quite happy with them and I'm now waiting to see/hear reviews and sound tests on the new Emotiva XT2 towers. Erin was the only one kinda bashing the B2+ but I decided to take a chance and bought them anyway...and I'm so glad I did. I don't consider them to be my end-game speakers(hoping the XT2 fulfills that goal) but right now they're the mains in my HT rig which also includes the Emotiva C1+ CC and Emotiva BasX A3 amp.
You don't need Danny for that. Any competent person building DIY spkrs with measuring system can fix the overly bright treble, maybe slightly lower the crossover point to fill up the upper mids, less beaming once the tweeter takes over. Changing the x-over to totally new won't solve the issues the drivers Emotiva has chosen - just too much ... to deal with, at this price.
Awesome as always Erin. Any chance we'll see a T3+ or is it too big/costly? C3+ looks like it would measure horribly off axis based upon your center channel video.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion I just bought the new bookshelf And Very much do like it However ,the older model was ugly as he'll LOL I will say I owned Klipsch and the horn killed me but some do like it but the new one does sound better to me, everyone does have different tastes at the end of the day I guess
@@ErinsAudioCorner Good to hear. Looking forward to those. Emotiva B2+ was already reviewed by many other prolific reviewers. However, the Triads (being installed by many admired installers (Audio Advice for one) have no real reviews/measurements whatsoever. That is why it is very interesting for me (and many other people, I believe) t have their objective performance assessed. Thank you once again for all that you do for the community.
I just bought Elac 6.2’s and am debating if I should have gone with the Emotiva B2+’s. Every review I’ve seen online raves about the B2’s. I have a Sony STR-dh190 receiver. The Elacs were a step up from my Sony CS5’s but I keep wondering if I’m missing anything (other having than more money in my wallet) with the Elac’s.
Well I have them so I can definitely say the older model style does look rather ugly and I can't really say what they sounded like but the newer one that they have now is amazing I don't understand why some people are just so critical either way I personally think if it sounds good to you no matter what the specs say it should be good it's kind of like beauty is in the eye of the beholder either way I am no Fanboy of either are but I would not knock Emotiva off in the future,and the elac is a great choice so I'm sure you're enjoying them as well cheers and have a blessed holiday😊😊
Hope you could share your insights. I am using a denon 3800h with all 4 OHM Emotiva speakers. 11 channel Tonewinner Amp @ $1775.00 with no tax on summit website. or Emotiva XPA Gen 3 11 channel at current sale going on $1,931.00 with tax on Emotiva website. Or do you have another combo to get me to the 11 channel? I am not overly familiar with either, thoughts?
I'm glad to see this video because I thought of possibly upgrading for the same reason I own the emotivas previous model, and they're all right, even though a lot of reviewers touted them to be the best thing from their price range up to the $500 a pair . I can vouch that they do sound good, and better than most speakers in that price bracket, but that being said I picked up a pair of Mission 70 mk2s , and on the same system, and in the same room the Missions blow the emotivas out of the water. Granted the missions were 1984's speaker of the year in Europe, and the emotivas weren't thoroughly broken in yet, if that's even a thing, it still doesn't say a whole lot for emotiva even at that price range. I would hesitate on purchasing emotivas speakers until they make a significant advancement in there quality. I do like their Dac's. I have also the big eagle Plus headphone dac and amplifier, which significantly enhances the sound especially when you're running your PC through your stereo to listen to FLAC files, but as for the rest of emotiva stuff I think I would definitely hesitate on purchasing any of their products until they make significant advancements in there quality.
I dunno. Maybe he likes lifted treble? I haven’t seen his review. But that’s what I didn’t like about the B2+. Otherwise, I like the speaker. But the treble was just too bothersome for me and I’d default back to the B1+. Just my $0.02.
@@ErinsAudioCorner I work in quality assurance and we don’t operate off of “We think or assume” data is the key to every argument and you sir did exactly that. I’m looking to use them only for music hooked up to my Kenwood KT-5500 do you think they would be sufficient for that application your thoughts?
To his ears they probably are...doesn't make him right or wrong. We all have our preferences. But now you know what Randy likes, keep that in mind when he's reviewing certain products.Best way to compare would be to try these speakers and see what you think, unless the measurements have given you enough information to help make your decision. A lot of people enjoy a push on the upper frequency's, some people know this type of measurement will never work for them. I have a feeling a lot of people will still really like these speakers and the way they sound. The B1's weren't perfect either, many people love them..many don't.
@@Al-mu4ff I’m not trying to get in the way of Erin responding to you or anything, but what if three people tell you that sex with you is fantastic, and one person breaks out a PowerPoint presentation listing exactly why you suck in bed. Who do you believe? I respect Erin, but we all know it comes down to the needs of the recipient.
Erin, great review as always. i have a question for you: aren't ribbon tweeter speakers in general kind of "flat" in their vertical response? you mention you have to seat with the tweeter really facing you... i've owned Quad S2 and Elac Carinas (returned both of them) and found their vertical response extremely shallow and disappointing. it seems these emotivas are No exception? thanks!
The vertical response usually sacks on planars, but here the tw is most likely crossed too high for what the midwoofer can take before it start beaming.
I don't particularly like the V Curve but it's interesting to note that 95% of people do V Curve if given the chance ... Study was done in the days of graphic equalisers and if you pop and look on youtube you will see almost all have a extreme V Curves ... 🤔
So true. I think once person finds a speaker with low distortions, good resolution, fast decay, dynamics, etc, and start to listen to really well recorded music then they realize that flat or slightly laid back speakers are easier on ears and way more natural sounding than V shaped boom and tizz junk.
90% of the music is in the midrange, and a V curve destroys that. If you go to a good sounding live performance in a club or a hall or arena, the vast majority of whay you hear will be between 40hz and 4khz. There will be very little lower than that, and very little above 5khz. The highest fundemental frequencies on all instruments, including piano, violin, and othe higher pitched instuments are below 5khz. Everything higher than that are harmonic overtones. Midrange purity is the most important thing to get lifelike sound from a speaker.
@@pliedtka I prefer a very slight treble lift to treble rolloff, because if there aren't enough harmonic overtones, then the speaker will have no air and space, and will sound very two dimensional. But, these days, far too many speakers are designed with too much treble lift, to wow people in the showroom or when watching action movies, but they suck for natural music reproduction. A good case in point is B&W, which have always had a slight midrange dip and tilted up treble, but, over the last 20 years they have gotten more sucked out in the mids and hotter and hotter on top to where they are now unlistenable. I haven't liked anything they've made since the early 2000s
@@DougMen1 Most of the time I prefer lower tweeter level in low treble, past the crossover point due to different polar character of the tweeter, but past 10kHz some lift. Then it depends on the tweeter, some might measure similarly on axis, but sound very different.
Hi Erin, when you show your distortion graphs is the zero line equivalent to 86/96dB SPL? So effectively then you're showing us that the distortion is only 30-40dB below that? Thanks.
That's pretty respectable for a speaker, as all speakers have far greater distortion levels than electronics do. If you watch the lecture from Audio Precision (the company that makes the test equipment everyone uses) on the RMAF YT channel, he does an eperiment to see at what level distortion actually becomes audible, and even the industry people and audio press people in the audience couldn't hear it until it reached a levle of 3% THD. However, IM distorion is audible at lower levels than THD is
Very disappointed Emotiva no longer produces the B1+. Seems like their plan is to force buyers to take the B2+ but with a $200+ price difference, that doesn’t work for me.
@lance bartlett First off, this is a very odd place to ask this question! Anyhow, it would really depend on your room, and how wide and tall you want the "sweet spot" to be. They are VERY DIFFERENT speakers for you to be choosing between and considering at random! And ultimately, for the money, I would opt for several different DIY designs over both...again, depending on your listening room. IMO, the M2's aren't particularly "pretty" or "stylish" speakers for a main listening room in a home (if that is their intended use), and I have a home studio and a preference towards studio monitors. But I guess that is all subjective as well. The M2's will definitely eat up A LOT more space and will dominate your listening room. They are easily 2.5x wider than the Revels, and that alone makes them feel massive compared to the Revels. But seriously, IF you are considering either of those speakers, or others in that price range, an in-home trial/demo period is a must and is an expected accommodation by dealers for both. Or at least go listen to them at a respected dealer, even if you need a RT plane ticket and an overnight hotel stay to get to a city that would have dealers for both. In addition, both dealers would surely have other options available in a similar price range that you are unaware of. Even with having excellent objective data for both, in this price range I would not make a purchase without listening to each first, preferably in your own listening room. This would not only be to evaluate their SQ, but also how they "fit" in your room, both in physical size and aesthetically. Again, they are very different loudspeakers in both regards.
Hey man what would you say is the bookshelf speaker equivalent of a Koss Porta/Sporta Pro? My ears can't take the treble anymore lol. I have the Airmotiv 4S. I enjoy how the bass rips, and treble is fun (tho fatiguing) but the imaging is kinda whack on alot of music. Certain songs just aren't reproduced correctly, even tho others sound great. Considering the B1+ or B2+ but can't really tell if they're gonna fix my complaints.
Hey Erin! Nice review as always. Though, the way you opened the video I was surprised and thought something is wrong with the speakers. Then I realized it just doesn't meet your expectation to be more linear, but I believe Emotiva has done the right thing here. People liked B1 and they used the same characteristics, just scaled it up. To me it's a more reasonable way to do a speaker in the same family...
Not quite. This speaker is about 3dB hotter in the treble compared to the midrange where the B1+ is smoother in this handoff for the predicted in-room response. Those differences are quite stark when listening. Unfortunately.
I’m always mystified by a question like that. These would make great surround speakers, but many speakers would. Why not get the B1+ for surround, though?
@@SyzygyNoonI have them I am upgrading my bed layer speakers from t2 c2 and b1 to 3 t3 towers b2 rear surrounds and looking for some in walls that have the tonality of the emotivas
@@moveezy5591 If you’ve got the money to spend, this sounds like a great setup. I can’t recommend in-walls as I have no experience with them, but more power to you. It sounds like you are very committed to your home theater arrangement.
This is 10x as important and useful than some fan boy review. I hate over the moon reviews of obviously flawed speakers. Great for the money, but *NOT* high fidelity.
Hello Erin, you put out great stuff and I like your content, and I will continue too watch and like your content. The only thing I think I don’t really agree with you on is your trend line. I understand the premise of it but It’s always starts at the bass, and remained bias towards bass. Where if you just use the median you would just use the peaks to determine what kind of speaker it sounds like, like in this instance the bass is higher then the treble and yet you say the trend makes it look treble hot. When I look at it I would say there is Slight suck out in the mids with a hot bass with and a peak around 2-3k if I am reading your graph correctly… thoughts?
Sony A6300. I just purchased the 24mm F1.4 GM lens (that hurt my bank account) to try out and that's what I shot this video with. I like it enough and think I'll keep it. Which means I'll have to sell my other lenses to help pay for it.
@@leo11877 Indeed. I have the 20mm F1.8 that I like. But I like the extreme bokeh I get from the 1.4 of the GM. I think in my room it's kind of necessary to help hide all the crap I have behind me (like random parts, my kid's painting supplies, piano books, etc, etc). 😂
@@ErinsAudioCorner Damn Erin! A 24mm 1.4 and a 20mm 1.8? That's really fast for wide angle glass. They must have cost a fortune! Actually, looking at the cost at B&H, the 20mm isn't that much (considering), but the 24mm is a lot more, and the 14mm 1.8 costs as much as the camera body, lol. Of course, the fast wide angle zooms that go wider than 24mm are all over $2,000
Emotiva has a house sound. I subjectively found the highs to be great, the bass to be really great, but the mids are recessed. Some people like this but when you have a dozen different speakers to listen to compare, you really can tell the mids are notched. I tried to eq it and it still had that characteristic.
Very interesting you have an opposite initial take vs the Cheap Audio man who you just had on. Although cheapaudioman didn't really say anything you didn't. Think he plans a bit more in depth description of it also though and maybe will explain more his acceptance/enjoyment of some of the things you weren't fond of.
Measurements are interesting, but not particularly useful for most music listeners. We like what we like, and everyone perceives sounds differently. At the end of the day it's about how it sounds to YOU.
Emotiva is claiming the 3-dB down point for bass is 40Hz, but your data are showing 40 Hz is about 10 dB down, and a 3dB cut off 55-60Hz. Why the difference? Perplexing. I'm looking for a great bookshelf speaker pair less than $500. Not sure this is the one. Open to suggestions! Cool radiation plots, btw.
@@mikedinno8413 Thank you, Mike... I really prefer to hear from someone who actually owns a set of the B2+. I am considering them, and since I can only go off what others say who have them or have heard them, you're feedback is super important. Thanks...
Emotiva needs hire a new designer to redesign everything the speakers, rid that black finish on amps and that blue lighting all has to go. I don't own anything from them so I can't comment on sound quality. But the design of everything is a turnoff!
This is very much an aside, but I have two different amps (same manufacturer) that use amber accent lighting, and it’s so much better than the blue stuff. Not harsh in dark environments, and actually rather soothing. Obviously I agree with you 100%.
Exactly how I feel as well. There's too many competitors with similar priced speakers that perform as good but look soo much better. If they at least offered some different fi ish options even at a more premium add on cost it would only help
They are definitely polarizing. For me, Emotiva's design was one of the major selling points. When I first stepped into the Emotiva world with the B1+ I was really hoping I would like what I heard due to how much I liked them visually.
I agree. They are a useless gimmick, and some speaker makers, like Focal, only use them on their most expensive designs (the Utopia line), and only have single binding posts on their speakers below them, even on the ultra expensive Sopra line, and the Kanta, Aria, and Chora lines that are below the Sopras.
SMH to some of these comments. A great speaker isn’t one that is linear to many. Some people like a bit of flavor and some don’t. There’s nothing wrong with that especially when matching with other electronics.
@Feliciano Godoy BUT a speaker that has Smooth and Even/Linear Frequency Response, COMBINED with Smooth/Linear Directivity, can easily be EQ'd to nearly ANYONE's Preference without detrimental artifacts or side effects. But a speaker that has non-linear frequency response AND especially non-linear directivity CANNOT be effectively EQ'd without other issues arising and is a lost cause. WHY do we want to be able to easily EQ the loudspeakers? Because everyone's ROOM is different, and the room can have a major influence on what you hear at your listening position...in addition to each individual's preference for a particular response.
I think it could be considered an acquired taste. It’s grown on me over time. But, it occurs to me that I don’t own any Emotiva speakers, and it’s the look of them that is primarily the reason why. I like the look of the towers more than the bookshelves.
@@SyzygyNoon They are budget to mid tier speakers but with speakers like the Monitor Audio bronze, polk reserve, wharfedales, etc, there is no shortage of good looking speakers. Emotiva knows this I'm sure.
Erin, it may be better if you don't do the "would I buy it?" commentary. It gives people an excuse to ignore the data and instead say, "Erin would buy it, so I should buy it." Besides, we already know you would prefer something with a 15" or 18" woofer!
Buy: emotiva.com/products/airmotiv-b2-pair-bookshelf-loudspeakers?aff=14
If you're interested in purchasing these speakers, please consider using the above affiliate link which earns me a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Thank you for this detailed review. It's nice to see you try everything reasonable to get the speaker to sound as good as possible.
The amount of time and money you have saved me between buying product reselling the stuff I don't like, is staggering.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
@@ErinsAudioCorner What AV nut said is so true, you have literally saved me a lot of pain and money by posting all of your hard work. I truly don't think I could thank you enough... you're friggin awesome. This was a great review and loved the way you went about it. 👍✌️
Erin always speaks the truth. That is why people trust his reviews.
I'm with David here. Please listen to the speakers before making a judgement.
@@Pete.across.the.street You're telling a half truth. The Klipsch RP600M was the best reviewed speaker around 2018~2019. And then negative reviews surfaced later around 2019~2020. People who didn't like the Klipsch just didn't publish the review, until later (maybe).. But as a buyer I had high hopes for the Klispch and was disappointed when I got them.
I appreciate what you do!
Dude! Thank you!
@@ErinsAudioCorner hi man can you do review on dali spektor 2, oberon 3
I've had Elac b6.2, Infinity r162, Micca rb42, Wharfedale 225, Jbl stage a130, and emotiva b1+ all in my system. The jbl and emotiva were the best with the emotiva having the nicest sounding tweeter but almost no bass compared to the jbl which actually had some. Paired with a small 8inch sub that plays well into 150hz area the emotiva gave me the best overall results.
You are a good dude Erin..God bless you and the work you do. I literally almost purchased these last night, mostly just to experience their ribbon tweeter and the price is fairly cheap. I decided to wait for some measurements. I knew the B1 measured decent and most people love them so I honestly was expecting the B2 to fix a couple of the B1 issues and be better overall. Maybe from a listeners standpoint it is, but I haven't heard either of them. From the measurements this is by no means a bad speaker in my personal opinion, especially if you add some EQ and consider the price. Thanks for the review... and that beat box intro track is off the chain 😎
Move over, Taylor Swift, there’s a new kid in town.
god died 2 weeks ago. went to her funeral. turned out he was a she.
@@themastroiannis 😵
@@themastroiannis I should have known better than to bring the Good Lord's name into an open forum lol
You've keep growing on my short youtubers-I-should-listen-to list. Appreciate the integrity.
Another thing I do not like, is that Emotiva claimed an F3 of 40Hz, when in fact the bass is a little weak if anything, at 66hz F3.
Just like the B1+, which is also all treble and no bass or mids
@@DougMen1 Is that really true? I have the Airmotiv 4S and it's alot of bass
Randy loved this speaker, I can now see why. He likes a lifted top end, as we can see in his love for the SSCS5. Measurements like these can make you understand reviewers more and know where they are coming from, not everyone's 'neutral' is neutral. This B2+ isnt really that bad of a speaker, but at that price point I think that there are a few more balanced speaker out there to choose from, if thats your thing. Another great one Erin!
Indeed. This is a prime example of why the data is important. Subjectively we may disagree in our preferences or likes/dislikes. But the data takes the subjectivity out of it and clearly shows you exactly what the speaker is doing on its own. With a bit of information about the rooms and setup you can pretty easily understand what a person is hearing (or likely to hear) in their own room. 👍
The measurements are nice but when you get into you 50's, sometimes a "hot" tilted speaker can be perfect for the consumer with a natural high frequency hearing loss.
@@maxwedge7593 "The measurements are nice BUT....." comment does not apply here. Measurements and data will help weed out whatever speakers you personally prefer, so if you are 50s year and above and suffer from high frequency hearing loss, use measurements to filter out all neutral and top end rolled off speakers. This will make your job easier. Measurements and data are for everyone, its how you use it that matters.
What are the alternatives you suggest?
@@NamTran-xc2ip depends on your budget and which country you are in...
Thanks for taking a look at this one. C3+/T3+ reviews coming soon I hope?
Honestly, it depends on if Emotiva is willing to loan me some. I did ask Emotiva about the T3+ but given I don't have a "glowing" review for this B2+ they may be less inclined to send the T3+/C3+. And those are too costly for me to pay for out of my own pocket like I did these.
Aren't both B1+ and B2+ designed the same except for cabinet size and woofer size? If so, would they not both exhibit relatively the same radiation patterns and therefore suffer from the same or similar defect that you mention?
Nope.
@@ErinsAudioCorner Was that 'no' to both questions, or just a termination of discussion?
@@notbatman1001 no, they aren’t designed the same.
I had a feeling the B2+ wouldn’t be worth $200 more than the B1+. This video confirms it for me. I’m using the B1+ for my 4 surrounds and was wondering if the B2+ would be good for LCR. Maybe Tzero is a better fit and also cheaper than the B2+.
Save money on stands too if you go towers
I have the T-Zero and a C1+ LCR set-up. To me the clarity of the C1+ center shines over the T-Zero towers for some reason. I almost wish a could try three C1+ centers for the LCR. Since you are thinking about using the B2+ for your LCR it would be interesting if you would try that set-up and let the rest of us know what you find. You might be on to a great choice for LCR with the B2+ and B1+ combo in a smaller HT system. The continuity of the sound field should be outstanding! All the best, Kevin
I have the t zero. Their only real flaw for the money is you absolutely need a pair of subs. That said, it's incredible what you do get for the money. Mine are retired.
I have t zero plus and c1+ for lfr with one sub sound for me is awesome
Sorry error meant LCR
Interesting commentary in your video. For me, after DJing events for 30 years, i usually need to boost the mids and highs a bit for an experience of clarity. I listened to the B1+ and was quite impressed for what they were. I am still interested in hearing these as they sound quite appealing for their price range and taking into account what i've learned from the multiples of audio reviewers on youtube. I will be using them with the Emotiva Se12 subwoofer. I think I will enjoy the combination in this price range. Thanks for your VERY thoughtful video.
moral of the review: get the B1+ and put that extra $200 towards a good subwoofer
Thanks for the honesty,I truly appreciate an honest review....
Great video as always Eric. The opening b-roll music was top notch. Hopefully RUclips doesn't ding you for copyright for the striking similarity to Tom Thum!
In all seriousness, that 4khz region being too strong really ruins long term listening sessions for me. I'd rather deal with a more laid back sounding speaker than something that's too in your face. I went with AMTs on my Martin Logan towers (Motion 40i) for the living room because ceiling treatment just wasn't an option there. It was helpful in cutting back some reflections in the room without having panels hung up there. Wife approval factor +3.
Thanks for dropping the knowledge on this new product! Too bad it doesn't mirror the outstanding objective results of its smaller sibling. This is actually reminding me quite a bit of the new dayton glass fiber product you reviewed
Of all the speakers you've tested, which one was your favorite and why?
Will you review the new XB2's?
Have you mailed him a few times. They said they would send me a pair out to review but that was a couple weeks ago. So right now I really don’t know. If someone wants to order them and have them drop shipped to me, then I would be happy to.
How are we *not* talking about Erin's beatboxing. You must do this every time :D
Best way ever to avoid a copyright strike on music in the video.
@@ta563 really I just want him to keep wearing those glasses 😁
Adam Audio T7V - .. would be a nice comparison for AMT. I think that tweeter.. needs an adjusted crossover.. and IF they put a decorative / purpose built baffle shape / waveguides .. I think that would resolve the step and tweeter dispersion. ( would also cover that driver hardware )
As always .. great review and insights.
cheers!
"Just the facts, ma'am." Very informative, as usual. Thanks!
Thanks for watching.
@@ErinsAudioCorner Always dude! As I told you before, I might not now a whole lot about the in depth shit you talk about, I do know how to take away the important information. I saw the B2+ had just been released and was curious. I have recently upgraded from the Pioneer SP-PK52FS 5.1 to the Emotiva T1+, C1+, B1+ and RSL Speedwoofer, so I was naturally interested in your take on the B2+!
Many thanks for your honest opinion. I do love my B1+ speakers.
Great review. I share your hopes that the B2+ would be a significant upgrade over the already great B1+. But seems like a small sidestep for a pretty significant price increase.
Best budgeted bookshelf speaker according to ur opinion plz 🙏
I’ll make a video soon to address this. 👍
Plz do address 'most suitable speaker for Auro 3D home theatre '
@@ErinsAudioCorner NHT SuperOne 2.1 should be tested one day. Bigtime sleeper, IMO.
Someone can explained what's meaning with F3 and F10?
I was seriously thinking about these since I have the B1+ and was hoping it would be worth the $200 more. Looks like it's really not. I have tried so many different bookshelf speakers in the past years and my go-to has been the Neumi BS-5! Yes, a $109 speaker that just seems "right" to my ears.
I just got the T2+ towers and C2+ center. Replacing my Elac F6.2 and C6.2. I know the center is not preffered for everyone but so far it's a big upgrade over the Elac. I was not expecting that the T2+ towers would be much better then the F6.2. considering they are in the same price range. But the clarity on the T2+ is just way better. Much more crisp and detail. I also got ELAC B6.2's as surround and that got me thinking to replace them with B1+ or B2+. What would be the best option in this case? Bare in mind the B2+ cost met €400 more over the B1's. I'm running HT only with quality subs. I gues the crisp sound comes from the tweeter mostly so I would be ok with the B1+ and save me €400?
I also really like the Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO which (I think) also has increased highs. I really like the details. Maybe thats why the T2+'s are sounding way better to me vs the Elacs witch might be more neutral?
What is the best bookshelf powered speaker you've ever heard please. I see a lot of videos on budget speakers but not the very best. Thank you! For music in a small office to replace my Bose Companion 5. I'll be using an REL DAC and will add a subwoofer or two. Thanks!
Not sure what else you would get if you want a 6.5" woofer and a solid 3 way center. SVS prime, kef q350 I'm pretty sure would be more expensive.
That beatboxing in the beginning had me laughing hard. Great job
Love the descriptions, title & intro.
Erin, your work is admirable! One thing I would LOVE to see is a review and comparison of the Presonus Eris XT series. They are dirt cheap, they cover a wide range of usecases and look actually well designed. And it would be interesting to see how the different sizes compared in response.
Wow! This was the Cheap Audio Man's speaker of 2022. Different strokes for different folks. I actually prefer a bright top-end. I recently bought Q-Acoustics M20 powered speakers. My only criticism of the M20 is that lack of sparkle otherwise it's really good. I have separates in the main room and the amp has no tone controls but fortunately the speakers are okay - not so with the other two passive speakers I own, and they are more expensive. I'm now re-assessing my opinion on tone controls. ps Cheap Audio Man has said that his hearing suffered due a working environment years ago. Plus, as you get older you tend not to hear the 'highs' as well as you once did with younger ears.
Was hoping this one would fit the bill, but any recommendations on a speaker I could double for use in outdoor movies? Looking for wide horizontal and vertical, along with very good vocal clarity and as much bass as possible. Currently have Elac DBR62 (subdued vocals), and Monitor Bronze 100s (great voice clarity, maybe not great off axis). Kinda like the Kali LP8, or IN8 but not sure if the vocals are forward enough for movies? Was really hoping the B2+ would have been the ticket.
The IN-8 is legit. I really like that speaker.
Would you be interested in testing Toids speakers soon?
Bummer, was very excited for these. I’m sure they’ll get good reviews elsewhere, but the chart doesn’t lie lol.
Hey Erin, can you please review Polk ES20?
I still want the Lintons. 😎👍🏼
Any plans to get the custom stands, or will bar stools/banana crates suffice?
@@SyzygyNoon That depends. I’ve seen them on sale for $1499 w/stands. Otherwise I’ll pass on the stands and use my own.
i know man, im not really impressed with my tzero plus towers, dont like the tweeters and lack of base
Wow, this Emotiva is stinking bright - prepare for some high freq torture, Beyerdynamic headphone style ;) Although in hand of someone with a bit DIY passion they can be saved.
6" and bigger midwoofers are pain to cross, especially to small planar tweeters which don't take low crossover point well.
I might give up on diy 2way with 6.5". 5" are easier to mate, directivity is better, despite less bass.
I love the Beyerdynamic headphones. If I like them would you recommend the B2+ over the B1+ ?
@@johandeen6096
Johan, I have no idea, which Emotiva would suit your taste and room better. I assume the tweeter driver is the same unit on both, and to lower it's output most likely single resistor is required. For me in most cases the smaller woofer has more natural sound around crossover area due to beeming characteristics, then for others more low end might be priority.
I have the DT 880-600 (250 model is more linear), and in the beginning I said: f..., no lows, no upper mids, only tzz, tzz highs. On top of it, miss matched drivers. They're are OK, for picking up bits and pieces in editing other headphones don't easily show. For regular listening I went with Sennheiser HD 650, very easy going, low distortion, sometimes a bit too warm.
Solderdude on DIYaudioheaven site has a lot of headphone measurements and mods, check it out. The new DT 900X might be an interesting headphone, yet still affordable.
You literally sh@t on EVERY speaker I’ve had high hopes for! 😃😂👍🏻
I bought the B2+ around four months ago at the inventory close-out price of $359/pair and I feel like I stole them. I'm quite happy with them and I'm now waiting to see/hear reviews and sound tests on the new Emotiva XT2 towers. Erin was the only one kinda bashing the B2+ but I decided to take a chance and bought them anyway...and I'm so glad I did. I don't consider them to be my end-game speakers(hoping the XT2 fulfills that goal) but right now they're the mains in my HT rig which also includes the Emotiva C1+ CC and Emotiva BasX A3 amp.
Hopefully they fix her with a crossover upgrade. B2+ MK2? Danny?
You don't need Danny for that. Any competent person building DIY spkrs with measuring system can fix the overly bright treble, maybe slightly lower the crossover point to fill up the upper mids, less beaming once the tweeter takes over. Changing the x-over to totally new won't solve the issues the drivers Emotiva has chosen - just too much ... to deal with, at this price.
@Sean B
I would instead opt to spend that extra "upgraded XO" money on better speakers overall that don't have these issues in the first place.
Awesome as always Erin. Any chance we'll see a T3+ or is it too big/costly? C3+ looks like it would measure horribly off axis based upon your center channel video.
0:26 - 0:38 is my favorite part of this video. Emotiva should use this as their brand theme song.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion I just bought the new bookshelf And Very much do like it However ,the older model was ugly as he'll LOL I will say I owned Klipsch and the horn killed me but some do like it but the new one does sound better to me, everyone does have different tastes at the end of the day I guess
Great as always. Thanks for a review :) But what about the Triad LCR Gold? :)
They’re in the pipeline. I just don’t know when I will get to them with everything else that needs to be completed first.
@@ErinsAudioCorner Good to hear. Looking forward to those. Emotiva B2+ was already reviewed by many other prolific reviewers. However, the Triads (being installed by many admired installers (Audio Advice for one) have no real reviews/measurements whatsoever. That is why it is very interesting for me (and many other people, I believe) t have their objective performance assessed. Thank you once again for all that you do for the community.
Didn’t even know this was a product (I did see the new tower and center).
I just bought Elac 6.2’s and am debating if I should have gone with the Emotiva B2+’s. Every review I’ve seen online raves about the B2’s. I have a Sony STR-dh190 receiver. The Elacs were a step up from my Sony CS5’s but I keep wondering if I’m missing anything (other having than more money in my wallet) with the Elac’s.
Well I have them so I can definitely say the older model style does look rather ugly and I can't really say what they sounded like but the newer one that they have now is amazing I don't understand why some people are just so critical either way I personally think if it sounds good to you no matter what the specs say it should be good it's kind of like beauty is in the eye of the beholder either way I am no Fanboy of either are but I would not knock Emotiva off in the future,and the elac is a great choice so I'm sure you're enjoying them as well cheers and have a blessed holiday😊😊
Hope you could share your insights.
I am using a denon 3800h with all 4 OHM Emotiva speakers.
11 channel Tonewinner Amp @ $1775.00 with no tax on summit website.
or
Emotiva XPA Gen 3 11 channel at current sale going on $1,931.00 with tax on Emotiva website.
Or do you have another combo to get me to the 11 channel?
I am not overly familiar with either, thoughts?
I'm glad to see this video because I thought of possibly upgrading for the same reason I own the emotivas previous model, and they're all right, even though a lot of reviewers touted them to be the best thing from their price range up to the $500 a pair . I can vouch that they do sound good, and better than most speakers in that price bracket, but that being said I picked up a pair of Mission 70 mk2s , and on the same system, and in the same room the Missions blow the emotivas out of the water. Granted the missions were 1984's speaker of the year in Europe, and the emotivas weren't thoroughly broken in yet, if that's even a thing, it still doesn't say a whole lot for emotiva even at that price range. I would hesitate on purchasing emotivas speakers until they make a significant advancement in there quality. I do like their Dac's. I have also the big eagle Plus headphone dac and amplifier, which significantly enhances the sound especially when you're running your PC through your stereo to listen to FLAC files, but as for the rest of emotiva stuff I think I would definitely hesitate on purchasing any of their products until they make significant advancements in there quality.
But Cheapaudioman said these were the speakers to beat in ‘22…WTF?
I dunno. Maybe he likes lifted treble? I haven’t seen his review. But that’s what I didn’t like about the B2+. Otherwise, I like the speaker. But the treble was just too bothersome for me and I’d default back to the B1+. Just my $0.02.
Lol. I appreciate Randy, but stick to Erin for the real deal 😄
@@ErinsAudioCorner I work in quality assurance and we don’t operate off of “We think or assume” data is the key to every argument and you sir did exactly that. I’m looking to use them only for music hooked up to my Kenwood KT-5500 do you think they would be sufficient for that application your thoughts?
To his ears they probably are...doesn't make him right or wrong. We all have our preferences. But now you know what Randy likes, keep that in mind when he's reviewing certain products.Best way to compare would be to try these speakers and see what you think, unless the measurements have given you enough information to help make your decision. A lot of people enjoy a push on the upper frequency's, some people know this type of measurement will never work for them. I have a feeling a lot of people will still really like these speakers and the way they sound. The B1's weren't perfect either, many people love them..many don't.
@@Al-mu4ff I’m not trying to get in the way of Erin responding to you or anything, but what if three people tell you that sex with you is fantastic, and one person breaks out a PowerPoint presentation listing exactly why you suck in bed. Who do you believe?
I respect Erin, but we all know it comes down to the needs of the recipient.
Erin, great review as always. i have a question for you: aren't ribbon tweeter speakers in general kind of "flat" in their vertical response? you mention you have to seat with the tweeter really facing you... i've owned Quad S2 and Elac Carinas (returned both of them) and found their vertical response extremely shallow and disappointing. it seems these emotivas are No exception? thanks!
The vertical response usually sacks on planars, but here the tw is most likely crossed too high for what the midwoofer can take before it start beaming.
its so much more to a speakers sound quality then db response though. and it doesn`t show in reviews
I don't particularly like the V Curve but it's interesting to note that 95% of people do V Curve if given the chance ... Study was done in the days of graphic equalisers and if you pop and look on youtube you will see almost all have a extreme V Curves ... 🤔
So true. I think once person finds a speaker with low distortions, good resolution, fast decay, dynamics, etc, and start to listen to really well recorded music then they realize that flat or slightly laid back speakers are easier on ears and way more natural sounding than V shaped boom and tizz junk.
90% of the music is in the midrange, and a V curve destroys that. If you go to a good sounding live performance in a club or a hall or arena, the vast majority of whay you hear will be between 40hz and 4khz. There will be very little lower than that, and very little above 5khz. The highest fundemental frequencies on all instruments, including piano, violin, and othe higher pitched instuments are below 5khz. Everything higher than that are harmonic overtones. Midrange purity is the most important thing to get lifelike sound from a speaker.
@@pliedtka I prefer a very slight treble lift to treble rolloff, because if there aren't enough harmonic overtones, then the speaker will have no air and space, and will sound very two dimensional. But, these days, far too many speakers are designed with too much treble lift, to wow people in the showroom or when watching action movies, but they suck for natural music reproduction. A good case in point is B&W, which have always had a slight midrange dip and tilted up treble, but, over the last 20 years they have gotten more sucked out in the mids and hotter and hotter on top to where they are now unlistenable. I haven't liked anything they've made since the early 2000s
@@DougMen1
Most of the time I prefer lower tweeter level in low treble, past the crossover point due to different polar character of the tweeter, but past 10kHz some lift. Then it depends on the tweeter, some might measure similarly on axis, but sound very different.
Hi Erin, when you show your distortion graphs is the zero line equivalent to 86/96dB SPL? So effectively then you're showing us that the distortion is only 30-40dB below that? Thanks.
Yes. The distortion is relative to the fundamental where the target SPL is mean over the 300-3kHz region.
That's pretty respectable for a speaker, as all speakers have far greater distortion levels than electronics do. If you watch the lecture from Audio Precision (the company that makes the test equipment everyone uses) on the RMAF YT channel, he does an eperiment to see at what level distortion actually becomes audible, and even the industry people and audio press people in the audience couldn't hear it until it reached a levle of 3% THD. However, IM distorion is audible at lower levels than THD is
@Erin's Audio Corner @DM Thanks
Very disappointed Emotiva no longer produces the B1+. Seems like their plan is to force buyers to take the B2+ but with a $200+ price difference, that doesn’t work for me.
Can you add timestamps?
yes, but JBL M2 vs Revel f226be in your opinion?
which one sounds best subjectively?
@lance bartlett
First off, this is a very odd place to ask this question!
Anyhow, it would really depend on your room, and how wide and tall you want the "sweet spot" to be. They are VERY DIFFERENT speakers for you to be choosing between and considering at random! And ultimately, for the money, I would opt for several different DIY designs over both...again, depending on your listening room.
IMO, the M2's aren't particularly "pretty" or "stylish" speakers for a main listening room in a home (if that is their intended use), and I have a home studio and a preference towards studio monitors. But I guess that is all subjective as well.
The M2's will definitely eat up A LOT more space and will dominate your listening room. They are easily 2.5x wider than the Revels, and that alone makes them feel massive compared to the Revels.
But seriously, IF you are considering either of those speakers, or others in that price range, an in-home trial/demo period is a must and is an expected accommodation by dealers for both.
Or at least go listen to them at a respected dealer, even if you need a RT plane ticket and an overnight hotel stay to get to a city that would have dealers for both. In addition, both dealers would surely have other options available in a similar price range that you are unaware of.
Even with having excellent objective data for both, in this price range I would not make a purchase without listening to each first, preferably in your own listening room. This would not only be to evaluate their SQ, but also how they "fit" in your room, both in physical size and aesthetically. Again, they are very different loudspeakers in both regards.
Hey man what would you say is the bookshelf speaker equivalent of a Koss Porta/Sporta Pro? My ears can't take the treble anymore lol. I have the Airmotiv 4S. I enjoy how the bass rips, and treble is fun (tho fatiguing) but the imaging is kinda whack on alot of music. Certain songs just aren't reproduced correctly, even tho others sound great. Considering the B1+ or B2+ but can't really tell if they're gonna fix my complaints.
Hey Erin! Nice review as always. Though, the way you opened the video I was surprised and thought something is wrong with the speakers. Then I realized it just doesn't meet your expectation to be more linear, but I believe Emotiva has done the right thing here. People liked B1 and they used the same characteristics, just scaled it up. To me it's a more reasonable way to do a speaker in the same family...
Not quite. This speaker is about 3dB hotter in the treble compared to the midrange where the B1+ is smoother in this handoff for the predicted in-room response. Those differences are quite stark when listening. Unfortunately.
@@ErinsAudioCorner Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying.
Will this be alright to use as a rear surrounds
I’m always mystified by a question like that. These would make great surround speakers, but many speakers would. Why not get the B1+ for surround, though?
@@SyzygyNoonI have them I am upgrading my bed layer speakers from t2 c2 and b1 to 3 t3 towers b2 rear surrounds and looking for some in walls that have the tonality of the emotivas
@@moveezy5591 If you’ve got the money to spend, this sounds like a great setup. I can’t recommend in-walls as I have no experience with them, but more power to you. It sounds like you are very committed to your home theater arrangement.
This is 10x as important and useful than some fan boy review. I hate over the moon reviews of obviously flawed speakers. Great for the money, but *NOT* high fidelity.
I had high hopes for this one, it’s okay dho. Great work per usual Erin…BOOM
Great honest review!
I don’t believe in measuring. If it sounds good thats enough
Your post is like me walking into McDonald’s and saying I don’t believe in hamburgers.
Hahaha, dude, don't tell this to your physician ordering labs 😂😂
@@ErinsAudioCornerNo it isn't.
How long did you run this speaker before measuring? Does this matter?
A few days. Not really.
Hey Erin,
I love those reviews!
Is there a chance that you take a loke at sonus faber speakers ?
Greatz
Hello Erin, you put out great stuff and I like your content, and I will continue too watch and like your content. The only thing I think I don’t really agree with you on is your trend line. I understand the premise of it but It’s always starts at the bass, and remained bias towards bass. Where if you just use the median you would just use the peaks to determine what kind of speaker it sounds like, like in this instance the bass is higher then the treble and yet you say the trend makes it look treble hot. When I look at it I would say there is Slight suck out in the mids with a hot bass with and a peak around 2-3k if I am reading your graph correctly… thoughts?
Well damn, I had the B1+ and thought those were an exceptional product; looking at this I'll pass on the B2+ - what a shame!
I'm not a fan of Emotiva, or most speakers with AMT tweeters. I prefer domes.
Which camera are you using to record this? Image quality is nice.
Sony A6300. I just purchased the 24mm F1.4 GM lens (that hurt my bank account) to try out and that's what I shot this video with. I like it enough and think I'll keep it. Which means I'll have to sell my other lenses to help pay for it.
@@ErinsAudioCorner GM series rocks.
@@leo11877 Indeed. I have the 20mm F1.8 that I like. But I like the extreme bokeh I get from the 1.4 of the GM. I think in my room it's kind of necessary to help hide all the crap I have behind me (like random parts, my kid's painting supplies, piano books, etc, etc). 😂
@@ErinsAudioCorner Damn Erin! A 24mm 1.4 and a 20mm 1.8? That's really fast for wide angle glass. They must have cost a fortune! Actually, looking at the cost at B&H, the 20mm isn't that much (considering), but the 24mm is a lot more, and the 14mm 1.8 costs as much as the camera body, lol. Of course, the fast wide angle zooms that go wider than 24mm are all over $2,000
Emotiva has a house sound. I subjectively found the highs to be great, the bass to be really great, but the mids are recessed.
Some people like this but when you have a dozen different speakers to listen to compare, you really can tell the mids are notched. I tried to eq it and it still had that characteristic.
Very interesting you have an opposite initial take vs the Cheap Audio man who you just had on. Although cheapaudioman didn't really say anything you didn't. Think he plans a bit more in depth description of it also though and maybe will explain more his acceptance/enjoyment of some of the things you weren't fond of.
Thank you for saving me some time and money!
great review! seems as though Emotiva rushed this speaker without further analysis and tests. thanks so much!
Measurements are interesting, but not particularly useful for most music listeners. We like what we like, and everyone perceives sounds differently. At the end of the day it's about how it sounds to YOU.
Emotiva is claiming the 3-dB down point for bass is 40Hz, but your data are showing 40 Hz is about 10 dB down, and a 3dB cut off 55-60Hz. Why the difference? Perplexing. I'm looking for a great bookshelf speaker pair less than $500. Not sure this is the one. Open to suggestions! Cool radiation plots, btw.
@@mikedinno8413 Thank you, Mike... I really prefer to hear from someone who actually owns a set of the B2+. I am considering them, and since I can only go off what others say who have them or have heard them, you're feedback is super important. Thanks...
450$? wow ... Get the original Adams... for nearly half the price (T5V). Or just go straight for T8V.
Emotiva needs hire a new designer to redesign everything the speakers, rid that black finish on amps and that blue lighting all has to go. I don't own anything from them so I can't comment on sound quality. But the design of everything is a turnoff!
This is very much an aside, but I have two different amps (same manufacturer) that use amber accent lighting, and it’s so much better than the blue stuff. Not harsh in dark environments, and actually rather soothing. Obviously I agree with you 100%.
Exactly how I feel as well. There's too many competitors with similar priced speakers that perform as good but look soo much better. If they at least offered some different fi ish options even at a more premium add on cost it would only help
@@stevenshelp1107 I guess they committed to the stealth bomber vibe a long time ago, and black is the new black.
They are definitely polarizing. For me, Emotiva's design was one of the major selling points. When I first stepped into the Emotiva world with the B1+ I was really hoping I would like what I heard due to how much I liked them visually.
@@Ryan-qz3vh I was hoping for an end to the story. How did they work out for you?
Dual binding posts? What a waste of money. Should've paid for better internal components.
Or a bit better crossover design
I agree. They are a useless gimmick, and some speaker makers, like Focal, only use them on their most expensive designs (the Utopia line), and only have single binding posts on their speakers below them, even on the ultra expensive Sopra line, and the Kanta, Aria, and Chora lines that are below the Sopras.
I cringed when I saw that they had increased the size of the midwoofer.
SMH to some of these comments. A great speaker isn’t one that is linear to many. Some people like a bit of flavor and some don’t. There’s nothing wrong with that especially when matching with other electronics.
@Feliciano Godoy
BUT a speaker that has Smooth and Even/Linear Frequency Response, COMBINED with Smooth/Linear Directivity, can easily be EQ'd to nearly ANYONE's Preference without detrimental artifacts or side effects.
But a speaker that has non-linear frequency response AND especially non-linear directivity CANNOT be effectively EQ'd without other issues arising and is a lost cause.
WHY do we want to be able to easily EQ the loudspeakers? Because everyone's ROOM is different, and the room can have a major influence on what you hear at your listening position...in addition to each individual's preference for a particular response.
This is unfortunate. Also doesn't help that emotiva commits to this ugly look for their speakers.
I think it could be considered an acquired taste. It’s grown on me over time. But, it occurs to me that I don’t own any Emotiva speakers, and it’s the look of them that is primarily the reason why. I like the look of the towers more than the bookshelves.
@@SyzygyNoon They are budget to mid tier speakers but with speakers like the Monitor Audio bronze, polk reserve, wharfedales, etc, there is no shortage of good looking speakers. Emotiva knows this I'm sure.
@@mohamedahmed1023 In for a penny, in for a pound. Embrace your look and don’t look back, I suppose.
this is a Burzum type of speaker.
Oh my. Dad beat boxing. Not bad dad, but don't quit your day job. LOL. Thanks for your reviews though, really appreciate them !
Erin, it may be better if you don't do the "would I buy it?" commentary. It gives people an excuse to ignore the data and instead say, "Erin would buy it, so I should buy it." Besides, we already know you would prefer something with a 15" or 18" woofer!
It’s not so much that as it is I think there are better options at the price.
Just so ugly I don't understand emotiva design theory
It doesn’t bother me. But you are definitely not alone in how you feel.
To an extent, it’s branding. You know when you’re looking at an Emotiva speaker. You always know.
@@SyzygyNoon yeah we know lol
adam design copy
😂😂😂😂
On RUclips channel "The Cheapaudioman" he is Wanking over Emotiva B2+ Speakers at the moment he well likes them his new favourite speakers